Bad AdviceThe Question as to "What is Snooker" drew several responses from Bad Members.
Monday, November 17
> What is "snooker?" It sounds like a cross between a sneaker, a
snacker,and a snicker.<
Snooker, created by mad and demented folks who didn't have enough
to do with gamblers, jumps & weaves, jumpers etc.
Its another game that agility folk have cooked up. This one is
usually run by USDAA. It involves two halfs of a course. First
half you have to do a designated jump (red), than an obstacle of
your choice (which has points assigned to it), than another
(different red jump), than an obstacle of your choice and than a third designated jump and once
again an obstacle of your choice (Have I lost anybody yet???) Of course none
of these are ever lined up in what would be a logical order and you land
up pelting all over the arena trying to keep your dog from doing
anything creative or out of order.
Than you mentally catch your breath figure out where in the heck you are
on the course and try and finish a designated set of jumps/obstacles in
pre-set correct order.
It is point oriented, the more points and the faster the time the better
assuming you do not get lost (like me) and take inappropriate jumps out
of order. Jack with Caper apparently can keep thier wits about them as
they charge around collecting points.
SUPPPOSEDLY its like the game of Snooker from the billards family...but
since I've never played that game either you couldn't prove it my me.
Anyway good oh for Caper and Libby will fill us in with probably a
better explination..
Me I'm off to do something simple..like a full performance of the Brahms
Requiem.
Mary & Patsch
Monday, November 17
Mary,
I thought your explaination was a very good one. Just one more point:
The "other" obstacles (not the red jumps) are numbered in order (usually
1 through maybe 7) and this is also the points they are worth. To add
further to the confusion, there may also be multiple obstacles
comprising a numbered obstacle that may or may not be taken in a
specific order depending on what the judge has dreamed up.
Now I'll bet everyone IS totally confused!:-)
Happy training,
Linda (LEEK)
From Libby Myers-Buhite of Santa Clara CA
19 November 1997
We see from some of the recent Agility Correspondence that many are wondering
what the heck SNOOKER is. It is Jack's favorite course, aside from Gamblers
and Jumpers. Yes, Jack loves GAMES! This one was really set up to foil a
dog which did not have a good recall and object discrimination, for in
SNOOKER the point is to zip in BETWEEN several appealing obstacles and only
take ONE of them before returning to the red jumps.
To start at the beginning, in SNOOKER there are three jumps marked with red
flags (each numbered 1) which can be set anywhere on the course, at the
judge's discretion. One or more are usually set on the perimeter. There are
six more obstacles set as a course and numbered 2 through 7. The opening
sequence is to take any one of the red jumps followed by any one, and only
one, of the obstacles numbered 2 through 7. Then take another red jump,
followed by a 2-7. Then take the third red jump, followed by another
obstacle. After all that is completed, one runs the closing
sequence-obstacles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 in order before the time whistle blows.
If there are any mistakes at all, the whistle will also blow, and one leaves
the course immediately. Points are awarded based on the sequence number next
to an obstacle. The highest number of possible points is 51. The judge
designs this course so that the highest numbered obstacles are usually the
hardest to reach. Either they take up a lot of the time or require passing
by all kinds of favorite obstacles, such as tunnels. To win, one has to go
for the high numbers, if possible.
In this course the teeter was obstacle number 7 and, therefore, the most
desirable to negotiate. The opening was easy. Red jump, teeter, red jump,
teeter. The big risk was that by taking the teeter the second time, one had
to run past two tunnels and a tire to the far end of the course where the
third red jump was located. Caper loves tunnels but he stayed with Jack the
entire way to that third jump, a sharp turn into a 4 point tunnel, a call off
of obstacle 5, followed by the sequence, which he aced, also amazingly
quickly, which earned him 48 points and first place in his class of 13. What
a great way to end the weekend, with our little zipper.
We are now home until some time in January when USDAA and NADAC start up
again, hosted by our Agility Club, the Bay Team. Meanwhile we will try to
work with Caper's great speed, which makes him highly competitive, but which
poses a problem for a handler to get out every direction on time, both with
voice and body. A toe pointed in the wrong direction can be a disaster.
Fortunately our trainers are experts with fast dogs. So all we have to do
now is train Jack!
Libby and Jack and Caper
