I am one of "those" who trawls up and down the country with our caravan competing on weekends.
We love agility and the weekend away with the "agility community" having a laugh and meeting up with old and new friends. It is not fiercly competitive - yes some people are but there are also a lot of us that are there to have some fun and have our own achievements.
At the moment we have:
Charlie - medium novice (taken into novice by Ellie) - he has a whale of a time and listens when he is in the mood - has had had 5 top 5 places this year and I am really proud of him but on another day the burger van is just tooooo exciting
Ellie - novice - small (12") who won me out of starters - little star - and got half way senior before the new grading system - not the fatest over the ground but so neat and tight and responsive with weaves to die for - she is a very special little girl.
Dylan - senior!?! medium - Martin's dog who is noisy and bouncy and quite mad
Miah - large (honorary spaniel - would be devastated if you told her she was actually a kelpie!) novice
Baby Spice - will start grade 3 next year and is 100% borderline small medium - due to be measured last month - toally mad, crazy and my first working spaniel
I am lucky that as I am a club member we have had priority on waiting lists and I know that it appears unfair to others but please bear in mind it is these members that usually give up their time to teach, run the club etc. I know I am training 1 hour 2 nights a week and on committee to run the club. I know new members will also help to the best of their ability but the sport is growing in popularity so much clubs can not keep up and unless there are people willing to start new ones there is only soo much capacity.
Finally - Penel I am impressed with your weave teaching!! It took me months to teach Els and Charlie.
With Miah Spice and Dylan we have channell weaved and the advantages are that yes it gives a flowing movement but it should also encourage an independant weave entry from any angle (alledgedly if done properly - Spice is my first dog channel weaving so I will see!!).
I will stop waffling now but just a little brag - I passed my judges seminar with 100% yesterday - not sure if I am brave enough to judge yet but maybe sometime!!