Hey there Border Collie Fans!
A special thanks to our members for doing these events which have secured our licenses and also to members who have supported these matches with their entries and participation.
As I’d hoped and predicted, for Herding we have the full year’s number of events going forward from now until December 31st … eight. And per the new rules, the lead time is only three months from the application date for herding events. Depending upon what lead time will be required to get an event planned and an application ready, we *could* do eight events beginning any time after September 30th through December 31st. Of course in 2012 we will have only the usual annual eight for the entire year. There are concerns regarding finding the human resources for conducting even those herding events which have been held in Arizona in the past … but that is another topic. A shortage of opportunities for finishing titles in a timely manner in Arizona has been problematic for herding competitors. But we certainly have a window of opportunity to make up for that this year. This is great news for the herding community!
Our new licenses are great news for agility also!!! I believe that Debbie Strieter is planning an AKC agility trial in February? For agility trials, applications continue to be required 24 weeks prior to the event. Twenty four weeks from today is December 15th. On December 31st, the eight agility event numbers for 2011 will expire. So there is probably not an opportunity to capitalize on the additional event numbers in so narrow a window. But we can look forward to AKC agility events through BCCAZ beginning in early 2012.
AND … please do support our Sanctioned OA Obedience and Rally event at MLF Dog Sports in Queen Creek, outdoors under lights on August 20th. The premium is available on our web site. We are required to conduct this as a “Specialty Event” which means that it is restricted to Border Collies. So it is even more important that we have club member participation. We expect that the club will be required to conduct a second Sanctioned OA event six months after this one before being given our license for Obedience and Rally events. We are progressing along our path for that license as well.
HAPPY DAYS!!!
Kathleen Corum, President
Border Collie Club of Arizona