KZNDAA Champ Show 22 April 2012

The KwaZulu Natal Dog Athletics Association Championship Show this past Sunday was the first champ show of the year. It was also Ozz's first time competing in the highest grades for all three classes as he qualified up into these classes towards the end of last year. In Contact Agility he took one bar down, and in Non Contact he took two bars down as well as not going directly into the rigid tunnel and therefore getting a refusal penalty. But the courses were lovely, especially the Non Contact - very open and flowing. The Dog Jumping Grade 1 course was a nightmare - there were 4 places that we had to go around the jump and do it from the back and I didn't think we stood a chance. Ozz surprised me though by going clear although my handling was messy (there was no smooth way of handling the course!). There were only 5 dogs through to the jump-off (out of about 15 - most other dogs were disqualified by doing a jump from the wrong side). The jump-off course was better as it was the same for all the grades (even for the beginner dogs), and Ozz went clear with the fastest time (10.09 seconds), narrowly beating his gorgeous little sister Q'ba who had 10.47 seconds). This earned him his first Qualification Certificate towards Champion status ... :-)

Sparkle is improving at each show in confidence and speed, and she won her Contact Agility Class (Grade 1) with a clear round and qualification. In the Non Contact she really went very well and fast (for her) but unfortunately took two bars down (in her haste - lol) and got a 3rd place. In the Dog Jumping she went clear to also get a first place and qualification.

"Little" Glitz (basically as tall as Sparkle at only five months - still another couple of month's growth ahead) had a great day's outing too - she loves being out and about.

We had a good day, despite the weather being aweful - raining, windy and chilly. Looking forward to the rest of the year's shows.