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Kerry Blue Terrier Performance Newsletter
February 2007
By Jane Eno
As February comes to an end and March begins, we are busy preparing for the very active spring show season around here. There is a lot to look forward to in my house. I will be competing in Utility A with my Shih Tzu, Bailey, and trying to pick up some more MXP and MJP legs with my Kerry Blue Terrier, Jessie. As the snow and ice melts, we will be going back to tracking and herding practice as well. The season for outdoors trials and practice is short here, so we try to make the most of it.
With the new year, there is also a new class offered by the AKC for agility competitors called FAST (Fifteen and Send Time). In this class the competitors have a chance of accumulating points by working their dogs over a set of 15 obstacles with point values assigned by the judge. There is a portion of the course called the Send, which is taped off by colored tape. The handler must stay on one side of the tape, while the dogs work the obstacles on the other side in the correct order as decided by the judge. As Kerry Blue Terriers earn titles in this new event, I will try to post their names. Please let me know if you have earned a FAST title or Qualifying legs and when you earned them. There is both a regular and preferred (lowered jumps and longer times) version of this new class.
Right now, the first Kerry Blue Terrier owners I have heard from are:
- Betty Richardson. Her Dalton’s Riley got his first qualifying score in this new class in January, 2007. We should be hearing more from her soon, I am sure, as she finishes her Novice FAST title.
- Dana Kincaid. Her Daisy finished her Novice FAST title on February 16, 2007. Congratulations Daisy and Dana!
BRAGS
From Sharon Burnett, Official Spokeswoman for the R Gruppe (Rascal, Rocket, & Renny the Gator):
Rocket and I started up agility class this month. Considering I never thought I would be stable enough to run again, I am thrilled to have a Kerry back in training. Rocket is doing ok - he is not an easy dog to motivate. He loves to go to class, but would rather not work too much. He does enjoy the teeter and seems to like weaving!
We are entered in the Seattle Kennel Club's trial on March 10th & 11th. Our communications specialist at my work ran a little article about us in last week's employee e-news. Many of my friends have said they want to come to watch us. I hope they do. Whether we Q or not doesn't matter. The fact is that we're out there...I'm back out there. This is not about winning...although I think we are winners no matter what!!
From Lisa Frankland and Kerries Lav and Katie Rae:
Well, after a few close-but-no-cigar attempts, Katie Rae is finally on her way! She earned the first leg towards her utility title at the South Plains OTC trial in Lubbock Texas yesterday, with a 189 1/2 and 2nd place in a very strong class (9 competitors, 3 qualifiers, and at least 4 other dogs that came extremely close to qualifying). She looked good—only a few stress-related boo-boos, such as a no sit during a pivot, and taking FOREVER (okay, more like at least 2 minutes, but it sure felt like forever) to decide that the metal article she kept pausing at in her search was really the correct one, before finally picking it up and bringing it back to me. The judge and I kept exchanging puzzled/bemused/exasperated glances during this, and I’m very grateful to Janice Anthes for waiting out Katie while she checked her answer...again, and again, and again. Then, as icing on the cake, Katie went into Open B and got her first green ribbon and a fairly respectable score of 193 in that mixed up format!
Earlier in the month, Katie and I showed in rally at Hobbs KC and got two of the required 10 "double Q's" towards her RAE. It was a lot of fun for both of us--the only points we lost the first day were for Katie's barking/talking back in the ring (still ended up with a 96 and 4th place, and a 98 and 2nd), while the second day I lost us 10 points by doing a 360 turn in the wrong direction (oops), but we still managed a 90 in that class, and then a 99 and 2nd place in the other class. While rally isn't a high priority with me, it's a great way to destress and train in the ring, and earn titles!
UD, here we come!
From Betty Richardson:
Dalton's Riley (Riley) earned his RN and AXJ in Denver on Feb. 19. He has one "Q" in Novice FAST which he earned at the first trial to offer FAST in Colorado in January. It was lots of fun and we hope to earn some more "Qs" when we try it again this spring.
From Dana Kincaid:
Daisy, now titled CH MACH Kerigolf Flower Power RN NF NAC NJC finished her Novice FAST title on February 16, 2007.
Last Updated: 03/04/2007, 4:07 pm
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