Awesome Opportunity comes Knocking

Well, it has certainly been a while between blog posts; but I feel I have a legitimate excuse as I only got the opportunity to compete in one agility competition this year before leaving Australian shores to work overseas for a few months. Unfortunately I had to leave my dogs at home due to quarantine, so I'm travelling solo (my hubby Glenn is at home taking care of the clan). But as part of my overseas travel I had planned to attend the IFCS World Agility Championships which are in Belgium in May as a spectator.

One month into my travels and I am located in Texas in the US working with colleagues when I get an email from ADAA...
The IFCS have made a provision in their rules that permits handlers at the World Championships to compete with borrowed dogs if their ability to attend is hindered by quarantine restrictions (such as Australia and NZ).
Well yes, okay, that is great news. [reads on]
AND the host nation Belgium is offering Australian handlers two dogs with which to compete.
Wow, that is fantastic news, Australia is going to compete at the WAC. [reads on]
AND under the circumstances yourself and Mal Williams are the handlers the ADAA board have approved to represent ADAA and Australia. Are you interested?
[sitting there stunned, then...]Oh My God, oh my God, oh my God!!!



What an awesome opportunity! What a scary opportunity! Two days in which to meet a dog and build a working relationship, some teamwork and the all important timing with that dog before competing on the World Stage. Oh, and by the way, the dog doesn't speak English! Yes, just a little bit scary. But on the flip side of scary, what an incredibly exciting opportunity... I get to play with and run an awesome dog, compete at the international level under world class judges and be there with the top in the world as they battle it out on an agility field. In the words of the Pointer Sisters, "I'm so excited! I just can't hide it!" But it is not official yet... a few days of tense waiting.



[A week later and I'm still pinching myself... can this really be true????]
Yes indeed it is. The news is really starting to sink in as it has now been announced in Australia. And I'm reminded what a great circle of friends and family I have with their supportive and timely emails. So WOW, I'm going to represent Australia at the WAC. In fact there will be five Aussies in total... Steve Drinkwater is the Head Judge; Cathy Slot one of the four competition Judges; Penny Mead as Australia's Team Manager; Mal Williams and myself as competitors. I can't help but already be thinking ahead to how many opportunities this opens for Aussies for 2010!



So for those interested, this is the link to the 2008 WAC in Belgium. I will be updating this blog every few days in the lead up to the WAC with my thoughts and preparations. Of course my preparations are going to be unique as I am without my dogs or access to associates' dogs with which to be practicing and honing my skills. This opportunity has come to me completely out of left-field with now less than 4 weeks to the championships. [And yes, I would love to ditch work and go spend some one-on-one time with a coach and a team of dogs for the next few weeks but alas it cannot be so]. I have work commitments and a tight travel schedule right up to the WAC (I'm now in Amherst Massachusetts and will travel next week to Philadelphia in Pennsylvania). But while this could be problematic I see some advantages in that my concentration will be solely on me and preparing myself physically and mentally. No concerns about peaking with my dog at the perfect moment, just a matter of keeping myself fit, sound and maintaining a winning attitude. [But yep, I am regretting packing primarily work clothes, and in particular not packing my well broken-in running shoes and workout gear... time for some emergency shopping!]