21st July Show Results
21st July Show
In one word, the day was phenomenal.
All the people who volunteered to support the running of the show (e.g. set up etc) all showed up and this was enhanced by extra volunteers on the day – which is a massive help and we are truly grateful. This meant that the set up was the quickest yet, meaning we could start on time. In addition to this, we were very grateful to receive two day judges as that meant I could be on-hand to support all the attendees and troubleshoot any issues quickly. We are slowly finding our feet with the different systems but as well as this, the attendees are learning the operations and equipment, I truly value the attendees kindness and interest to learn as this makes the day run smoother.
The atmosphere was so lovely, relaxed, approachable. It was stimulating! The feeling of people laughing and having a good time is what the agility competitions are all about. A community feel has been our aim and we have achieved it thanks to you guys. We are our own inclusive dog agility family.
I was approached by a lady with a boarder terrier who has dreamt of following the dog agility journey but her companion is quite nervous, he likes his space and reassurance which resulted in struggles in the past attending busy competitive environments like the show. This lady was hugely appreciative of how we can provide and cater for her dog’s needs of space in order to relax. This was very moving as it was a massive achievement that the lady felt like she had been ‘accepted’ and that she felt safe enough to help her companion thrive in the agility world, starting with a Bee Happy show.
This is dog agility. Yes, we need those partnerships who compete and be at the top of the game, competing on the European stage. They are the ones who promote new training ideas and safety regulations, and they pass them down to us, so we can continue to enjoy having days out like on Sunday in a safe manor for dogs. For me, it must be dealt with from the dog’s perspective. They did not wake up that morning and asked to go to a Bee Happy Show so we need to make sure we support our dogs in a way that they are able to achieve their potential. For me, that is what made Sunday - seeing all the dogs that were able to have an enjoyable experience.
In reflection, we are still learning, and it is a huge learning journey but we are getting there. I have learned that my 2-meter exclusion signs need to be clearly displayed and I need to get traffic signs for 5mph when driving to the ring in order to promote safety for all attendees.
In conclusion, the show felt amazing, a truly community feel. When packing down for the first show, I left at 7:30pm but on Sunday, we were packed up by 4:30pm. This is amazing progress and this is a MASSIVE thank you to you guys that picked up a piece of equipment and helped me. It just shows that many hands make light work.
See you at the next show! 😊