Merlin's first comp of new season

labgirl said:
My friend can stand at the top of a course and run through the obstacles in her head. I have tried that and it just muddles me, so I walk, and walk, and walk, and walk:lol: That being said, as I get more experienced I think a course map could be a useful tool, as you said Irene, to help with the tricky bits.
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Where a map also might be handy is discussing technique with other people. I carry one to every track for the motorcycle and use them to show lines etc. Granted agility is different but there are similarities also.
 
Yay for Merlin's a-frame! And congrats on the nice placements!

Don't worry about getting lost, it really does happen to everyone :)
 
I have a big 4" binder It contains Course maps for every run either of my dogs have ever made since we started trialing and it goes to every trial with me, I mark down run lines where faults happened ( dropped Bar, bad Contact) and what it was, course SCT, Yds ,and actual run times. For me it is an invaluable resource after awhile trialing you start running across the same judges and very similar courses if not Identical to ones that you have already run :) . Where I find it
most valuable is with Snooker and Gambler courses as a lot of the Gambles & mini's will be the same for a peticular Judge, they all seem to have their favorites.

It takes a bit of time to keep the binder up But I feel its worth the effort and have gone to it on a number of occasions when trying to figure something tricky out.
 
Robin, you sound so much like me! I print out everything! And work out the stats, and double-check the courses to work out under which judges' course Merlin was faster at, and then how I can improve. I find it very satisfying actually. I also know the people to watch and see how they do the course, so I can get ideas. Then I do it all wrong anyway!:lol:
 
Congratulations to you and Merlin both! Sounds like a really positive show and your hard work is now paying dividends. Epic fell off the DW a month or so ago in training and I just put him straight over it again. He didn't turn a hair but it was scary for me! It's a pity the DW has to be so high off the ground. Brilliant that you have got the A Frame conqured by the sound of it too!


Hurtseverywhere said:
I have a big 4" binder It contains Course maps for every run either of my dogs have ever made since we started trialing and it goes to every trial with me, I mark down run lines where faults happened ( dropped Bar, bad Contact) and what it was, course SCT, Yds ,and actual run times. For me it is an invaluable resource after awhile trialing you start running across the same judges and very similar courses if not Identical to ones that you have already run :) . Where I find it
most valuable is with Snooker and Gambler courses as a lot of the Gambles & mini's will be the same for a peticular Judge, they all seem to have their favorites.

It takes a bit of time to keep the binder up But I feel its worth the effort and have gone to it on a number of occasions when trying to figure something tricky out.
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I've done this too for the few competitions I've done. I thought it would be nice to look back one day on all the mistakes we (I) made in the early days - I just hope that I won't still be making them! :lol:

Sophie - I do exactly the same thing! It looks so easy when other people do it..

And don't worry about getting lost on the course - I did a 'clear round' competition a month ago where the course was really simple, just up and downs and I walked it through loads but still managed to get confused in the first corner :gaah
 
Thanks Julia, I just get so frustrated with myself when I make a mistake. But I remind myself I am still learning too. Most important thing is that Merlin always ends the course with his tail wagging:yes:
 
labgirl said:
Thanks Julia, I just get so frustrated with myself when I make a mistake. But I remind myself I am still learning too. Most important thing is that Merlin always ends the course with his tail wagging:yes:
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aaaaaaannnnnndddd that you're having a good time, going home with the best dog there, and there is a glass of wine at the end somewhere for you also :D
 
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