Aim:- to Create Championship Games Classes

Introducing Championship Games to NZ.

The Agility Committee is looking into a proposal to introduce Championship Games to NZ. Your feedback and comments on this proposal are welcome.

Background.

NZ has a long history of playing Games or running Novelty events, and enjoying the experience eg. Tunnelers, whiparound, pairs and team relays etc.Even when they “meant nothing” Games were popular, with lots of entries. Games were formally introduced into NZ at ribbon trial level more then 5 years ago.Some Clubs have included them in their ribbon trials, but there has not been any real increase since their introduction. In 2013 NALA offered monthly games, resulting in more people and clubs taking part. At the 2013 NZDAC entries far exceeded budget, and there was a lot of interest in the tri-athlon. Some competitors travelling overseas have also participated in Games in Australia and America.

The Agility Committee sees participation in Games as a waytoadd interest for participants in Agility competitions. If Games are at Championship level there will be more chance they will be “taken seriously”, and Games will grow in popularity as Jumpers did when introduced at Championship level.The addition of Games awards and titles would mean that more people would be interested, more Clubs would offer Games, and participation would increase.

Currently Games are offered at Ribbon trial level only. Games able to be played are:- Gamblers, Snooker, Jumpers Pairs, Teams relay, Black Jack, and Beat the Clock.

The introduction of Championship Games would not mean that Clubs must hold them, or that competitors must enter them. There will be no statutory requirements to hold Games. Clubs will decide that they want to hold a Games class and will apply for permission, as per usual.

Benefits of Games classes.

• Another type of competition to enter.

Currently we have agility and Jumpers, and within that we have AD, JD and titles. Games would provide another type of event for handlers/dogs to compete in and strive to do well in. Games could appeal to different groups of people, and therefore enhance their experience of agility, and keep them in the sport.

• Encourage and enhance handling and training of dog skills.

Games will require people to learn handling skills that will do them in good stead at Intermediate, Senior and Jumpers A level. This includes:- independent obstacle performance, lateral distance, sends, run with me past equipment, and verbal directional skills. Susan Garrett agrees with this, and adds Games are …“great for teaching people how to think on their feet, because in agility often things don’t always go to plan.”

• The different aspects of games would be encouraging to handlers.

Games can be forgiving eg. Gamblers where people can choose what obstacles to do, and where knocking a hurdle doesn’t mean they are “out of the money”. Handlers can work with their own dog’s strengths and weaknesses. Some of the games also give handlers the opportunity to do obstacles their dogs are good at, and avoid obstacles their dogs are less accomplished at, which makes them great for improving dog confidence as virtually nothing is wrong!

• Provide a variety that Clubs can use to fit into their Championship event programme.

Initially only Grade C would be available, so it would be easy to fit one Game into a busy event weekend. The variety of Games means they would easily fit into a Jumpers and/or Agility weekend (eg. Jumpers pairs at Jumpers, Gamblers at Agility etc)

• Give confidence to NZ competitors travelling overseas.

Games are played regularly overseas, so having games classes in NZ would help those people who wish to travel to Australia etc. As a result of handlers going overseas there is now a bigger pool of people who have taken part in games classes, and understand them.

• They will increase the handler education and improve their knowledge of how their dog runs., Games require a level of skill different from many agility classes. Many people do not take Games seriously, but when they start to compete in them they realise that there are skills involved also used in agility and jumpers classes. Additionally there are extra strategy skills and knowledge of the dog required. For example an awareness of what obstacles your dog performs fastest, and the dog’s rate of travel is essential for many games classes.– eg. m/s, individual obstacle performances. This could result in more focused training methods.

• Levies.

The introduction of Championship Games could result in more levies for Agility Committee and NZKC, and resulting return of funds to agiliteers.

Transition phase.

There would be no requirement for Clubs to run Games classes. Clubs who wish to run Games classes could do so.

As Games are slightly different cf standard agility, the Agility Committee would need to put in place various measures to assist Clubs, Judges and competitors.

This could mean:-

• forming a group of people knowledgeable about Games to assist Clubs and Judges
• introducing incentives for Clubs to offer Games at Ribbons trials
• encouraging Clubs to run Games ribbon trials, before they run Championship events
• education for Judges on the games and the types of courses required at each level.

Your feedback.

Feedback and comment must be received by 6th December 2013

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