We kicked some ASCA!!

We went back to Thorsen's Arena in Morgan Hill last weekend for the first 2016 PASA trial. Thorsen's has two huge, side-by-side covered arenas, with a wide aisle in the middle and an elevated building with a view of both rings.  There are panoramic views of the lush, surrounding hills, complete with grazing horses and cattle.  It's a great place for trials during California's rainy season.  No rain last weekend, though!  No mud.  Yay!!!

PASA only needs one ring.  Lots of room!

PASA is an ASCA club.  Back to 'smooth & flowing courses.'  Smooth + Flowing = Fast.

Per the ASCA Agility Rules:  'All agility courses used in Agility Trials for which ASCA is the sole or primary sanctioning organization must receive an ASCA course review to ensure consistency with the ASCA Agility philosophy of safe, flowing courses with challenges appropriate to the intended levels.'

Lots of people stepped up to help - that always makes things more fun for everyone.  The usual laughter, and then some.  Coffee, homemade muffins, bagels and boiled eggs for breakfast; and Mona's famous chicken noodle soup and a salad for lunch.  PASA knows how to put on a trial. This one was more than full, and it went until ~7pm Saturday.  Thankfully it ended earlier on Sunday. We had a few equipment hiccups but otherwise it ran like a clock.

There was a tall, friendly Italian man there with his family.  His young girls were running dogs in the trial.  His name was Luigi Semenzato. He took pictures and shared them with the participants.  Thank you, Luigi!

Jemima's signature tongue and tippy-toes

The courses were fun, and seemed extra challenging this time, with a few angles that needed some effort to make the dog's path clear and fast.

Cake & pie with Jemima.  She ran 8 of her 10 runs clean.  She's doing so great for just turning 10. Solid girl.

I moved her down from 20" to 16" jumps shortly after she turned 7. She could still jump 20" with little effort.  She's always been a powerful jumper.  She loves this sport so much.  I take care with her to be sure she can do it for a long time.

Eyes on the mama.  (Blogger won't let a caption be added to the picture grrrr ...)

Look at her fly

Jemima always barks several times, loudly, when I remove her leash at the start line.  And again at the end of the run.

Bark! Bark! Bark! Bark!

But is nice & quiet during her runs.  :)

Speed demon

VIXEN did great, too!  She had some super dandy runs!  I even managed to keep up with her and she won a few!  Hot damn!  Bring home the blue, baby girl!!!

At a crucial point in one class, I let out my banshee yell to keep her on course.  I saw smiles through the blur of our run, heard laughter. She won that class.  :)

Vixen's signature banshee-shark style

She is a piece of work.  Crazy fast.  Her start lines and contacts were almost 100%.  Most of the bars stayed in their cups!

And as usual, she had opinions.









I got a bonus on Sunday when Mona asked if could run Vixen's little sister in a couple of classes.  It was my first time to run the pretty young one in a trial setting, and Lizzie did great.  She, too, has opinions.  Love her.  Anytime, Mona!

Jump height is not an issue with the Lizzard

It's been a few days since the trial, and I've finally caught up with unpacking and laundry.  I don't care.  I love it so.  It's the thing we do to forget all the things we want to forget for awhile.  They'll be there when we get back, usually diminished in size.  Life is good.