When I first started in agility, with my Labrador Retriever Scrimshaw’s Midnight Orion, the only agility around was run by the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA). I joined a club in New Hampshire called Canine Agility Training Society (CATS!).
Orion and me at our very first agility trial. It was at CATS trial in Keene NH held on June 6th, 1993.
This weekend CATS was celebrating their 25th Anniversary. OMG…I’m getting old!! Kelsey and me at the last USDAA Trial that I competed in which was a CATS trial on June 5, 2004!
We decided to enter Aiden in this trial to support CATS and reconnect with some friends. We kept Aiden in the Performance classes which is the same as the AKC preferred classes where the dogs jump lower heights. This was Aiden’s first outdoor trial.
Aiden’s classes were on Sunday so we drove up to NH on Saturday afternoon and set up our tent and took a walk with the dogs.
On Sunday Aiden’s first class was Performance 1 Gamblers. It was hot and sunny but Aiden was his usual exuberant self and did not get the gamble.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPkYynDfMoU
Jaime, Pieka’s mom, who we only know though this blog, moved to NH a few years ago and we have been trying to get together whenever we are trialing in the area. We told Jaime that we would be in the Keene area on Sunday and despite having just flown home from working in Hawaii, and being awake for over 24 hours, Jaime came to visit us.
Jaime got to see Aiden compete in P1 Standard. Even being outdoors and being a bit distracted Aiden qualified with a 2nd place.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC0vn50_d2c
These two action shots are courtesy of Jaime. 
Aiden and his ribbons.
The temperature got to be about 84 degrees. This is the warmest it has been for us and the dogs since late last summer. It has not gotten above 70 on Cape Cod yet. This was quite a shock for all of us. Dylan was so happy to cool off in the pool!
Aiden’s last class of the day was P1 Jumpers. He did all the hard parts great but knocked one of the last jumps!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YLwC5DUH2Y
We had a great time and were happy to support the CATS club. It was super to meet Jaime in person. Thanks for all the great pictures Jaime. Here are two more she took.
Congratulations, thanks for the great photo’s and video. So nice you were able to meet Jaime.
Well you know how I love the retrospective posts but now you brought it to a whole new level…a retrospective on the owner! I loved it…and I loved your big wild hair! 🙂 Super cool you got to meet Jaime…and Jaime you have become a super photographer!
Thank you again Lynda for sharing your weekend adventure. xxxx
Thanks for the nice comments on the photos, Julie. It’s hard to take a bad picture of that crew.
That is true, but the quality is perfect!
Glad you liked the post Julie.
It was great to meet Jaime……and Jaime took some super photos. I have gotten lots of good comments about them and especially the last two pictures. I regret not asking Jaime to take a photo of me and Jack with the “boys” as we hardly ever get pictures of us both with the dogs.
“Like!”
It was great to meet Lynda, Jack, Aiden and Dylan. While it’s already obvious from their posts – I can now testify that Jack and Lynda are just as nice in person as you would think! 🙂 Dylan and Aiden are both gorgeous, sweet dogs. It was a lovely afternoon, even if I was kind of loopy with exhaustion. We’ve been trying to meet for awhile and this weekend it just worked out!
I agree with Julie, love the retrospectives. I love the last picture of you and Aiden-he looks so serene with this eyes closed leaning into his Momma.
Was Orion your 1st dog?
Orion was not my first dog. I had dogs growing up that I used to train in obedience. When I left home and moved to Massachusetts I brought my Labrador Retriever, Melly, with me. Orion was the first dog I trained in agility. He and I learned the sport together!
I watched the gamblers video. What is the course, or do you choose what you want to do?
Lisa,
USDAA Gamblers is similar to the AKC FAST class. From the USDAA website:
“Gamblers is a point-basis class wherein handlers develop their own strategy for running a course in order to accumulate as many points as possible during the time allotted by the judge. Typically, in planning their run, any obstacle can be performed twice for points and the handler may choose what obstacles they wish to perform and in what order…. Additionally, a judge may designate an additional time period during which a special challenge or “joker” (a.k.a., gamble) may be performed for bonus points. At the end of the allotted time, the competitor with the most points is the winner.”
You have a certain amount of time to earn your points and then when the whistle blows you attempt the “Gamble”. You need to complete the gamble within the time frame in order to qualify.
Aiden got enough points to qualify but did not complete the gamble. The gamble was the tunnel and two jumps. The handlers stays behind the line. Aiden went in the tunnel correctly but then came towards me. I was finally able to send him over the jump but he came to me again. I have to work on “distance work” with him.
Hope this helps you understand the gamblers class. In the standard and jumpers classes there is a set course.
Lynda, your posts are so much fun!!! I love the pictures with Orion and Kelsey, just great! Congrats, it is always such a joy to watch Aiden’s enthusiasm. Those last two photos need to be framed… good job Jaime!