Agility tourist, part 2: Oldie = Goldie?

One should never leave the analysis so late .. 

Oldie = nicer way of saying old ;)

After "the doctor's orders", i.e. recommendation from the osteopath, I got Rekku a Swiss Oldie competition booklet & license (the license number is really for me and booklet for Rekku). The way it works is that an owner may transfer an older dog to Oldies after the dog has turned 8, but there is no coming back to normal agility from the retiree 'Oldie' category. So the competition booklet is a new one, and lucky for me, is free of charge (another way to promote having fun with your Oldie dog?).

In the Oldie class the jump heights are lower, but its not all, as I learned at our first competition at Cossonay on Sept 21st. There is also no tire or wall for Oldies (as those are difficult for dogs whose vision is no longer as good as it used to be), A-frame is lower and the courses are level 1 or 2 only. Which again is a good thing, as the Oldies should focus on the fun instead of tight turns, tough contact angles and such. And, at the competition we were at, level 1 was perfectly fine with us.. (Maybe it's the years spent in SG, but the competition layouts here seem so much more challenging than I would expect!)

Only but not lonely

Before finally deciding to do Oldies already on Sept 21st, I asked the competition organisers whether there will be a class for us if we are the only ones signing up.. because I really wanted to compete since the competition was 'so close by' (only 45min drive) and if there had not been a class for only a few competitors, we would have done the 'normal' agility. (Nearly all competitions are far since we live in one end of Switzerland.) I needed the help of Carmen, one of our training buddies who speaks English, before the matter was clarified (did I already mention how much we like training at SCG?). The result was that yes, there would be an oldie class for us even if we were the only ones. Well, that is what happened - we were the only ones..

On the running order there are two of us in medium oldie class, but the other team did not show up. Paying for  competition runs seems to be pretty relaxed in Switzerland, so it easy to register when you don't have to pay right away, and I suppose it is easy to simply not show up if you have not yet paid..

The maxi oldie class was much more popular, so we really were not the only oldies at the competition. We were also not at all lonely because we went there with people we now know. It is FABULOUS to go to a competition together with the people you train with! Really, one of the best things about the whole day, the peers that cheer for you, video your performance and keep you company. (Now, naturally it would be great to have Rekku's manager and kennel boy at the competition too, but Rekku would then be too occupied worrying about the kennel boy that he would not focus on the competition. And, I do not think this is purely because he cares for the "puppy" so much, but more about him mirroring my worrying and not focusing..) So the fact that the drive to the competition venue with our coach Cricri was pretty quiet due to a language barrier (my French and her English are about the same level..) and only one of the peers present spoke English did not ruin the 'team effect' :)

Enjoying breakfast and trying to keep warm - Cossonay is higher up than home and thus the early morning was pretty damp and chilly. (In the name of Fair Play, Rekku also got a small slice of the bread crust..)

Agility

Oldies do not get to do Open, just agility and jumpers. This, again, is ok, as old dogs should not be doing much more than two runs a day anyway.. Agility is the only official class in Switzerland. Jumpers is unofficial and does not contribute to the competition booklet. But instead, all agility results get recorded - so not only clean runs, but the results with faults too. (Not sure if disqualifications would get recorded.) So no wonder someone doing agility for many years can have more than one booklet..

At Cossonay, agility was first. (Well, others had Open first as their warm-up.) Not good for me and Rekku, as we would have needed a warm-up too, we are known for always screwing up the day's first run. (Why are there no warm-up obstacles at competitions in Switzerland?) And we did - but not because of my nerves (the usual reason). I was actually pretty relaxed - somehow the pressure to perform was off since it was Oldies, and because we were the only ones in our class. But, as you can see from the video, Rekku's other back leg slipped from the teeter half way, and he jumped off. Unlucky!! Of course it was a fault, and another one came from the weaves that were a problem for so many others* too, something to do with the morning light and audience close by.. See for yourself: Video - Agility at Cossonay Sept 21, 2013

*By 'others' I am referring to level 1 competitors. Us oldies actually did the same course as the level 1 competitors, just with lower heights and a jump instead of a tire.

Our result in agility was 'very good' and it got us the first place. Heh, as if there was anything else but the first place on offer for the only team in their class..?

Jumpers

The jumpers course seemed complicated at first.. (walking it you kinda felt dizzy..)

But, since the pattern at the tunnels was the same, it wasn't that bad to memorise. We were better focused and even more relaxed than the agility, and look where it took us: A clean run in Jumpers (video) !!  Too bad that one did not go into the record book ;)

Oldie with care

Being at a competition with an older dog takes more effort. Rekku needed really good warm-ups and cool-downs plus many, many toilet breaks. He hung out with the gang and even rested a little in between the runs, but I think he spent a lot of time watching others just as I did (we were 'parked' just beside one of the rings). Luckily the competition venue had loads of space (fields) all around for walking. And when it was podium time, Rekku was still hungry for treats..

Rekku looking down at the treat that was dropped :D

It was kinda cool winning and getting prizes although we didn't really deserve them in agility ;) So, looking forward to the next competition..! :D