2011 Nationals Forum Meetup

[ClantyreSheltie]

It was on the performance list. ASSA figured out that parent clubs can do whatever they want, regardless of other local events. So they had scheduled it on Monday, outside, because of the local three day trial. The ASSA board got to see first hand the field that apparently doesn't drain, and contacted the AKC about holding the trial over the all-breed trial. AKC OK'd it, so they moved it to Friday, inside.

 

[Silaria]

Dang it. If that's the case, then I may have to rethink whether or not I can attend.

 

[tofu pup]

Based on the new schedule, I will probably be skipping the 2011 National. They have moved agility to the Friday before, which means an extra day off that I am not willing to take. And that means if I wanted to enter River in "Most Versatile Sheltie" I would have to stay (and pay for) a minimum of 8 days in a hotel. So I think I will pass this year.

This stinks! As you say, it discourages people from doing Most Versatile Sheltie (and from doing both Conformation and Agility, if they weren't planning on MVS). It also makes the agility competition just that much more removed from the rest of the National, which just seems wrong - I know that Herding is often done far away, because it has very specific requirements (space and stock!), but Agility, too? This is our week to showcase the breed as a whole, not just the Conformation dogs.

That said... was the drainage really that big an issue? I would think that Purina Farms would have a top-notch field for agility, if not a covered arena.

(Also, I just looked at the detailed schedule... "60's attire to be worn in the ring" on Wednesday? Call me a spoil-sport, but no, thank you. )

 

[Lightplum]

(Also, I just looked at the detailed schedule... "60's attire to be worn in the ring" on Wednesday? Call me a spoil-sport, but no, thank you. )

uuhhh I wholeheartedly agree on that...ick no way!!


That stinks about them holding events soo far apart in time from each other I mean seriously what do they think people can just take 2 weeks off from work to attend nationals?!?!! Thats just crazy! Heck just getting one week off is usually a huge deal, well atleast in my field it is....

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

Apparently the field is pretty bad. We had one like that here in NOVA, and they had to stop using it. So I kind of understand that. Nobody wants to run in a sinking mud hole.

However:
1. How about a venue that can support everything? Like the Cabbarus Event Center in North Carolina? The CCA rejected the Purina site because it was too small.

2. What's with the "no more than one event a day" business? When I went to the perfect National in North Carolina, herding was on Sunday/Monday, Agility was Tue/Wed (outdoors), Obedience/Rally was Thurs/Fri. AND they had 1000 dogs entered in breed. People managed just fine. This was a CCA National, and yes, there were two days of each performance event. They aren't stuck on "fairness" to the conformation people. And this is why they are sitting on a substantial amount of money.

I feel bad for the people who work their butts off to put these Nationals together under such stupid, outdated, head-in-the sand rules that ASSA has put in place. And if I weren't afraid of ASSA dropping performance all together, I would suggest splitting off the performance events into one spectacular week of "Performance National". But that would give them an excuse to just stop holding them.

 

[Ann]

(Also, I just looked at the detailed schedule... "60's attire to be worn in the ring" on Wednesday? Call me a spoil-sport, but no, thank you. )

And what the heck is '60s attire to be? Are we all supposed to teeter around the ring Mad Men style in sheaths and spike heels with cone bras so far out we can't see our dogs???? No thank you, indeed....

 

[tofu pup]

And what the heck is '60s attire to be? Are we all supposed to teeter around the ring Mad Men style in sheaths and spike heels with cone bras so far out we can't see our dogs???? No thank you, indeed....

I actually figured out the solution: I was thinking 60's attire=hippies. But Jackie O. was a 60's style icon, and I will be wearing (as always) a smart suit. Problem solved!

 

[tofu pup]

Apparently the field is pretty bad. We had one like that here in NOVA, and they had to stop using it. So I kind of understand that. Nobody wants to run in a sinking mud hole.

However:
1. How about a venue that can support everything? Like the Cabbarus Event Center in North Carolina? The CCA rejected the Purina site because it was too small.

2. What's with the "no more than one event a day" business? When I went to the perfect National in North Carolina, herding was on Sunday/Monday, Agility was Tue/Wed (outdoors), Obedience/Rally was Thurs/Fri. AND they had 1000 dogs entered in breed. People managed just fine. This was a CCA National, and yes, there were two days of each performance event. They aren't stuck on "fairness" to the conformation people. And this is why they are sitting on a substantial amount of money.

I feel bad for the people who work their butts off to put these Nationals together under such stupid, outdated, head-in-the sand rules that ASSA has put in place. And if I weren't afraid of ASSA dropping performance all together, I would suggest splitting off the performance events into one spectacular week of "Performance National". But that would give them an excuse to just stop holding them.

What really disappoints me is that Purina Farms bills itself as a premier dog-event facility... which should mean that it has a top-notch, properly-draining agility field. I feel like I've been hearing about Purina Farms being the be-all, end-all for years (I haven't been there yet), and now I find out they can't manage to maintain a properly-graded 100x100 grass field? Geeze.

I do remember seeing that obedience and rally were going on at the same time, in the same building, as conformation at this year's CCA. I don't think it detracted at all from what we were doing in the breed ring (frankly, it was fun to be able to wander over and watch the rally dogs compete).

 

[Tami]

This stinks! As you say, it discourages people from doing Most Versatile Sheltie (and from doing both Conformation and Agility, if they weren't planning on MVS). It also makes the agility competition just that much more removed from the rest of the National, which just seems wrong - I know that Herding is often done far away, because it has very specific requirements (space and stock!), but Agility, too? This is our week to showcase the breed as a whole, not just the Conformation dogs.

It was like that in Tucson this year and I didn't like it. I don't show agility but the Nationals were held at a convention center in the middle of the city and agility was at a park a couple miles away. It totally removed the Nationals vibe from the sport and going to watch it was just like any agility trial in any park on any given weekend. I was disappointed and I was only a spectator. IMO a huge part of making the typically long trip, taking time off work, spending the money is to be 'part of Nationals' and it really seemed to take that away. Obedience/Rally were even across the street from the convention center at a hotel that had a large enough lawn area. If I was just a random spectator or a new person coming to watch it would have been discouraging to find only breed classes or to have to drive to 4 different locations to watch everything...or to not even realize that there were other things happening at different locations. I love breed but even to me just sitting there watching class after class can get tedious so that probably wouldn't catch the interest of many new people looking to get into the breed.

Oh and please don't think I'm not criticizing the clubs that put on the Nationals. I know they have to find the facility that offers as much as possible and there probably aren't that many sites available that fit everyones needs. It was just an observation.

 

[RonandJan]

I actually figured out the solution: I was thinking 60's attire=hippies. But Jackie O. was a 60's style icon, and I will be wearing (as always) a smart suit. Problem solved!

Just add the pillbox hat and the big sunglasses to your smart suit and you are good to go for 60's attire!