Just a few days to go!

There are only a couple more days until we are at the 2013 ASTC National Specialty agility trials.

We have a great entry this year ... here are the statistics:

19 handlers; 29 dogs total

MONDAY:

18 handlers; 28 dogs; 61 runs

MASTER/EXCELLENT JWW:

16 runs

OPEN JWW:

2 runs

NOVICE JWW:

10 runs

NOVICE FAST:

6 runs

OPEN FAST:

2 runs

MASTER/EXCELLENT FAST:

2 runs

MASTER/EXCELLENT STD:

14 runs

OPEN STD:

2 runs

NOVICE STD:

7 runs
 

TUESDAY:

19 handlers; 29 dogs; 60 runs
 

MASTER/EXCELLENT STD:

14 runs

OPEN STD:

2 runs

NOVICE STD:

7 runs

T2B:

8 runs

MASTER/EXCELLENT JWW:

16 runs

OPEN JWW:

2 runs

NOVICE JWW:

11 runs

2013 Agility Trial Update

We may have set a new entry record ... or come VERY close - that's AWESOME! We
have over 100 runs over the two days.

I am blown away by the outpouring of support for the agility trials - we are
going to have an amazing event! THANK YOU for the monetary donations and
donations of trophy and raffle items. It is because of YOU that this trial is
going to be so wonderful.

Entry confirmations will be emailed this weekend. I will also post the trial
information on the Shih Tzu Agility blog as soon as it is ready.

Looking forward to seeing all of you in Maryland. There are a lot of cool
surprises being planned for us. I don't think we will be disappointed.

Barb

PS - This is the website for the artist who will create the High Scoring awards:
http://www.kimhundleyartist.com/chairartwork.htm
This artist does incredible work.

It's here - 31 Day Training Challenge - Day 1

Are you ready???  Set???

TRAIN!!!

What did you to today to start?

I will post my training session on my personal blog ..
ohshih-tzu.blogspot.com

I will say, my dogs all had fun!  Hope you had a great day!!!

Oh, and today in the mail, I received a copy of the Premium List for the National Specialty (conformation, obedience, and rally obedience.)  If you aren't on the mailing list, you can find it online on the Rau Dog Shows site.

If you're looking for a description of the training challenge, visit this blog post: March 2013 Training Challenge.

Donors Rock! (How you can too!)

Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Shih Tzu agility trials.  The updated list, as of today, is as follows:

GENERAL AGILITY TRIAL FUND

Platinum Level ($100.00 and over)

Barb Cunningham, Lorraine DeSalvo, Terry Fencl, Burton & Shellie Goldstein,

Tom & Judy Harding, Linda Harper, Emily Intersoll, Terri Jenkins, Rhea Mays, Michael Shea-Zackin

Gold Level ($50.00 - $99.00)

Jan Sammons, Beth Scorzelli

Silver Level ($25.00 - $49.00)

Mel and Joyce Grimm

Equipment Rental donated by Tom and Judy Harding

If you would like to send a donation, please contact the trial chairperson by email.  (Information is available in the premium list.

Come for Agility .. Stay for More Shih Tzu Fun

After the agility trials - there will be several other events to enjoy, including conformation, obedience, and rally obedience. 

Interested in entering some of the other events?  The premium list will be available from Rau Dog Shows.

There will also be a lot of wonderful vendors selling unique Shih Tzu supplies and gifts.

The conformation, obedience, and rally obedience events will take place at the host hotel:
Double Tree by Hilton, 210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, MD 21401 | Phone Number: (410)224-3150 or (800)222-8733

If you want to stay at the host hotel (within driving distance for agility), there is a group rate for the specialty:

Group Name: American Shih Tzu Club
Group Code: AST
Check-in: 28-APR-2013 | Check-out: 05-MAY-2013

Room Rate: April 28-May 5: $109, plus $50 nonrefundable pet deposit for rooms with dogs (please specify you are with ASTC)

Book your room soon before they sell out.


TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:Sunday, April 28:
Registration (4-5 pm, hotel lobby) and Meet and Greet (6-8 pm, hotel restaurant)

Monday, April 29:
ASTC Agility Trial Set-up and Trial
Registration

Tuesday, April 30:
ASTC Agility
Ring, raffle, and grooming setup (5-11 pm), registration, and welcome reception

Wednesday, May 1:
ASTC Rally and Obedience Trials (Ballroom, 8-11 am)
Shih Tzu Fanciers of Greater Baltimore Specialty (Ballroom, 11 am-3 pm)
ASTC Board Meeting (after judging)
Canine Good Citizen Testing (Ballroom, 3-7 pm)

Thursday, May 2:
ASTC Rally and Obedience Trials (Ballroom, 8:30-11 am)
STFGB Specialty (Ballroom, 11 am-2:30 pm)
Breeder Education Seminar

Friday, May 3:
ASTC Sweepstakes (Ballroom)
ASTC Annual General Meeting (ringside, following Sweepstakes) | Judges' Education Seminar

Saturday, May 4:
ASTC Specialty (Ballroom)
ASTC Awards Banquet

Agility Trial Photographer Selected

We have contracted with Doug Phillips at What an Impression! Photography to be the official show photographer for the agility trials.

See this link for some examples of his agility photography.

Premium List - 2013 ASTC National Specialty Agility Trials

The premium list can be downloaded at this link:

Premium List - 2013 Agility

Hope to see you in Maryland!!!

Do you Instagram? | National Specialty Premium Update

Instagram is a free app available for iPhone and Android.  It allows users to share photos and "tag" the photos using hashtags. 

I just realized that there are no photos out there with the hashtag #shihtzuagility. 

If you're not on Instagram, start today!  If you are ... don't forget to tag your #shihtzuagility photos. 

NATIONAL SPECIALTY AGILITY TRIAL PREMIUM UPDATE

The premium is complete and ready to send!  If you are a member of the Yahoogroup ShowMeTzuMagic* the premium is in the files section of the site.  It will be added to this blog tonight. 

* If you're not a member of the SMTM Yahoogroup, and love Shih Tzu agility, you should join!

Just a few months to go ...

... until the 2013 Shih Tzu national specialty in Annapolis, Maryland!  Included as part of the specialty will be two days of SHIH TZU AGILITY.  Better than that, is that the agility trials will be held indoors on soccer turf!

Make plans to be there:

April 29-30, 2013 (Monday/Tuesday)

Harmons, MD

Shih Tzu ONLY agility trials

Trial Chairperson: Barb Cunningham 

Trial Secretary: Rhea Mays

After the agility trials, stay and enjoy all of the other national specialty events: conformation, obedience, and rally obedience.  Shop the vendors too!

As information becomes available, it will be posted on this blog (including the premium list).

Wishing all of you a happy new year and many clean runs in 2013!

We are enjoying a New Year's Eve snow this evening ... not quite as much as we had in these photos: