The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

We came to Costa Rica and timed it for the annual Christmas USDAA trial when Ken Tatsh comes to judge. He is the founder and president of USDAA so we always learn a lot from him. He also volunteered to supervise me in judging. I judged the new Intro program and some starters courses.

Star dropped only one bar the entire weekend! She also got her second Masters Jumpers leg! AND she won Steeplechase!

I did notice that she is developing a Fly-off issue on Saturday so I worked the see-saw differently and it was perfect on Sunday. We could have won Grand Prix but we had a refusal at the tunnel!

I have some videos but won't be able to download them until we get back to the USA on Wednesday. The internet is too slow here. I am VERY proud of my little girl.

WTG Little Sister Star! You are really doing great in USDAA. Looking forward to seeing the videos.

We took the weekend off (good thing in view of the windstorm that swept our area). We are competing this upcoming weekend (for a total of 7 days in December).

Big Sister Rosey

Thank you, Rosie! I'll post videos soon.

Thank you, Big Sis Rosey! Good luck in your upcoming trials. We don't have anymore until next year.

Here are the links to the videos:

Starters Standard - Saturday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axu6qM2Qqdg

Starters Standard - Sunday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMw2-ui_W0I

Masters Snooker - this video lasts about 8 seconds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXwgZ8mvJ-4

Masters Jumpers - 1st place Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHrnNmqTP5E

Steeplechase - 1st place Q and with this we can go to Nationals!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk-LY-zjN7A

Wow the scenery is lovely.
Impressive collection of videos. Star was better on the teeter.
It has been so long since I did USDAA I was trying to remember how the games worked.

Colleen

Thanks, Colleen. The Snooker game is one red, one obstacle... after the third time of those you have a closing sequence. Star took two reds in a row so we got kicked out. In the Master's class you try to get a Super Q which is necessary for the championship so normally you want one red and the 7 point value obstacle which in this case was the A-Frame. It was actually a fairly easy one this time but we blew it!

Steeplechase is similar to a jumpers course except it has weaves and it has a contact. It is a Master's course with starters rules! Thus no refusals which is just fine with me. In USDAA the new requirement is two Q's in either Steeplechase or Grand Prix in order to qualify for Nationals. Nationals will be in Colorado on the last weekend in September so we are now entering those classes. Nationals used to be in October so there was no way that we could go or even try to before.

Sylvia

Yeah Star!!!
Great runs....too much fun in Costa Rica...wow...little international Star:)
Snooker is a tough class, but I used to love running it with my Midnight...she was a snooker Queen and boy did I screech back then

It is tough remembering the rules as you run when you have to change your plan. We got our Advanced title this summer only thanks to the judge saying "go on" when I was about to walk out of the ring thinking we had screwed up!

Nice job!
Makes me dizzy just watching!

Star is very fast! She looks wonderful.

Sylvia, I always enjoy watching you and Star in the ring. She is F-A-S-T and so obviously full of joy in performing. You do a great job keeping up with her.

Thank you, Lisa! She loves it!

I'm trying. The sad thing is that when we are running I feel as if I'm going extremely fast, then I see the videos and I look like a little old lady trying to keep up!