Dog with an AX title are eligible to enter 2 14 6 R2 1 13 Premier Standard. Dogs with the AX or AXP may enter Premier Standard Preferred. SS 15 1 7 A dog must have the AXJ title to enter Premier Jumpers. A dog with an AXJ or R6 16 5 1 12 R3 R4 17 SS AJP title may enter the Preferred division P3 8 9 18 of Premier Jumpers. 11 1 R5 2 P1 R1 4 30'8" 19 P2 SS Figure 2 shows a Premier course created by AKC Judge Gill Chapman of Florida. Gill told me she absolutely loves the new Premier class as both a competitor and a judge. She also said that this Premier course had about a 60% qualifying rate-awesome job Texas folks! The side switches are marked with SS and I have labeled the Premier challenges with P1-P4: SS 10 1 P4 3 SS 1 20 1 AKC Premier Standard Baytown Kennel Club Spring, TX June 17, 2016 Judge: Gill Chapman 21 * P1: Backside at the start * P2: Distance challenge 3 8 * P3: Weave entry challenge * P4: Threadle The regular challenges are labeled as R1- R6: * R1: Off course potential to #11 1 11 1 * R2: Off course potential to #13 9 * R3: Off course potential to #18 10bi * R4: Off course potential to #5 * R5: Off course potential to #2 Regular challenge from #8 to #9 followed by Premier bidirectional jump challenge * R6: Off course potential to #12 Figure 3 shows a recent Premier challenge where the course designer used a Premier challenge and a regular challenge in two obstacles. One of the initial challenges used in some of the early Premier courses was the inverted pinwheel. Many handlers had never heard of this challenge. Figure 4 shows you what it looks like. 4 1 1 1 1 4 2 1 1 2 Try the New Challenges! As you can see, the Premier class offers the exhibitor many new challenges and more are being developed every day. I hope you get a chance to run the new Premier classes and have a better understanding of some of the challenges and course design elements that go into it. D 4 1 1 3 3 5 5 Regular pinwheel Inverted pinwheel Cindy Elliott Deak is an accountant living in Lady Lake, Florida, with her husband Andrew and an active group of Australian Shepherds and Border Collies. A dog sport competitor for over 25 years, she has competed in most dog sports that exist and in most venues. She now spends the majority of her year judging agility trials around the country. Contact Cindy on Facebook or email her at noraustkennel@gate.net. November 16 | Clean Run 41