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Speak up. Stop mumbling...
 Whether
it is a little niggle or a burning issue, here is your chance to stand up and say something.
There's only one way to get things done, and you might get some unexpected support. So don't
just sit there, do something. Send your moans and groans - big or small - to
Agilitynet.
Out of courtesy, please ensure that any club,
organisation or individual you mention is notified so they can reply. That way we can have a
real dialogue, and together we may be able to get something done about it.
Fight the Flab at the Festival?
Mandy Ireland
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I had to laugh at the
International Agility Festival at Peterborough where The Kennel Club were busy promoting
'Fight the flab' fitness for dog and owner!
Yes, I fully agree agility is a
brilliant way for dog and owner to get fit and fight the flab, but why then was it that
the only food stands available were a burger van, a sugary donut stand and an ice
cream stand!!
Surely all the flab everyone had
run off in the morning was quickly put back on at lunch time! Come on Kennel Club where
was the healthy salad and baguette bars and how about frozen yogurt to replace the ice
cream!
You've got to admit it's worthy
of a chuckle! |
Photo:
KC Web site
Julie York lost 9st after she started agility
and can now fit into a single leg of the trousers she used to wear! |
Disappearing Trophies?
Karen Jones
 Why
is it that show committees have come to the conclusion that coming 3rd in a class of 70 dogs
doesn't merit a trophy - especially in these days of ever increasing standards. To be placed in
the top 3 is a real achievement. I will certainly be thinking twice about entering a certain
show next year even though it's on our doorstep especially as Gary managed to get his lunatic
dog around a Grade 5 course, clear, for the first time in over a year of trying. He was
over the moon to get 3rd place and then was bitterly disappointed just to be handed
a rosette.
Well done to Lincoln who have
announced that trophies will be given to 3rd place in ALL classes regardless of
size. Surely shows are making enough money out of the competitors to warrant giving a good set
of awards? Especially when classes are being sponsored by local firms – really there is
no excuse to scrimp and save.
Or is this a ‘back door’ method of
reducing the number of competitors?
We have recently held an unaffiliated
little local show with just one ring – and we had enough money in the pot to give decent glass
trophies to 3rd place even in classes of just under 40 dogs. Having organised both
KC and independent shows since 2002, I have always said that people remember shows for nice
trophies and rosettes – even if you don't get to take them home. It is an incentive to try
harder the following year!
Come on Show Committees! Don’t be
tight! Cough up and give trophies to 3rd place!
Karen Jones -
Wagtails Agility Group
(03/07/08)
From Cora...
When someone manages to get a third place in an open agility competition, why are so many
clubs only providing trophies to 2nd place. We know the graded classes can be small, but we
still pay our £2.50 + entry per class. Also some clubs do not give clear round rosettes for
fun classes. Some handlers will only ever get a clear round and this means a lot to them
Also many of the classes are heavily sponsored. Are these club's only aim is to make as much
money as they can. I think every class should have a trophy up to third place and clear
rounds should be given
What do others think?
(17/07/08)
Time is Running Out for Lincoln Show
DDDave Roberts
 Well,
I achieved what I set out to do. I wanted to give my club the Lincoln German Shepherd & All
Breeds Training Society, its early members and friends from Yorkshire the recognition that they
deserved for founding agility by running a gala anniversary show. It took the agility world 30
years, but we got there in the end.
The
presentations were well attended by amongst others Bill Hardaway of the Kennel Club, June Bass
of BAA and Ken Tatsch of USDAA who cancelled his trip to the FCI World Agility Championship to
say thank you the founders who are now in the USA Dog Hall of Fame. He even presented the
organisers with a banner signed by all the agility clubs of America.
From the
response from the competitors, I think we got it right. We choose a venue that was easy to find
lots of space (at a cost) which was good for camping, had plenty of toilets and, most
important, a good surface for the dogs and handlers to run on. I don’t think there is a better
venue on the circuit. The judges we chose on recommendation of handlers - old and new - all did
a fantastic job. There were graded classes for all handlers and dogs. And there were the usual
perks for the judges, while all the helpers also got free t-shirts and lunch. There was even a
doggie goodie for helping. The helpers and competitors were also invited to a free
champagne buffet with quiz at night.
Could this
what is behind our 'downfall.' The LGS & ABTS Committee wants to stop us from putting on a show
this year because, according to them, one doesn't do this at trials shows!
None of them ever been to a agility show and yes, you have guessed it, 99% of the Committee are
trials people. Their shows averaged 90 entries; we had 6000, plus 300 campers as well as
flyball & Clever Dogs to organise. Being our first show, we were doubly delighted when the KC
Field Marshal sent us a commendation letter. We even made a profit. Sadly, this wasn't
good enough for our Trials Committee.
They claim
we spent too much money but when they gave us the okay to go ahead at the first meeting, it was
on the understanding that we didn't make a loss. 'Go ahead,' they said. Now they say that they
thought I would make a mess of it and expected me to call it off. How little they know Steve or
me. Just because we are happy and have a laugh doesn't mean we are stupid. They also said we
should not have paid people to help but when we gave them our first show costings they agreed
to them.
Where is all
this leading? If our own club will not provide a licence for a 2008 show, we would like to know
if there is another KC club out there that is willing to do so. We hope to have the support of
the LGS & ABTS Agility section - albeit small - and the members of Paws 4 Agility, a breakaway
section of Lincoln. Time is running out. Can anyone help or suggest a way forward?
Reply from the
Committee – LGSD & ABTS
The Committee of Lincolnshire German Shepherd Dog & All Breeds Training Society (LGSD & ABTS)
were advised that messages had been posted on the Agilitynet website by a member of our
Club/Committee, and we feel that we should respond to the messages posted concerning our
Agility show held in 2007 and forthcoming shows.
We, the
Committee, feel very angry - and yet sad - that one of our members has acted with this attitude
towards the Club and his fellow members by the 'Muttering' message posted on the Agilitynet
earlier this year. The Committee of any Club are in office to represent and look after the
interest of the members of all sections of that Club, and that is what the Committee of LGSD &
ABTS have been doing.
Unfortunately, the facts were not published as to why a licence had not been applied for to
hold a show in 2008. The Committee were impressed with the running of the 2007 agility
show and are aware and appreciate all the hard work that was put in by all concerned. However,
an income and expenditure balance sheet for the show had not been finalised and, therefore, the
show held on 29-30th September 2007 had not been concluded. There were many financial
issues/discrepancies that the Committee wanted resolving before a further Licence application
was made to hold a show in 2008.
Our member
was aware of the Committees requests and failed on several occasions to resolve the outstanding
matters having been given plenty of time and opportunity to do so. To date the Committee have
not received a satisfactory reply. A balance sheet, based on the information available at
that time, was eventually complied by our Vice-Chairperson and presented to the Committee at
the meeting held on 18 February, 2008.
We hope that
members of the Agilitynet will see that the Committee were at the time acting in the best
interests of the Club. We wish all competitors a happy and successful season and thank
all for their support in 2007.
(11/04/08)
A Passing Thought about Judges
From Graham Taylor
I have no idea where several of the listed judges are
based from the information provided on the A-list. Whilst I note you encourage areas
willing to judge - and I am more than happy to go to Scotland - I expect expenses would come as
bit of a shock for a one day show ! Can you encourage participants to give a named
home base area as even a postcode needs Sherlock to decode them.
North/South Divide
From David Campbell
I enjoy your web site immensely but what I wondered was why seminars on agility or almost
every other thing related to the dog world don't appear much north of Watford. I live in Co.
Durham and I really find it really difficult to attend seminars as they are so far away. Really
we don't rampage and pillage up here any more and at times we seem almost civilized.
Downloading Schedules from the Internet
From Suzanne Parmenter (West Sussex)
I
was just checking out the shows in my area and then reading the comments at the bottom one of
which was to complete the entry forms in word; I notice that some shows and, in particular the
Easter Celebration in March, have only supplied the entry form in a PDF format. I
always complete mine in Word and think it is a shame that entry forms are accepted in a PDF
format only as they will have to be filled in by hand. I hope this is an exception and that
most Clubs will continue to provide a Word version.
Just thought
I would write as sometimes these things suddenly become a trend!
(03/01/08)
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