Following is a preview of the August 2019 games and courses for NDAL league play. August is the second month of the Summer series.
54X70 Games
The Summer series of the 54×70 Games league continues with the game Snooker.
Snooker is an iconic game in dog agility. The briefing for the game is spelled out fairly clearly on the course-map. This particular design lends itself to a greedy man’s strategy, tempting anyone with enough moxie and skill to have a go at the maximum score of 51.
Snooker is scored Points, Then Time.
50×70 Fast & Fun
The Summer Series for the 50×70 Fast & Fun league continues with a numbered course.
Scoring
A numbered course is scored Time, Plus Faults.
60×90 Masters
The Summer Series for the 60×90 Masters league continues with a numbered course.
Scoring
A numbered course is scored Time, Plus Faults.
36X85 Fast & Fun
The Summer series for the 36×85 Fast & Fun league continues with a Numbered Course.
Scoring
A Numbered Course is scored Time, Plus Faults.
An Open Invitation to New Players
New clubs are always welcome to join ongoing play. Download the scorekeeping worksheet below; contact the League Secretary to help with the details at Houston.Bud@gmail.com.
The 50×70 Fast & Fun League is intended to allow the dog to work at full extension with modest handling challenges: Download Scoresheet080119B50x70.xls
The 36×85 Fast & Fun League is intended to allow the dog to work at full extension with modest handling challenges. Download Scoresheet080119D36x85.xls
Existing league franchises will be emailed their scorekeeping worksheets set up with their current rosters.
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Questions comments & impassioned speeches to Bud Houston Houston.Bud@gmail.com. Visit our web store: www.dogagility.org/newstore. You’ll find in the web store The Book of Agility Games, a comprehensive reference to all manner of agility games played for competition and fun around the world.
We begin with the fourth-place team in the Series, Sport Dogs Jalisco out of Guadalajara, Mexico… because this team was the first-place team in June. Sports Dogs only won by a point, mind you.
The Top Dog in June, representing Sport Dogs Jalisco, was Broko, a Blue Heeler handled by Omar Alarcón. Broko and Omar finished this course with 5 faults in 41.81 seconds:
First Place Team
With a second-place finish in June, Dog Ranch Inc out of North Gower, Ontario moves up to first-place and wins the Spring series. The top scoring dog for Dog Ranch in June was Dante, a German Shorthaired Pointer handled by Gail Docherty. Dante and Gail finished this course with zero faults in 49.62 seconds:
It’s worthwhile to note that Dog Ranch will be taking the summer off, and will return to play in this league in October.
Second Place Team
Placing third in June Country Dream Agility out of Waterford, Ohio managed to hold on to second-place for the Spring series. The top scoring dog for Country Dream and in fifth-place overall was Kory, a Border Collie handled by Bud Houston. Kory finished this course with zero faults in 51.16 seconds:
Third Place Team
Matrix Dog, LLC out of Westminster, Colorado had two dogs place in the top five overall and finishes the series in third place.
The top scoring dog for Matrix, finishing in second-place overall was Dottie, a Danish Swedish Farmdog handled by Jennifer Giacchi. Dottie and Jennifer finished this course with zero faults in 49.37 seconds:
Also, for Matrix, the fourth-place dog overall was Jett, a Border Collie handled by Jennifer Bailey. Jett finished the course with 10 faults in 39.93 seconds:
Looking Back
You can find the 36×85 Fast & Fun league April 2019 results, the first month of the Spring series, here:
Questions comments & impassioned speeches to Bud Houston Houston.Bud@gmail.com. Visit our web store: www.dogagility.org/newstore. You’ll find in the web store The Book of Agility Games, a comprehensive reference to all manner of agility games played for competition and fun around the world.
The final month of the NDAL 60×90 Masters league Spring series featured a game called Time Warp.
Briefing
Time Warp is a numbered sequence that includes distance challenges that will reward the dog with bonus points.
On this course the dog will earn 10 bonus points for performing #6 to#8 without fault, so long as the handler stays on the opposite side of the red containment line.
The dog will also earn 5 bonus points for performing #9 to#11 without fault, so long as the handler stays on the opposite side of the red containment line.
Time Warp is scored Time, Plus Faults, Less Bonuses.
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Notice that the briefing for the game is fairly complete on the course map. This is intended to allow our leagues to prudently print out the course map for the league players. It’s good to have several eyes on the rules, the placement of equipment and other small details of the game.
Results
Follow this link to view individual performance by dogs and their handlers. Most of these are graced with a YouTube link:
Clermont County All Breed All Stars in Milford, Ohio ran away with the competition in June, scoring the top seven scores. Having won all three months of the series, Clermont County wins the Spring series of the 60×90 Masters League.
The Top Dog in the 60×90, representing Clermont County was Leela, a Border Collie handled by Brenda Gilday. Leela finished the course with zero faults, earning 15 on the bonus in 36.23 seconds:
Second Place Team
Jumpin’ K-9’s out of Temecula, California placed fourth in June, but owned a substantial enough lead to hold on to second-place in the series. The top scoring dog for Jumpin’ K-9’s was Rudy, a Mini American Shepherd handled by Patsy Needham. Rudy finished the course with zero faults, earning 5 on the bonus in 43.19 seconds:
Jumpin’ K-9’s will not be competing in the Summer Series, and will likely return in October.
Third Place Team
Country Dream Agility in Waterford, Ohio tied for third-place in June, and managed to hold on to place third in the Spring series. The top scoring dog for Country Dream was Kory, a Border Collie handled by Bud Houston. Kory placed eighth overall, finishing the game with zero faults, earning 15 on the bonus in 43.3 seconds:
Fourth Place Team
POTC THUNDER PAWZ out of Brimfield, Illinois tied for third place in points with Country Dream, and finished in fourth place in the Series. The top scoring dog for Thunder Pawz was Swiper, an All American handled by Cindy Snowden. Swiper finished in ninth-place overall, finishing this game with zero faults, earning 15 on the bonus in 43.32 seconds:
Worth a Mention
K9 Manners & More out of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma did not play in June, yet held on to a fourth-place finish in the series. K9 Manners will not be playing in the Summer series and is expected to return in October.
Joining the league in June ~ K9 Powersports out of Grand Junction, Colorado, placing second in June with a strong performance. The top scoring dog for K9 Powersports was Harry, a Jack Russel Terrier handled by Dan Schultz-Ela. Harry finished this course with zero faults in 38.07 seconds:
K9 Powersports will continue in the 60×90 Masters league through the summer.
Looking Back
You can find the 60×90 Masters league April 2019 Results, the first month of the Spring series, here:
Questions comments & impassioned speeches to Bud Houston Houston.Bud@gmail.com. Visit our web store: www.dogagility.org/newstore. You’ll find in the web store The Book of Agility Games, a comprehensive reference to all manner of agility games played for competition and fun around the world.
Clermont County All Breed All Stars in Milford, Ohio won each month of the Spring Series and is the Series champion. Three Clermont County Dogs took top-five placements in June.
The top scoring dog for Clermont County All Breed All Stars was Leela, a Border Collie handled by Brenda Gilday. Leela finished this course with zero faults in 28.72 seconds:
Second Place Team
AQ4U’s Fast & Furryous in Brooks, Kentucky took second- place each month in the Series. Representing AQ4U, the Top Dog in June was Brian Wakefield’s Blade, a Border Collie handled by Christina Wakefield. Blade and Christine finished this course with zero faults in 27.92 seconds:
Third Place Team
Agility Dream dogs out of Albion, New York finished June in fourth-place but managed to hold on to third-place in the Spring series. The top scoring dog for Agility Dream dogs was Bebe, an Australian Cattle Dog handled by Michael Hughson. Bebe finished this course with zero faults 33.37 seconds:
Fourth Place Team
Cloud Nine out of Maple Grove, Minnesota placed third in June, but stayed in fourth overall… by only two points. The top scoring dog for Cloud Nine in June was Siona, a Miniature American Shepard handled by Mark Meintsma, and placing third among all dogs in June. Siona and Mark finished this course with zero faults in 29.81
Worth Watching
It’s the nature of league play that we get caught up in the performance of the team, and fine performances by individual dogs are lost in the mix. The 50×70 is the most competitive and intense of the NDAL leagues.
We’d like to acknowledge several dogs worth watching:
Playing for Mobile Bay Dog Training in Mobile, Alabama Faith, a Border Collie handled by Kristy Gunther finished in 9th place overall with zero faults in 33.2 seconds:
Playing for K9 Manners & More in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Flicka, a Border Collie handled by Frances Scriminger finished in 10th place overall with zero faults in 33.37 seconds:
Playing for Sport Dogs Jalisco in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Kiara, a Border Collie handled by Jackeline Barba finished in 14th place overall with zero faults in 33.82 seconds:
Looking Back
You can find the 50×70 Fast & Fun league April 2019 results, the first month of the Spring series, here:
New clubs are always welcome to establish NDAL franchises. For more information contact the NDAL League Secretary, Bud Houston houston.bud@gmail.com
We currently run four ongoing leagues based on footprint (size of the field) and the complexity and nature of the challenge. NDAL games and courses for July, the first month of the Summer series, have been published here: https://wp.me/p2Pu8l-91.
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Questions comments & impassioned speeches to Bud Houston Houston.Bud@gmail.com. Visit our web store: www.dogagility.org/newstore. You’ll find in the web store The Book of Agility Games, a comprehensive reference to all manner of agility games played for competition and fun around the world.
The final month of the NDAL 54×70 Games league, Spring series, featured a game called Time Gamble, designed by Bud Houston.
Briefing
This is a simple sequencing game, run like any Numbered Course, with this small difference: The handler will guess the dog’s time and faults before beginning the run.
So the dog’s score will be the difference between the “guess” and the combined time and faults earned by the dog. Lowest score wins!
In a game like this it’s a good idea for the handler to declare the guess in the moment before starting the dog for the YouTube video.
It’s important to understand that the scoring basis for Time Gamble is the difference between the handler’s guess and the sum of Time and Faults. This raises the distinct possibility that dogs that rarely show up as top placements in pure for speed kinds of games have a chance to finish high in this game, given a good guess by the handler.
Results
Follow this link to view individual performance by dogs and their handlers. Most of these are graced with a YouTube link:
K9 Manners & More Broken Arrow, Oklahoma won the June competition handily and holds on to win the Spring Series.
The top scoring dog for K9 Manners was also the Top Dog in the June game. CoreyBelle, a Border Collie handled by Mary Green (who guessed 60) finished the game with 5 faults in 55.03 seconds, for a final score of 0.03
Another K9 Manners dog placed fourth overall in June. AnnaBelle, an All American handled by Therese Dawdy (who guessed 95), finished the game with 30 faults in 65.58 seconds, for a final score of 0.58:
Also representing K9 Manners, the fifth-place dog overall in June was Wally, a Border Collie handled by Frances Scriminger (who guessed 65). Wally finished the game with 5 faults in 60.58 seconds, for a final score of 0.58:
Second Place Team
Country Dream Agility in Waterford, Ohio placed last in June but with a plummeting score, managed to hold on to second place in the Spring Series by a single point.
The top scoring dog for Country Dream, in thirteenth-place overall in June, was Phoenix, a Border Collie handled by Bud Houston (who guessed 35). Phoenix finished the course with zero faults in 37.10 seconds, for a final score of 2.10
It’s worth noting that Bud was the Games Master for June, picking and designing the game. We can be assured that he will not be picking this game again for a long while.
Third Place Team
All Breed Training Club of Akron, out of Tallmadge, Ohio finishes the series in third place overall, and only a single point out of second place. Though to be sure, ABTC’s score in June was quite a drop from previous months. The top scoring dog for All Breed Training Club was Oliver, a Havanese handled by Ruth Drew (who guessed 60). Oliver finished the game with zero faults in 56.75 seconds, for a final score of 3.25.
Fourth Place Team
Agility Dream Dogs out of Albion, New York had a great outing in June, with the second-best score. But it was not enough to make up for a slow start in the series.
The top scoring dog for Dream Dogs placed second among all dogs in June. Riva, a Golden Retriever handled by John Babcock (who guessed 39), finished the game with zero faults in 38.93 seconds, for a final score of 0.07.
Also representing Agility Dream dogs, placing third among all dogs in June was Chase, a Sheltie handled by Lydia Hofmann (who guessed 34). Chase finished the game with zero faults in 34.37 seconds, for a final score of 0.37.
Sixth Place Team
Matrix Dog, LLC out of Westminster, Colorado has posted solid scores for May and June, but didn’t make up for a slow start. The top scoring dog for Matrix in June was Dottie, a Danish Swedish Farmdog handled by Jennifer Giacchi (who guessed 33). Dottie finished the game with zero faults and a score of 1.52.
Seventh and Last Place
A new NDAL franchise, Sport Dogs Jalisco, out of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico reported scores only two months in the series. The top scoring dog for Sports Dogs Jalisco was Charlize, a Border Collie handled by Ricar52 & 1/2. Charlize finished the game placing sixth among all dogs, with 5 faults in 48.09 seconds, for a final score of 0.59
Looking Back
You can find the 54×70 Games league April 2019 results, the first month of the Spring series, here:
New clubs are always welcome to establish NDAL franchises. For more information contact the NDAL League Secretary, Bud Houston houston.bud@gmail.com
We currently run four ongoing leagues based on footprint (size of the field) and the complexity and nature of the challenge.
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Questions comments & impassioned speeches to Bud Houston Houston.Bud@gmail.com. Visit our web store: www.dogagility.org/newstore. You’ll find in the web store The Book of Agility Games, a comprehensive reference to all manner of agility games played for competition and fun around the world.
International Dog Agility League 