2009 DOCNA Championships
By Brenna Fender, photo courtesy Ann Fake
On October 9-11, 2009, DOCNA held its third National Championships in both Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and Prescott Valley, Arizona. In this unique two-trial event, competitors at two locations on opposite sides of the country both ran the same course, called the “North America Challenge.” Results were combined to declare one national winner in each level, division, and height.
The National Championships weekend included more than just the Challenge event. Regional competitions (scored among the competitors at each separate location) offered Standard, Jumpers, Gamblers, Strategic Time Gamble, Snakes `N Ladders, and Trigility (a team event in which one dog runs a portion of a Standard course, one a Jumpers course, and one a Gamblers course). Placements for each of these classes, except Standard and Jumpers, were awarded regionally based on one run.
The Standard and Jumpers classes were treated differently. One run of each was offered (with Regional placements) on Friday and again on Saturday, and the scores in both runs were totaled. The top 25% of each combined class became eligible to run in a Finals round, held on Sunday. The scores from all three rounds were then totaled and cumulative Regional placements were awarded to the top three winners of each class.
DOCNA offered Intern and Specialist levels at their Nationals. Intern courses, which are at the intermediate experience level, are shorter and with fewer difficulties than found in Specialist classes (DOCNA has a Beginner level as well, but it was not available at the Nationals). DOCNA also offered Competition (the most challenging), Select, Junior Handler, Veteran, and Grand Veteran divisions within those levels. Each division/level had separate awards and placements for each jump height.
The North American Challenge presented special concerns to event organizers. Since the same course was run in two locations, the Bloomsburg Agility Runners Club (BARC), which assisted in running the Eastern Championships, along with judge Cindi Susak, worked closely with western coordinators Tom Tierney and Terri Stevens and judge Ann McQuillen to be sure that the courses were exactly the same. “It took about three hours to set the course,” says DOCNA President Jim Mills, who was present at the Eastern event. The groups used the traditional tape measure to help make the courses identical, but also got some help from modern technology by taking pictures and sending them electronically back and forth to help guarantee a match.
Many competitors enjoyed DOCNA’s unique way of handling their Championship events. Ann Fake, who won the both the 2009 East Coast National Championship 16" and 20" Select Intern classes with two of her three dogs, says, “I love the atmosphere of DOCNA. [The event] is small enough that you get to see almost everyone at the Championships that you may see compete during the year. Having it simultaneously on both coasts allows that intimacy. It is fun to see teams that you have watched grow over the past few years do well at the Champs. There is a lot of camaraderie and support at the Championships.” Patty Capozzolo, who won 2nd place in Regional Championship NAC in 16" Specialist with her Border Collie, Tucker, also had a great time at the event. “The judge had great courses for us; the competition was fun and exciting,” she says. Cindi Hummel and her Rat Terrier, Maggie, also had a fun experience. “We enjoyed competing against individuals from both coasts. There was great camaraderie amongst all the competitors and everybody was more than ready to help with anything that needed to be done, from setting courses to handing out raffle prizes,” she says.
The judges also enjoyed the DOCNA Nationals. “As a judge, I find it fulfilling to watch each team giving their all to earn the status of Regional and or National Champion,” says Susak, who judged in Pennsylvania.
DOCNA is known for being accessible for all agility competitors, and the Nationals were no exception. Veterans and Grand Veterans divisions allowed older dogs to play at reduced heights. Elicia Calhoun, who competed with her 9 1/2-year-old dog, Iceman, and her Austrialian Shepherd, Nika, who lost an eye last year, really appreciated that accessibility. “I find DOCNA to be a unique venue with a nice balance of courses that promote speed and handling challenges that are fair to the dogs’ bodies. The various height divisions which enabled me to compete Iceman at 16" as a Grand Veteran, allowed him to remain sound and happy, even after 12 runs over the weekend. That was huge for us!”
The Physically Challenged class, which allows dogs to jump significantly lower heights with a veterinarian’s note, was also offered at the event. Members of this class compete only against the course (no placements) and receive special awards for qualifying. Anne Martindale, who owns a dysplastic Airedale Terrier named Trevor, loves being able to compete in DOCNA at 12" with her 25" tall dog. In 2007, Martindale’s veterinarian wrote a letter indicating that the low height was safe for Trevor, and he’s been competing happily in DOCNA trials at that height ever since. “We owe so much to Jim and DOCNA. Our lives would have been completely different without it. We would never have been to a trial. Trevor would never have Qed. Trevor would not have any ribbons or beautiful photos of us at Nationals showing the fruits of our work,” Martindale says.
It seems that holding two successful, simultaneous national events would be complicated to organize, but Mills says that it isn’t. “It’s not at all difficult to coordinate both facilities. We’ve done it so many years that we just know how to do it now.”
In fact, DOCNA already has next year’s Championships planned. The event will be held September 24-26, 2010. The Eastern Championships will be held in Stephentown, New York, and the Western Championships will be held in Grand Junction, Colorado. DOCNA officials invite you to qualify for the event (see http://docna.com/Championships.aspx for details) and come and join them for a great time!
