AKC Agility Trial
May 8 & 9, 2010
Berryville, Arkansas
April 2010 Agility Trial report by Cj L. Titus
As trial chair I was a bit scared going into the trial, although I know
I can do paperwork, organize and handle people with the best of them, my
personal knowledge of agility is pretty weak - just knowing the basics for the
most part - Sherry was right - agility people all come together and help each
other run a trial. It was amazing. The volunteer schedule was pretty darn
flexible is a kind word to call it. Didn't matter - all I had to do was call out
people's names, others said whether they were there, left, going into the ring
due to move-ups, etc and what could they do to help and fill in. After the first
couple of times people jumping in, I just stood back, checked off my lists,
double checked those I had checked off earlier and let them do their thing. Our
club members were fantastic, both groups of those that knew what they were doing
and the rest of us were willing to help wherever it needed to be done. Leanne
was wonderful as a course builder, quick, efficient and tireless. She also
brought in treats both days for us to munch on! Nancy Grimm was stepped in to
learn the assistant secretary job and help Sherry at the table, and was always
available to work when needed. Jerry Baker and his wife Becky were just plain
amazing. Didn't matter when or what, they were there to help. I don't think I
ever saw Jerry when he wasn't working, heck I even pulled him into the ring a
couple of times to help course steward when I was short of volunteers along with
Norm. With Norm Gottee's help and Howard Gibbany's, those three men basically
setup everything, organized between setups under the direction of Leanne, and
cleaned up and packed up in record time. It was a fun, exhilarating trial, and
we learned as we do at every show, what we want to do for the next one to make
it better for us, our workers and our exhibitors! This wouldn't be complete
without saying Carroll County Fairgrounds Manager, helped out where he could
with RV parking, clean restrooms, great food in the concessions stand, repacked
our dirt floor, got us a PA mic to use, tables & chairs, and generally helpful
to exhibitors about where outlets, water, where to walk dogs including cutting
down some fairly high grass so the dogs had a good area to exercise outside. Our
judge Alan Author was perfect. Only word for him. He was patient, kind, moved
along, but never hurried anyone, easy to feed, the exhibitors love him and his
courses. A big thanks to Nancy Grimm for chauffeuring him back and forth to
Eureka Springs - as it freed us to do other jobs that needed doing . Kathy
Caswell, daughter and friend from Little Rock, helped make this a great trial
and one people are talking about coming back to for the next one and bringing
more friends!
Our agility trial is open to mixed breed registered with the AKC. For more
information about registering your mix-breed and the
AKC Canine Partners Program:
Click here
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