Mon 2 June 1997
We are celebrating a new first in the world of Beardie Agility. Congratulations to Jack Buhite and Ch Melita Skyedance, HC, HCT, EJC, NGC, NA, CGC. At the NADAC event in Madera, CA on Saturday, May 31, Skye earned the first Beardie Elite Jumpers title (fourth place). On Sunday he went on to earn his first Elite Jumpers leg (second place) toward his NATCH: the NADAC Agility Trial Champion Certification. He is also the first Beardie to have earned the Open Jumpers title in Hayward, CA on Sunday, January 26 of this year. Since Skye has only been competing in NADAC since November of 96, he has come a long way fast! It suddenly occurred to Jack this morning that he is now competing against many 24" dogs who are already USDAA champions and who already have many legs in all three areas (Regular, Gambling and Jumping) toward their NADAC championships. To get a leg is a great achievement. To get a leg and place is amazing! Skye is also one of three Beardies who currently have the Novice Gambling title.
Jack is looking forward to writing an article about the Jumpers Course from a mathematical perspective. (He has his PhD in mathematics from Carnegie Mellon). He also employs all his skills as a Scottish dancer in memorizing the Jumpers Courses. As for Skye, he is Scottish, too, isn't he? A big thanks to Jean Richland who bred our beautiful, clever boy. For those in the world of herding, Skye is Murphy's littermate (of Joel Levinson fame). A lot of brains must have been distributed when this litter was born! A word about Beardies. All of those competing with their Beardies in NADAC are progressing extremely quickly. Other participants frequently remark on how quickly they (and their handlers) master all the necessary skills. Jack with Skye, Iris Berry with Spiff, Sharon Prassa with Annie. and Beth White with Mirage are taking the agility world by storm here in California. Skye earned four Jumpers legs and two Jumpers titles on one day in January and Annie earned four Novice legs and one Open leg last weekend. I am sure that others, such as Betty Winfield with Miss C, Jerry Bergen with Breezy, and Charles Gibson with Mikie could tell us the same thing. I notice that Betty got 7 legs with K. C. in one weekend last July and 6 legs with Miss C that same weekend. Jerry Bergen got 3 Elite Regular legs (First Beardie Elite Regular Agility title) and one Open Jumpers leg with Breezy a few weeks ago and five legs in one weekend last October. Charles Gibson with Mikie got all three Novice titles on the same weekend last August and I don't know how many legs! This is far above the norm! Congratulations to our agile Beardies and their incredible handlers!
Libby Myers-Buhite
Off to a BAD Start
Bad Attitude