Team Alasera headed down to St. Peter on Oct. 7-9th to compete outdoors at the Key City Kennel Club agility trial. We have not attended this event before so we did not know what to expect weatherwise. I don’t think we were prepared for almost 90 degree weather with gale force winds and the dusty, hard compacted ground. The dogs did fairly well despite the conditions and they all had some great achievements to share.

Mellie had a super week-end, her only mistake was actually mine during a jumpers run on Friday. Otherwise, she Q’d in 7 of her 8 runs and five of those were first place, 2 of them fourth place finishes. She earned her Ex. A FAST title (XF) on a nice send out to a jump, A-frame, jump combo. She proved it wasn’t a fluke by doing a send to a jump, teeter and far away tunnel the very next day. Along with her Q’s in JWW and STD, gave her her first QQQ! Guess my distance dog is coming along! She took first place in the 8″ class in all her Standard courses. She is the consummate agility professional.

Katie was her normal superstar self. She took first place in two of her jumpers courses. She earned her Novice FAST title and in a great Standard run, earned her Ex. A Standard title. She now competes head to head with her teammates for QQ’s and placements in all her runs.

Ripley had an ok week-end. He earned another QQ (#9!) and actually had placements. He took 4th place in a standard run and second place behind Mellie in another. Who knew?? He would have had another QQ but I did not trust him to handle a weave entry and caused a refusal. When will I learn?? His jumpers runs were slow but since they were later in the day, did not expect much. He did not go visiting and I think we are mostly done with that problem. I think. I hope.

Ace had several meltdowns, mostly concerning contact equipment with the teeter being enemy number one. The weather did not suit him at all. His saving grace was a nice FAST run for a first place finish in Open FAST. He had a nice jumpers run on the last day to throw Terry a bone and keep him entering him in trials. Indoor mat season is coming up and we foresee great runs in the future for Mr. I Don’t Do the Teeter in Trials.

Abby. Poor Abby. Between meltdowns with the teeter, the heat and a handler who didn’t do her job, was shut out of QQs, Q’s and glory. Sigh. She did do a fabulous job on the last run of the week-end on a Jumpers run where her tight turns got her a 2nd place behind Katie. She, too, is ready for the indoor mat season. Still sitting at 13 QQ’s, we hope to get a few more of those very soon.