In March he earned his second and third qualifying scores in Starters Jumpers and Starters Snooker. Jumpers is just what it sounds like - the course consists of jumps and tunnels - no contacts or weave poles. He completed it with ease - now he was half way to the title. Snooker is a bit more complicated - the course consists of 6 obstacles numbered 2 through 7, some of which may have more than one element i.e. one obstacle may be a jump and 2 tunnels or 3 jumps, etc. Then there are 4 "red" jumps positioned around the arena. Each red jump is worth 1 point and the other obstacles are worth whatever their number is - 2 through 7. Confused yet? It gets worse. Joe had to jump a red then any one of the numbered obstacles then another red then a numbered obstacle then a red then a numbered obstacle then complete the numbered obstacles in order - 2 through 7, all in 60 seconds. Actually he didn't have to finish but he had to get 34 points to earn his "Q" so you can see some strategy is involved. What I decided to do is do the number 7 obstacle twice then the number 3 which would give us 20 points in the opening (1+7+1+7+1+3=20) which meant that we had to finish number 6 to get more than 34 points. Now number 6 was the teeter-totter - not Joe's favourite. He'll do it - eventually - but it can be a painful wait. There was nothing for it but to try so off we go. Again he flew around the course hardly putting a paw wrong then he comes to the teeter. Up he goes and just at the tipping point stops. Sniffs. One step. Stops. The teeter starts to tip, the clock is running, and off he dashes. The buzzer goes - he's done it!
Now all he needs is a qualifying score in Starters Team Relay which means he needs a partner. Meredith Reeve, another member of Island Dog Sports suggests Zack, her silky terrier and Joe's buddy. A perfect fit. The next trial is on April 20 so we enter and everybody starts to prepare. Zack hasn't competed before - it'll be his first try - but hopes are high. In Team Relay each dog runs half of a course - some obstacles may be common to both parts - and they have to complete it in less than a designated time. When Meredith and I walked the course it seemed pretty straight forward except for the dog walk. It was the common obstacle and Zack had decided on the previous day's competition that he didn't like it - something about it bothered him. No worries though - we know he'll do his best. We decide Joe will run the first half and then Zack will run the second half. Okay! Joe's on the line - and he's off! Little legs churning, ears flying and tail going a mile a minute. Up, around, through and back to the line and now it's Zack - jump, weave, jump, tunnel, dogwalk - he hesitates but it's OK, he decides its fine after all, jump, jump, jump, jump and done! 66 seconds - but what's the time allowed? 62 - bummer, no, mini dogs get 72, hurray!! Cheers all 'round and France Jackson from AVID presents Joe with his title ribbon - which is now proudly hung on my locker at work where all can admire it.
Next weekend - the NADAC trial put on by Scallywaggs - Joe's in 13 classes - I hope I survive it! You can check out the videos of all Joe's qualifying runs on my channel on YouTube - the link is on the left. Just look for the "Q" in the title.
