At the Middlesex County Kennel Club Agility Trial in Amherst, NH today Aiden was entered in Novice FAST Preferred, Novice Standard Agility Preferred and Open Jumpers with weaves Preferred.
The first class of the day was Novice FAST Preferred. Aiden had a good run, got the “bonus” and qualified with a score of 67 points, out of a maximum of 80 points, and 1st place. The 2nd place dog also got 67 points but Aiden’s time was faster. This was Aiden’s 3rd leg for his Novice FAST Preferred Title (NFP).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_tbUyIesIE
After Aiden’s class we took him and his “support team” member, Dylan, to a fenced in area to run in the snow. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the temperature got up to a sweltering 47 degrees.
Aiden’s next class of the day, four and a half hours later, was Novice Standard Agility Preferred. You would think after such a time-lapse between runs that Aiden might be a little tired….but it felt to me like he had been shot out of a canon at the start line and it took everything I had to keep up with him. He got a table fault (-5 points) for sliding off the table. He also got a refusal for missing a jump (another 5 points off) but I was able to call him back and he took the jump and finished the course. As it is Novice you are able to qualify with a score of 85 or above provided a bar is not knocked down. Aiden qualified with score of 90 and 1st place. This was also his third leg for his Novice Agility Preferred Title (NAP).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYe8W7eDcNw
Time for a power nap between classes!
Another three hours later Aiden ran in Open Jumpers with Weaves Preferred. The second obstacle was the weave poles. Aiden zoomed passed them resulting in a refusal fault. I called him back and restarted the poles. He was doing well but popped out at the 10th pole. That resulted in another refusal which in Open is an automatic NQ. I called him back to do the weave poles again which the “little divil” did perfectly. He then completed the rest of the course without any faults.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI3EJdiyl-c
The boys getting ready to head home.
We are now safely home. Next time Aiden competes all his classes will be in Open.
Wooooooo wooooo congratulations team Aiden!!!!
How can anyone not totally fall in love this dog?
Team Aiden ROCKS!!!!! Congrats, it looks like you guys had a great day:-)
Not even two years old and going into open…that is really fast! Haven´t watched the videos yet but will in a day or two.
I was surprised he trouble on the weaves, that seemed to be one of his strongest obstacles.
Aiden has done well to get into Open Preferred already considering we are taking it very slowly with him and keeping him in Preferred as he is still young. We only enter him once a month in one day of a trial weekend (with the exception of November when he was in two days) therefore he has been in 5 days of trials. We do not have any trials scheduled in the near future.
You are right that his weaving had improved over the months but he decided to be his “little divil” self in the last run of the day. Aiden sure does have a sense of humor!
yay, Lynda and Aiden. I watched all the videos – looks like so much fun! You two make it look easy, but I know it’s not.
You guys are just plain old FANTASTIC!!
Well, Jack might be just plain old… surely you’re not talking about me and Aiden!! LOL!
WOW he looks great and nice to see him transition so well between venues! Multi talented for sure Love the last pic in the car of the boys going home 🙂
Congratulations team Aiden. You guys are always having so much fun. The photo of boys looking out the back of the car is priceless.