Clean Run - February 2018 - 55

Fun and success go together

Honoring a treasured dog with
a fairytale woodland romp

Since we put the word out early,
we knew the response was going to be
big. We just didn't know how big. The
same show last year drew 170 dogs. I
asked my show secretary to give me
a scenario if 200 dogs entered, if 250
dogs entered, and then zombie apocalypse numbers.

Many of you who follow Laura Hartwick's
agility blog, Team Small Dog (http://blog.
teamsmalldog.com), know of Laura's dog
Ruby. Ruby, who passed away in May of
2017 at 17 years of age, was a kind-hearted canine who first led Laura on the fairy
dust sprinkled path to dog agility.

We ended up with 350 dogs entered
and 3,000 total runs for the weekend. We had to add another ring and
judge at the last minute (an AKC trial
20 miles away only had 200 runs for
the entire weekend).

To contact Laura about future Sparkling
Heart of the Woods events, email her at
laura@teamsmalldog.com.

When Laura decided to host a nonsanctioned agility cup to honor her, it
was natural that she wished to weave
some of Ruby's beloved forest magic
into the fabric of the event. According
to Laura, "The name of the facility I had
the trial at was Heart Dog Agility, so
Heart of the Sparkling Woods was really
the only name possible for the trial! All
the prizes and decorations were ruby
heart themed for sure! And Ruby was
my sparkling heart of the woods."

We had competitors come from up and
down the west coast and drew in many
who had never done USDAA before. We
had our largest Starters/P1 entry ever.
The club had a profit of over $7,000 for
the show. All in all, a great success with
lots of positive feedback.

Tammy Moody
Oregon for School for Clever
Dogs (OSCD) Summer Cup/
Eclipse Totality Experience
Dogs in crowns and a black hole sun
Inspired by an international-cup-style
event hosted by Rosanne DeMascio on
the East coast, Tammy thought to herself, "Wow, that would be so much fun.
So, I started planning, and two months
later we had our first cup."

Billed as a "good vibe event," the tournament featured a "biathalawn" tag team
event judged by Channon Fosty and
Laura Jones dressed as woodland fairies.
A Speed Chase competition was judged
by a whimsically attired Meagan Skelton.

Many happy outcomes, one great event

Longtime Bay Team member and
event participant, Derede Arthur, commented, "The Anniversary trial was fun
because everyone pitched in. Another
really nice part of Jim's trial was the
amazing raﬄe and trophies." She advises that she believes that elements of
the event, such as the unpaid workers,
would make the concept unlikely to
sustain on a continuing basis.

Tammy's first event came to pass in August 2016. And in 2017, with the solar
eclipse path of totality crossing the area
at the same time, she was inspired to
create a magical mash up of an international-style agility event crossed with
a stellar opportunity to witness solar
eclipse totality.
Mystical touches such as sweet decorations, golden crowns for both dogs and
humans-plus a table set with pretty
cakes and clever cookie medals-set
the scene for a memorable Midsummer
Night-in-Daytime Dream.

Heart of the Sparkling Woods Biathalawn podium photo
of first and second place small dog winners, Mitzi Keating
and Dazzle and Ivette White and Roxy, with Biathalawn
judges Channan Fosty and Laura Jones.
© sARAH HitZEMAN

All in all, the Bay Team 25th anniversary event demonstrates the many
happy outcomes that even a very
well-established club can create when
they pull out the stops to celebrate a
special event.

Laura Hartwick
Sparkling Heart of the Woods
Non-Sanctioned Agility Cup

Awaiting eclipse totality at OSCD Summer Cup:
Golden crowns for dogs and people top a table arranged
with pretty toys and sweets.
At Heart of the Sparkling Woods, Speed Chase judge,
Meagan Skelton, runs her dog, Gael, with
Biathalawn Standard judge, Channan Fosty, judging.

Laura shared, "The trial was a huge hit!
We had awesome courses, good vibes
and judges in forest fairy costumes. Forty dogs entered, and winners got handmade medals, as well as cash prizes.
February 18 | Clean Run

The special Ruby Slipper Award was
given to small and large dogs with
the fastest overall Speed Chase time.
Ruby's event raised $275 for victims
of the recent Santa Rosa fire. I think a
good time was had by all and a lot of
really great agility."

Late summer's day dream at OSCD Summer Cup: An artful
banner highlights a bountiful backdrop of ripe, red apples.
55

http://blog.teamsmalldog.com http://blog.teamsmalldog.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - February 2018