Final-ly Over

(Gillette, WY) When we awoke this morning we noticed a pretty rare morning rainbow from end to end. In fact, if you look closely you can see a little bit of a double rainbow.

This morning when we all got into the building we noticed that everyone looks really tuckered. I think most people are glad today is the final day. However, I'm sure many of the dogs would like a couple more weeks of this. Believe it or not, Wazzu is one of those dogs! It's a given that Sparkie wants more but it is a big surprise that Wazzu is in that group.

Today's Regular course isn't all that long - just 21 obstacles. It's a very flowing and open course - a nice course for the last Regular run that all dogs get to run. I figure the times will be very fast!

Sparkie ran first and was running beautifully. I tell you, she is trying so hard and running so confidently. That has been Mike's goal with her the last few months - just to build up her confidence so that she'll really go fast without any hesitations. And she sure did that here.

Unfortunately, at one point in the run Mike thought he had her all set for the next obstacle so he took his eye off her for just a split second and she darted into an off course tunnel. I guess to the dogs this was a possible obstacle but I don't think one handler saw this as an off course possibility. A few dogs actually did this though. Anyway, when Sparkie came out of the tunnel she looked a little worried but this time Mike really praised her and acted like that was exactly what she was supposed to do and then got her back on course. She did the rest of it with complete ease. No ribbon for this run but a HUGE good job to Mike on this for being happy with Sparkie on course even after an error. This is a huge step. Way to go Mike and Sparkie.

About 11:00am it was Wazzu's turn. And she was big time happy this morning. It is very cool, a little windy, and there was a slight drizzle as well - just the kind of weather Wazzu likes.

When there were about three dogs left in the class before us, they posted the Vet run order. So we got gathered and had our dogs all psyched up and ready to go. Then just as we were getting in line they pulled down the run order and put up a new one. So now the dogs they needed to get in the queue were out in the field warming up and those of use that were there ready to run now had to figure out how to keep our dogs "up" for another fifteen to twenty minutes.

Wazzu and I went back to the field and played a little bit. When we got back in she still seemed happy. In fact, she was happier this morning than I've seen her in a very long time. We got in the queue just ahead of Andrea and Token who have followed us in almost every run this weekend. There is no greater team to be next to as Wazzu really feels comfortable with both Andrea and Token. Andrea was always so nice to give Wazzu and I encouragement before we went out for our run. Andrea is the epitome of nice.

When it was our turn Wazzu took off like a bullet. She had a beautiful line with no wasted steps at all. She was totally hyped up. How fun is this!! I was having an absolute blast. It's so fun to see Wazzu come blasting out of a tunnel toward me with her mouth wide open and the biggest twinkle in her eyes ever. The look on her face during this run will stay with me for a very very long time. But then we came to the weaves. Each day Wazzu has been more and more reluctant to do the weaves. Yesterday she refused to do them and again today she just didn't want to do them. She entered and then skipped a pole. I think it is hurting her back to bend. Since she messed up so early in the poles I took her back and had her enter again. But she popped again right away so I said forget it lets just go on. Well she thought that was a great idea! She loves chasing me by the weaves - it makes her really silly. Plus the crowd knew that she loves the attention so they all started cheering - well now she was playing to the crowd and off she went. We did the second half of that course extremely fast and smooth. As we got to the last four obstacles that was a straight away right along the side of the arena with the bleachers (and the distance challenge) the crowd starting hooping and hollering. Oh gosh, did Wazzu ever show her stuff. What a great way to finish the Championships.

PNW Elite Regular Round Five results:

20"
Susan Perry and Harley 1st place
Kari Hammargren and Elf 6th place
Bart Pierce and Pulse 9th place

20+
Andrea Dexter and Ceilidh 3rd place
Michael Bruce and Jule 5th place
Mike Mason and Sparkie 17th place
Debbie Pierce and Kobie 18th place
Teresa Jewitt and Bogie 19th place
Pat Weinkauf and Quinn 22nd place

PNW Pre-Elite Regular Round 5 results:

8"
Bill Judge and Rosie 1st place

12"
Bill Judge and Teddy 1st place

20"
Susan Perry and Chevy 2nd place
Scott Imlay and Jade 3rd place

PNW Super Stakes Regular Round 5 results:

16"
Arlene Courtney and Trick

16+ vet
Karen Hunter and Quickie 3rd place

20"
Amanda Gross and Hope 4th place

(Sorry, I seemed to have missed Vets (my own class!!), Skilled and Jr. Handlers - guess I was getting tired!)

After studying all the results and looking at our runs and times we determined that had Wazzu weaved even just the average speed she usually goes she would have place in four of the five runs. How awesome is that. But if you can't bend your back then you can't do the weaves. But I'll tell you, Wazzu left everything she had on those courses. She had a blast - which means I did too!

After we finished our run we went out to the field behind the arena (it's an off leash area).



Wazzu saw Chelle's little dog and they were flirting big time. After a few minutes Wazzu decided she wanted to play with me. She did some huge play bows and then started doing crazy dog big time. She was darting here and there running by Mike, Chelle, and me and as she'd go by each one of us she jump way up in the air and pretend she was going to hit us and she'd fly by. Then she started doing big laps around us. At one point she ran over to the kids play area which has sand for the ground (the field is beautiful green grass). She started darting around the play area kicking up sand. Suddenly at one point, at full speed, she ran through the two tires and came back around to us with a huge smile on her face.



She thought she was so funny - and many of us were laughing as we couldn't believe she did that. Our laughing only hyped her up more. We finally had to make her stop as she'd been darting around for close to fifteen minutes! I so wish Wazzu would be this happy all year as she's been at the Championships. Every year she comes alive at the Championships. So even though it is very tiring and stressful for us humans, we'll keep doing it as long as Wazzu is enjoying it (which I hope is at least a couple more years).

So we're completely done! As soon as the Regular runs are over then they'll run the last team event. While they are resetting the course they'll do the raffle drawing as well. Then it will be on to the finals. Of course we'll go in to watch that even though we're not involved.

As soon as we got done with Wazzu's play time we went to the photographer's booth to get a picture taken will all four dogs. We warned the people that it would take a lot of patience as Boogie doesn't know the command to wait or stay (gotta work on that). We got the big dogs all situated and then set Boogie on top of the old suitcase. He sat there just perfectly! Who would have thought! Everyone was great. We didn't get the perfect picture - but we got a couple good ones. We're having them sent to a friend in Phoenix so we will get them late next month. I think it's going to be a really fun picture.

A couple days ago they gave out the 2007 Top Ten awards. Once again Wazzu and Sparkie were included. I was very surprised when Wazzu got some as she was out quite a bit this year due to her health issues. Sparkie did great as she was in the Top Ten in every category!

Here are the PNW Results:

Proficient Regular:
Sparkie 4th place (860 points)
Lacey 6th place (705 points)

Skilled Regular:
Robby 2nd place (410 points)

Proficient Chances:
Sparkie 7th place (320 points)
Lacey three way tie for 8th place (310 points)

Skilled Chances:
Robby 6th place (140 points)

Proficient Jumpers:
Sparkie 3rd place (465 points)

Skilled Jumpers:
Wednesday 7th place (145 points)
Cheers 9th place (130 points)
Robby 10th place (110 points)

Proficient Touch N Go:
Sparkie 2nd place (410 points)
Wazzu two way tie for 4th place (355 points)

Skilled Touch N Go:
Robby 7th place (140 points)
Cheers two way tie for 8th place (120 points)

Proficient Tunnelers:
Sparkie 2nd place (520 points)
Wazzu 8th place (430 points)

Skilled Tunnelers:
Robby 3rd place (195 points)
Cheers two way tie for 4th (180 points)

Proficient Weavers:
Sparkie 5th place (390 points)

Skilled Tunnelers:
Robby 3rd place (165 points)
Will 6th place (125 points)

Here is a very happy looking Mike with two of his favorite gals - Marj (this year's Super Stakes 20+ Champion!) and Sara. Quite the bling they all have.



I got a bit of bling too!



After the 5th round Regular runs were all finished today they ran the last team event. During that time the list of dogs that made the finals were posted.

Classes that include PNW competitors are as follows: (listed in order of seeding for each class)

Skilled 12"
Nancy Creel and Saales
Lynda King and Robby

Pre-Elite 8"
Bill Judge and Rosie
Chris Mosley and Winn

Pre-Elite 20"
Edward Drenten and Jazz
Susan Perry and Chevy
Paula Goss and Trae

Vet 16+
Susan Perry and Lacey
Diane Allen and Lucy
Amber Abbott and Kody
Wendy Hultsman and Racquette
Marnie Hammerite and Whim

Elite 20"
Susan Perry and Harley
Ken Perlmutter and Shayna
Pamela Smith and Jetta

Elite 20+
Michael Brue and Jule
Ann Zarr and Skylar
Leath McLaughlin and Merlin
Jean Marie Wilcox and Kopper
Susan Anderson and Flagg
Andrea Dexter and Ceilidh
Nicole Baily and Mojo
Mike Overton and Cowboy

The finals were fun to watch (other than the fact Sparkie wasn't involved...sob, sob). The interesting thing about the finals is that now that we have traveled so much of the country we know most of the folks. So it was fun to know the people and dogs and root for all of them! It was also fun as we watched the finals together with our friends, Pat and Bob. In fact, we got to see them quite a bit during the Championships. It was not only fun to visit with them, but it was fun to watch Pat run both Quinn and Will - who both ran extremely well! Oh, and Wazzu wants to send out a special really big thank you to Pat for giving her her blanket to lie on during the finals. Poor Wazzu was really cold and didn't want to lie down. So Pat gave up the blanket she was sitting on so that Wazzu would have something soft to lie on. Now that's a real friend!!

The final results for ALL classes are:

Skilled:
8"
3rd Chelle Schumann and Roja
2nd Janet Ooms and Teaser
1st Gro Aasgaard and Bebop

12"
3rd Rachelle Jenson and Kelly
2nd Lynda King and Robby
1st Nancy Creel and Saales

16"v jump 12
3rd Lisa Bonker and Moxie
2nd Nancy Creel and Kili
1st Lisa Bonker and Expidite

16"
3 Sandra Gebo and Max
2 Wendy Hulstmann and Qyette
1 Paula Goss and Split

16+
3 Dan Ethertan and ???
2 Jean McCreight and Zack
1 Denise Gosik and Zeke


Jr Handler
3rd Katherine Martucci and Dazzle
2nd Melinda Pope and Tali
1st Rebecca Kriz and Blue

Pre Elite
8"
3rd Jackson ??
2nd Chris Mosley and Winn
1st Bill Judge and Rosie (by 20 pts)

12"
3rd Bill Judge and Teddy
2nd Billie Rosen and Klev'r (Boogie's half brother!!)
1st Mike Omartian and Tate

16"
3rd Cathy Schmidt and Roxie
2nd Tracy and Molley
1st Jane and Missy

20"
3rd Susan Perry and Chevy
2nd Pauala Goss and Trae
1st Edward Drenten and Jazz

20+
3rd Bernice Gourley and Piper
2nd Bernadette Doyle and Kruzer
1st Leath McLaughlin and Blast


Veterans
4"
3rd Lisa and Emma
2nd Blair Bloxham and Zac
1st Candice Malvin and Cassy

8"
3rd Patty Leroy and Geordi
2nd Leo Fuerst and Maya
1st Jeanne Nixon and Brandy (by 1 point)

12"
3rd Brenda and Megabyte
2nd Kim Wiklof and Pinot
1st Cynthia Ernat and Hope (by .90)

16"
3rd Pam Smith and Oakly
2nd Sara Mckinly and Wizz
1st Sheri Singer and Sampson (by .21)

16+
3rd Amber Abbot and Kody
2nd Diane Allen and Lucy
1st Susan Perry and Lacey (by 27 points)


Elite:
8"
3rd Patricia Neal and Jake
2nd Richard Peterson and Tazer
1st Frances Godwin and Mack

12"
3rd Amber Abbot and Pokey
2nd Jen Rochedieu and Wedge
1st Lori Jenks and Taz

16"
3rd Tom Moloney-Harmon and Piper
2nd Kyle and S'more
1st Katrina Scott and Baby

20"
3rd Ken Perlmutter and Shayna
2nd Pam Smith and Jetta
1st Susan Perry and Harley (by 37 points)

20+
3rd Nicole Baily and Mojo
2nd Michael Bruce and Jule
1st Ann Zarr and Skylar (by 5 points)

Super Stakes
4",8",12"
3rd Scott Whittington and Lexis
2nd Gary Visintaner and Scorch
1st Tom Moloney-Harmon and Maddie

16"
3rd Arlene Courny and Trick
2nd Chris Nelson and Jewel
1st Gro Aasgaard and Rocky

20"
3rd Gary Visintainer and Suede
2nd Audry Bloxen and Impulse
1st Michael Omartian and Lodi

20+
3rd Lindsy Cooper and Brisco
2nd Jaz Whittington and Creek
1st Marjorie Ross and Chellie

16" vet
3rd Don Cuda and Blaze
2nd Carol Bevan and Jiffy
1st Sharon Nelson and Lucky

16+ vet
3rd Karen Hunter and Quickie
2nd Susan Rappillus and Fritz
1st Carolynne White and Lucy

Olivia Copeland and Tess - Jr Handler Ready to Run Spirit of Agility Award

Double Digit Awards (dogs 10 years old and over)
1st place awards:
8" Carla Ruebel and Petunia
12" Karen Merriman Willoby
16" Lynn Smitely and Yola
20" Chris Nelson and Jewel
20+ Karen Hunter and Quickie

Finally, it was announced that MAYBE the Championships will once again be held here in Wyoming next year. They're trying for another site - somewhere unnamed between here and New Jersey (that narrows it down!) but currently the required dates aren't available.

I may have missed a few things but hopefully you got the gist of it!

Still tired!

Debbie
9/23/07