The rules of agility are similar to that of showjumping. You go round a set course and get points for knocked over poles, refusals or being outside the course time. If you go round the course in the wrong order then you are eliminated.
We got eliminated in all our runs at that first competition in June 2016 but we still had a great day out.
By the autumn we had mastered the seesaw and also the weaves so, with some encouragement from the trainers, we entered a competition in December. It seemed a good idea in the warmth of the late September sunshine. It didn't seem like such a good idea when the alarm went off at 5am on a cold wet December morning. We were entered into four classes and again managed to get eliminated from all 4, but for our first ever 'proper' agility competition we had a great time especially as it was an indoor arena so a new experience for us both.
Fast forward to the late spring and more encouragement to enter competitions. The next competition was in early April and again it was 4 eliminations out of 4 classes, but we really enjoyed ourselves and the eliminations were handler error. A few weeks later and we were off again 4 more classes entered but this time only 3 eliminations! We managed to get round one of the courses without getting eliminated and only picking up 5 points for a refusal. We ended up fourth in the class but no rosette, I was so very proud of Hilda.
In June this year we were back at the same show, one year after our first ever visit to an agility competition. We were there for two days and a total of 6 runs. I was hoping that we might get one or two runs without getting eliminated, we managed three. I was even more surprised when we finished one of the runs and got a round of applause from the judge and ring party. Clapping from the judge at the end of a run only happens when you get a clear round. We had just got our first ever clear round, I was grinning from ear to ear. When the results were posted I thought we had come second and was thrilled with that result. When they announced the results over the tanoy for the presentation of rosettes I was a little confused when the second place was awarded to someone else. I decided that I had read the results wrong and we hadn't been placed but I was still thrilled with a clear round. The thrill turned to absolute amazement and joy when Hilda and I were announced as the winners. When I had read the results I had only looked at the times, I had not looked at the penalties, there was one dog who went round faster than Hilda but had picked up points. A win with a clear round within the course time meant we progressed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.
We managed a second win in June, two more in July and two more in September. One of the ones in September was clear but not within the course time so we remain at grade 2 for now.
Hilda and her June Rosettes & Tumblers
Hilda and her July Rosettes
The equipment shaped trophy's for her July win
Hilda and her September Rosettes
