Last weekend I volunteered to help at the Scottish Terrier Club of New England All Bred Agility Trials held indoors at the Wide World of Indoor Sports in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, the first time held indoors for the Scottish Terrier Club of New England.

It was my first exposure to Agility Competition, and wow, did I have fun. I have to admit that I was a bit overwhelmed when I arrived at 8:00 on Saturday morning having no idea of what to expect. I helped set up the course in one of the rings and helped Joyce McNabney register folks and dogs for the B Match. She taught me the purpose of a B Match. I found out that it’s a run through of the course without a judge and it doesn’t count towards AKC points. On Sunday, I helped organize the volunteers for each class, another daunting job! Three ring-workers, a gate steward, timer, assistant-scribe, scribe, leash runner, and score runner are required for each ring. I learned very quickly that each and every person in the ring is extremely important to allow each dog and handler the opportunity to show off his or her best work. In addition to these volunteers, there is a secretary to record the scores and John McNabney to oversee the entire event. The STCNE president Susan Kenney could be seen working hard everywhere. The event requires a lot of attention to detail.

There was a generous spirit among handlers and club members who volunteered. The number required overwhelmed me. I knew no one other than club members the first day, and while every one of the club members graciously offered to work every shift, we certainly valued and needed all of the other volunteers. Handlers would volunteer to fill empty positions, even when there was a chance that they would be running their own dog in the next ring before this class was over.

I learned a lot at this event. I learned the difference between Open and Jump classes, how to be a better Gate Steward, and how to build a course from a map. And, I learned from watching the dogs themselves. What I saw in the dogs would make any aching back from all the work disappear: The Dog’s excitement as they watched their human handlers before start of the course, as they watched for the clues while running the course, and the apparent joy when they ran the course well, one dog leaping into the arms of his six foot handler after the 20” jumps course.

As for me, I’ll be back next year ”with bells on!”
And I’ll be much more confident to organize the volunteers or to fill in where needed.

Vreni