Garden League ~ Week 4 ~ May 3, 2020

You can find cumulative results for the Garden League here:

GardenLeagueResults.pdf

The NDAL is hard at work creating methods and practices for reporting. Your comments, questions and impassioned speeches are always welcome.

 

Join the Garden League!

Everyone is welcome to join the NDAL Garden League. We intend to operate this league at least so long as many of are confined to our own homes and back gardens.

You will likely be interested in the nitty gritty details for how the league will operate, how teams are formed, and how much it will cost. You can find those details in this document: Garden League Rules and Stipulations.

 

Week 4 ~ May 3, 2020 ~ Box Game / Looper

The week 4 Garden League game is The Box Game (a Looper). This game will go into the Book of Agility Games as “Cotterman’s Bermuda Triangle” variation to The Box Game.

The Box Game is a numbered sequence allowing the dog to earn 10 bonus points if the handler either stays outside of the box while the dog runs the sequence or stays inside the box while the dog runs the sequence.

Faults shall not negate the bonus.

As this game will be run as a Looper (a numbered course run twice without stopping) there will be two bonus opportunities. However, our game master, Heather Cotterman has stipulated that the second bonus can only be earned if the handler switches the inside-or-outside choice of the first sequence.

The Box Game is scored: Time, Plus Faults, Less Bonus.

 

Catalog of Garden League Games

During our start-up new players may go back and pick up courses played from the beginning of the league. New scores will be added results.

• Week 1 ~ April 12, 2020 ~ https://wp.me/p2Pu8l-dv
• Week 2 ~ April 19, 2020 ~ https://wp.me/p2Pu8l-dG
• Week 3 ~ April 26, 2020 ~ https://wp.me/p2Pu8l-dW

 

Discussion

The document: Garden League Rules and Stipulations contains our initial attempt to define how on ongoing virtual competition might work. Some of our methodologies will have to be learned as we go along.

I have attempted to explain my own very personal motivations for the Garden League in my own blog, if you’d like to follow along: Making a Small Difference

 

BLOG1495 NDAL

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.

Garden League ~ Week 3 ~ April 26, 2020

You can find cumulative results for the Garden League here:

GardenLeagueResults.pdf

The NDAL is hard at work creating methods and practices for reporting. Your comments, questions and impassioned speeches are always welcome.

 

Join the Garden League!

Everyone is welcome to join the NDAL Garden League. We intend to operate this league at least so long as many of are confined to our own homes and back gardens.

You will likely be interested in the nitty gritty details for how the league will operate, how teams are formed, and how much it will cost. You can find those details in this document: Garden League Rules and Stipulations.

 

Week 3 ~ April 26, 2020 ~ Looper

The week 3 Garden League game is a Looper.

Briefing

A Looper is a simple numbered sequence that is run twice, without stopping. On this course, after doing jump #9 the first time, the dog must be directed to begin again at jump #1.

A Looper is scored Time, Plus Faults.

 

Week 2 ~ April 19, 2020 ~ Another Minuet

The week 2 Garden league game is a Minuet.

Please note in setting this course. The placement of the RIGHT end of the tunnel is more important that the placment of the left.

 

Briefing

Course time is 50 seconds. The dog will repeat the numbered sequence until scoring time expires.

Each completed sequence will earn the dog one point. When scoring time expires each obstacle that the dog performs without finishing the sequence will be converted to a decimal value. [Hence if the dog does four sequences and the first two jumps when time expires, then the dog’s score will be 4.2.]

When scoring time expires the clock continues to run until the dog assumes a down position. The dogs time is measured from the moment he breaks the plane of the first jump until the instant he assumes the down position.

On any fault (dropped bar, wrong course, or missed weave pole or entry) the point for the sequence under-way is lost, and the dog must be directed to begin the sequence again, from jump #1. If a bar is dropped it remains down for the duration of play; but the dog must be directed through the uprights on subsequent tries.

The Minuet is scored Points, Then Time.

Week 1 ~ April 12, 2020 ~ A Minuet

The premier Garden League game shall be a Minuet.

Briefing

The Minuet typically features a numbered sequence with interesting handling challenges. Course time is 50 seconds. The dog will repeat the numbered sequence until scoring time expires.

Each completed sequence will earn the dog one point. When scoring time expires each obstacle that the dog performs without finishing the sequence will be converted to a decimal value. [Hence if the dog does four sequences and the first two jumps when time expires, then the dog’s score will be 4.2.]

When scoring time expires the clock continues to run until the dog assumes a down position. The dogs time is measured from the moment he breaks the plane of the first jump until the instant he assumes the down position.

On any fault (dropped bar, wrong course, or missed weave pole or entry) the point for the sequence under-way is lost, and the dog must be directed to begin the sequence again, from jump #1. If a bar is dropped it remains down for the duration of play; but the dog must be directed through the uprights on subsequent tries.

The Minuet is scored Points, Then Time.

 

Catalog of Garden League Games

During our start-up new players may go back and pick up courses played from the beginning of the league. New scores will be added results.

• Week 1 ~ April 12, 2020 ~ https://wp.me/p2Pu8l-dv
• Week 2 ~ April 19, 2020 ~ https://wp.me/p2Pu8l-dG

 

Discussion

The document: Garden League Rules and Stipulations contains our initial attempt to define how on ongoing virtual competition might work. Some of our methodologies will have to be learned as we go along.

I have attempted to explain my own very personal motivations for the Garden League in my own blog, if you’d like to follow along: Making a Small Difference

 

BLOG1494 NDAL

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.

54×70 Games 2020 March Results

The final month of the NDAL 54×70 Games league, Winter series, featured a game called Tunnel Jacks, designed by Mike Hughson.

Briefing

Tunnel Jacks is played like the children’s game of Jacks. The bounce of the ball is represented by performance of the straight tunnel in the middle of the floor. Then the dog will pick up onsies (one point); bounce again and pick up twosies (two points); and so forth until sevensies, or time expires.

Jumps are 1 point; and the u-shaped pipe tunnel is 3 points. An obstacle may be performed no more than twice in the same pick-up. Back-to-back is allowed only on the u-shaped pipe tunnel.

ON ANY FAULT in a pick-up, the dog must be directed to “bounce” (do the tunnel) and then reattempt the pick-up that was faulted. Faults include:

• Dropped bar (out of play for the game)
• Entering the bounce tunnel with more or less than the number to be picked up
• Doing any jump back-to-back.

When time expires or when the dog picked up sevensies, the dog must proceed to the tire to stop time.

Time begins when the dog first enters the bounce tunnel. Time ends at the table. Note that the tire is not live and has no point value unless time has expired or when the handler directs the dog to the tire.

Tunnel Jacks is scored Points, Then Time.

Course time is 60 seconds.

 

Results

Follow this link to view individual performance by dogs and their handlers. Most of these are graced with a YouTube link:

Standings030120A54X70.pdf

 

Top Dog

The Top Dog in the March 2020 54×70 games league represented Country Dream Agility in Waterford, Ohio. Kory, a Border Collie handled by Bud Houston, finished the game scoring 7 points, in 53.36 seconds:

 

First Place Team

Country Dream Agility in Waterford, Ohio won the March game, managing three of the five scores. Country Dream moves up into first place in the Winter series for the 54×70 Games League. As the Top Dog has already been featured, we’ll share the performance of the second-best score posted by Country Dream.

Katniss, an Aussie/something Mix finished the game with 7 points in 55.46 seconds:

 

Second Place Team

K9 Manners & More out of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma finished March with the with a strong second place finish. The top scoring dog for K9 Manners & More was Flicka, a Border Collie handled by Frances Scriminger. Flicka and Frances finished the game with 7 points in 54.9 seconds:

 

Third Place Team

Matrix Dog out of Westminster, Colorado finished in third place in the March game. The top scoring dog for Matrix Dog was Dottie, a Danish Swedish Farmdog handled by Jennifer Giacchi. Dottie and Jennifer finished the game with 7 points in 58.6 seconds:

 

Worth Watching

The top scoring dog for All Breed Training Club out of Tallmadge, Ohio was Oliver, a Havanese handled by Ruth Drew. Oliver and Ruth finished the game scoring 5 points in 28 seconds:

 

April Courses

New teams are always welcome to join us for NDAL league play. You are welcome to join any of our four ongoing leagues. The April 2020 National Dog Agility League games and courses have been published here:

https://wp.me/p2Pu8l-dj

We will not be publishing new courses until the world in general is no longer required to stay at home and maintain social distances that make organized sports impossible to play. In the meantime, for small groups that have the capability to play, we will make available courses from our historical catalog.

BLOG1492 NDAL

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 Joker’s Notebook, a series of workbooks dedicated to teaching agility dogs and their handlers to work at a distance apart.

36×85 Fast & Fun 2020 March Results

The final month of the NDAL 36×85 Fast & Fun league Winter series featured a numbered course designed by Mike Hughson.

A numbered course is scored Time, Plus Faults.

Results

Follow this link to view individual performance by dogs and their handlers. Most of these are graced with a YouTube link:

Standings030120D36x85.pdf

 

Top Dog

The top scoring dog in the March 2020 36×85 Fast & Fun league plays for Matrix Dog in Westminster, Colorado. Dottie,  a Danish Swedish Farmdog handled by Jennifer Giacchi. Dottie and Jennifer finished this course with zero faults in 36.09 seconds:

 

First-Place Team

Country Dream Agility in Waterford, Ohio posted the best team score in March, remaining in first place in the league series. The top scoring dog for Country Dream was Katniss, an Aussie/something Mix handled by Bud Houston. Katniss and Bud finished this course with zero faults in 36.54 seconds:

 

Second Place Team

Dog Ranch Inc out of North Gower, Ontario, Canada posted a strong second-place finish in March. The top scoring dog for Dog Ranch was Dante, a German Shorthaired Pointer handled by Gail Docherty. Dante and Gail finished this course with zero faults in 36.7 seconds:

 

Third Place Team

Finishing in third place was Matrix Dog in Westminster, Colorado. Matrix Dog  did not field a full team in March. As the Top Dog in March has already been featured, we will feature the second-best score earned by Matrix Dog. Scout, an Australian Shepherd handled by John Fisher, finished this course with 25 faults in 36.86 seconds:

 

April Courses

New teams are always welcome to join us for NDAL league play. You are welcome to join any of our four ongoing leagues. The April 2020 National Dog Agility League games and courses have been published here:

https://wp.me/p2Pu8l-dj

We will not be publishing new courses until the world in general is no longer required to stay at home and maintain social distances that make organized sports impossible to play. In the meantime, for small groups that have the capability to play, we will make available courses from our historical catalog.

BLOG1491 NDAL

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.

50×70 Fast & Fun 2020 March Results

A World Upside Down

In the middle of March the world started shutting down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Half of our clubs reported for the March competition. And only one or two are expected to report in April.

Consequently, the NDAL has revised the our league rules and stipulations to keep open both the March and April league games and courses until such time that the world sets itself back aright.

This reporting is late. And by our abridged rules, these results are also incomplete. As a courtesy to those who managed to play in March, we are pleased and proud to present the results of their play in March, 2020.

 

50×70 Fast & Fun 2020 March Results

The final month of the Winter Series NDAL 50×70 Fast & Fun is in the books. March featured a numbered course designed by Mike Hughson.

A numbered course is scored Time, Plus Faults.

 

Results

Follow this link to view individual performance by dogs and their handlers. Most of these are graced with a YouTube link:

Standings030120B50X70.pdf

Top Dog

Representing AQ4U’s Fast & Furryous out of Brooks, Kentucky the top scoring dog in the March 2020 50×70 Fast & Fun league was Legend, a Shetland Sheepdog handled by Lydia Robbins. Legend and Lydia finished this course with zero faults in 29.32 seconds:

 

First-Place Team

AQ4U’s Fast & Furryous (Brooks, Kentucky) had a dominating performance in the March competition, not only taking Top Dog honors, but also walking away with five of the top ten scores.

As the AQ4U’s top scoring dog has been featured as the Top Dog for March, we will share with you this team’s second-best performance. Blade, a Border Collie, handled by Christina Wakefield, finished this course with zero faults in 30.18 seconds:

 

Second-Place Team

Clermont County All Breed All Stars out of Milford, Ohio finish second in March, and in second for the series behind AQ4U. The top scoring dog for Clermont County was Leela, a Border Collie, handled by Brenda Gilday. Leela and Brenda finished the course with zero faults in 35.75 seconds:

 

Third-Place Team

K9 Manners & More in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma managed a third-place finish in the March competition. The top scoring dog for K9 Manners & More in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was Pip, a Standard Poodle handled by Philip VandeVerg. Pip and Philip finished this course with zero faults in 34.48 seconds:

 

Worth Watching

The top scoring dog for Country Dream Agility in Waterford, Ohio was Phoenix, a Border Collie handled by Bud Houston. Phoenix and Bud finished this course with zero faults in 36.48 seconds:

 

The top scoring dog for Pine Meadows DTC out of South Boardman, Michigan was Meems, a Spanish Water Dog handled by Cathy Winkler. Meems and Cathy finished this course with zero faults in 39.5 seconds:

 

The top scoring dog for Dirty Dogs Agility League out of Parker, Colorado was Ollie, an English Shepard handled by Heather Cotterman. Ollie was the second highest scoring dog in March. Dirty Dogs only reported two scores in March, so could not have posted a very high team score (which is the sum of the top five for a team). Ollie and Heather finished this course with zero faults in 29.56 seconds:

 

The top scoring dog for Matrix Dog in Westminster, Colorado was Dottie, a Danish Swedish Farmdog handled by Jennifer Giacchi. Dottie and Jennifer finished with 5 faults in 37.22 seconds:

 

The top scoring dog for All Breed Training Club of Akron, Ohio was Shelby, an Aussie handled by Steve Bagstad. ABTC of Akron fielded only three dogs so had an incomplete team score. Shelby and Steve finished this course with zero faults in 54 seconds flat:

 

April Courses and Beyond

New teams are always welcome to join any of our ongoing leagues. The April 2020 National Dog Agility League games and courses have been published here:

https://wp.me/p2Pu8l-dj

After April, we will not be publishing new courses until the world in general is no longer required to stay at home and maintain social distances that make organized sports impossible to play. In the meantime, for small groups that have the capability to play, we will make available courses from our historical catalog.

BLOG1490 NDAL

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.

Garden League ~ Week 2 ~ April 19, 2020

You can find cumulative results for the Garden League here:

GardenLeagueResults.pdf

The NDAL is hard at work creating methods and practices for reporting. Your comments, questions and impassioned speeches are always welcome.

 

Join the Garden League!

Everyone is welcome to join the NDAL Garden League. We intend to operate this league at least so long as many of are confined to our own homes and back gardens.

You will likely be interested in the nitty gritty details for how the league will operate, how teams are formed, and how much it will cost. You can find those details in this document: Garden League Rules and Stipulations.

 

Week 2 ~ April 19, 2020 ~ Another Minuet

The week 2 Garden league game shall also be a Minuet.

Please note in setting this course. The placement of the RIGHT end of the tunnel is more important that the placment of the left.

Briefing

Course time is 50 seconds. The dog will repeat the numbered sequence until scoring time expires.

Each completed sequence will earn the dog one point. When scoring time expires each obstacle that the dog performs without finishing the sequence will be converted to a decimal value. [Hence if the dog does four sequences and the first two jumps when time expires, then the dog’s score will be 4.2.]

When scoring time expires the clock continues to run until the dog assumes a down position. The dogs time is measured from the moment he breaks the plane of the first jump until the instant he assumes the down position.

On any fault (dropped bar, wrong course, or missed weave pole or entry) the point for the sequence under-way is lost, and the dog must be directed to begin the sequence again, from jump #1. If a bar is dropped it remains down for the duration of play; but the dog must be directed through the uprights on subsequent tries.

The Minuet is scored Points, Then Time.

 

Catalog of Garden League Games

During our start-up new players may go back and pick up courses played from the beginning of the league. New scores will be added results.

• Week 1 ~ April 12, 2020 ~ https://wp.me/p2Pu8l-dv

 

Discussion

The document: Garden League Rules and Stipulations contains our initial attempt to define how on ongoing virtual competition might work. Some of our methodologies will have to be learned as we go along.

I have attempted to explain my own very personal motivations for the Garden League in my own blog, if you’d like to follow along: Making a Small Difference

 

BLOG1489 NDAL

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.

60×90 Masters 2020 March Results

A World Upside Down

In the middle of March the world started shutting down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Half of our clubs reported for the March competition. And only one or two are expected to report in April.

As a consequence the NDAL has revised the our league rules and stipulations to keep open both the March and April league games and courses until such time that the world sets itself back aright.

This reporting is late. And by our abridged rules, these results are also incomplete. As a courtesy to those who managed to play in March, we are pleased and proud to present the results of their play in March, 2020.

60×90 Masters 2020 March Results

The final month of the NDAL 60×90 Masters league Winter series featured a numbered course designed by Mike Hughson.

A numbered course is scored Time, Plus Faults.

Results

Follow this link to view individual performance by dogs and their handlers. Most of these are graced with a YouTube link:

Standings030120C60X90.pdf

 

Top Dog

The Top Dog in the final month of the 60×90 Masters Winter series plays for Dirty Dogs Agility League in Parker, Colorado. Dirty Dogs ran only one dog in the March game. For Dirty Dogs, Ollie, an English Shepherd handled by Heather Cotterman finished this course with zero faults in 28.8 seconds:

 

First Place Team

Clermont County All Breed All Stars, the team in Milford, Ohio won in March again taking 6 of the top 10 placements.

The top scoring dog for Clermont County was Meherah, a Border Collie handled by Daelyn Grome. Meherah and Daelyn finished this course with zero faults in 34.47 seconds:

 

Second Place Team

K9 Manners & More out of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma had a great showing in March, moving into second place from a fourth-place tie. The top scoring dog for K9 Manners was Hotch, a Border Collie handled by Frances Scriminger. Hotch and Frances finished this course with zero faults in 40.5 seconds:

 

Third Place Team

POTC Thunder Pawz in Brimfield, Illinois held on to third place in March, and finish the Winter league in third. The top scoring dog for POTC was Swiper, an All American handled by Cindy Snowden. Swiper and Cindy finished the March course with zero faults in 40.19 seconds:

 

Worth Watching

The top scoring dog for Country Dream Agility in Waterford, Ohio was Kory, a Border Collie handled by Bud Houston. Kory and Bud finished the course with zero faults in 46.96 seconds:

 

April Courses and Beyond?

New teams are always welcome to join us for NDAL league play. You are welcome to join any of our four ongoing leagues. The April 2020 National Dog Agility League games and courses have been published here:

https://wp.me/p2Pu8l-dj

We will not be publishing new courses, beyond April, until the world in general is no longer required to stay at home and maintain social distances that make organized sports impossible to play. In the mean time, for small groups that have the capability to play, we will make available courses from our historical catalog.

BLOG1488 NDAL

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.

Garden League ~ Week 1 ~ April 12, 2020

Fitting to our times and circumstances, I am pleased to announce that the National Dog Agility League (NDAL) will begin a unique team agility competition. Given that you have a bit of agility equipment and a small yard (or garden) we will publish weekly a game that anyone in the world can play.

All results will be rolled up as a single competition. Everyone who plays will be expected to record the performance of his or her own dogs and post these to YouTube, including a link to that recording in the weekly results.

You will likely be interested in the nitty gritty details for how the league will operate, how teams are formed, and how much it will cost. You can find those details in this document: Garden League Rules and Stipulations.

Week 1 2020 ~ A Minuet

The premier Garden League game shall be a Minuet.

Briefing

The Minuet typically features a numbered sequence with interesting handling challenges. Course time is 50 seconds. The dog will repeat the numbered sequence until scoring time expires.

Each completed sequence will earn the dog one point. When scoring time expires each obstacle that the dog performs without finishing the sequence will be converted to a decimal value. [Hence if the dog does four sequences and the first two jumps when time expires, then the dog’s score will be 4.2.]

When scoring time expires the clock continues to run until the dog assumes a down position. The dogs time is measured from the moment he breaks the plane of the first jump until the instant he assumes the down position.

On any fault (dropped bar, wrong course, or missed weave pole or entry) the point for the sequence under-way is lost, and the dog must be directed to begin the sequence again, from jump #1. If a bar is dropped it remains down for the duration of play; but the dog must be directed through the uprights on subsequent tries.

The Minuet is scored Points, Then Time.

 

Discussion

The document: Garden League Rules and Stipulations contains our initial attempt to define how on ongoing virtual competition might work. Some of our methodologies will have to be learned as we go along.

I have attempted to explain my own very personal motivations for the Garden League in my own blog, if you’d like to follow along: Making a Small Difference

BLOG1486 NDAL

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.