New England Agility?

BostonBanker

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#1
Don't we have a fairly decent contingent of New England/North-easterners doing agility at this point? I think we should all plan to go to a trial together at some point!

I originally was going to post inviting anyone within reasonable driving distance (or not; we had competitors from as far away as Bermuda this year) to our club's amazing USDAA trial next summer. It's held in mid-June every year at the Trapp Family Lodge (of "the hills are alive" fame) in Stowe VT. This year, as is usual, Facebook was filled with people singing the praises of the trial for days after, because it is essentially a vacation/agility trial combination. One ring only (although if the numbers keep going up, it may eventually have to change!), so you aren't crazy busy running back and forth, or having to volunteer every class as they try to staff multiple rings. It is unarguably the most beautiful site for a trial in existence; here's the ring:



There are miles and miles of beautifully maintained trails that you are welcome to enjoy, and ridiculously pretty fields where you are openly invited to have dogs off leash (no sneaking off to let your dog run!):



It's a fairly short walk across a gorgeous field (although considerably longer coming back, since the walk back is uphill) to the pond where again - you are invited to let your dogs be off-leash and swim:



There may or may not be a small herd of border collies when you get there, however:



There are beautiful gardens where I saw a ton of people posing dogs for pictures, and I had a good time posing mine on the concert stage. Gusto had a good time not posing.





And if that alone doesn't entice you, we always make a point of hiring good, FUN judges. There is a pot luck barbeque Saturday nights, and the keg of lager is tapped by mid-afternoon each day. AND the Ben and Jerry's factory is about 10 miles away.

So that was going to be the original point of posting, but since it is nearly a year away still, if anyone wants to try to set up a meet at another trial, let's do so! I know I'm about as far north as anyone goes. The furthest south I usually travel is Rhode Island (and I'll be there Aug and Sept). I'm also considering Conn. over Halloween weekend. And I would be willing to travel for somewhere else that worked out well for people, although I do have to pick my locations carefully based on footing for Gusto.

So...anyone interested? Let's not let the mid-west people have all the fun!
 

BostonBanker

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#4
I'm In! I don't know that we'll compete because I wasn't planning on doing USDAA, but I'm def in for a meetup!
While I definitely feel like everyone should do USDAA all the time, because it is the most fun, I'm open to doing a meet-up at another venue as well! What are you planning to run in? My guys have done some CPE and AKC as well. I might not run at NADAC or UKC because of the equipment variations, but it doesn't have to be limited to USDAA.

Also, what sort of areas are in the travel zones for you guys (or anyone interested)? It's pretty much a given that I'm going south, but once I get past Albany, I don't know NY geography very well.
 

milos_mommy

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#5
I'd be very tentatively interested. I'd probably go as far North as Boston. Connecticut would be ideal, or NY between Albany and the Hudson Valley...Rhinebeck area?

I would also be going dog free. I'll come to cheer you all on.

That VT thingy looks pretty nice though, maybe next year! Do you camp there??
 

BostonBanker

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#6
I don't camp there because A) I don't camp. I hotel. and B) It is 45 minutes from my house, and the only agility trial of the year where the dogs and I get to sleep in our own bed at night!

But plenty of people do camp or stay at the lodge. It is a huge tourist area (well, huge for Vermont), so there are a ton of options for places to stay.
 

xpaeanx

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#7
I'm pretty flexible with where I will go, especially if it's one day over a weekend bc the SO & I can make it a weekend getaway type thing and do things in the area the next day.
 
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#8
Also, what sort of areas are in the travel zones for you guys (or anyone interested)? It's pretty much a given that I'm going south, but once I get past Albany, I don't know NY geography very well.
I'm about an hour south of Albany. I'm game for northern NY, western MA, western CT as meet up over the weekend. I want to at least go to VT sometime. I'm so freaking close...and yet so far.
 

BostonBanker

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#9
I'll actually be about 20 miles from Albany next weekend, but that's probably pretty quick to try to plan. Plus the weather isn't looking great as of now (although who knows how accurate it can be this far out). There's also a trial in western MA towards the end of September that I'll definitely be going to. Although it seems weird to focus on an agility trial unless a few other people jump in who want to compete as well. I was thinking about suggesting doing something like a Monday (because I could just stay over after a trial somewhere) and doing a hike or something, but I guess a Monday is probably pain for people with regards to work.
 

milos_mommy

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#10
Late September will be hit or miss for me, it's a month before I'm due to give birth but also, I'll be A LOT less busy.

Monday would generally be a PITA, but pretty sure by September my schedule will be 500x more flexible.

I don't mind hanging out at a trial. Even though I'm not competing, I am interested in potentially competing and don't mind coming out to watch the dogs and talk to other trainers/whatever.

As far as next weekend, are you talking about July 4th weekend? Or this upcoming one?
 

BostonBanker

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#11
July 4th weekend; I'll actually just be at the trial Sunday. I'll drive down and stay in the area Saturday night, go home after the trial Sunday.
 
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#12
July 4th weekend; I'll actually just be at the trial Sunday. I'll drive down and stay in the area Saturday night, go home after the trial Sunday.
I currently don't have any plans for the Sunday of 4th of July weekend. My husband's parents were talking about coming for a visit that weekend, but I'm not sure if that is a definite or not.
 

MrsBoats

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I know this is an older thread. ;) Are you going to the USDAA regionals in Rhode Island this weekend?? I'll be there with Ocean! I heard this is going to be the biggest USDAA regional in the US!

Your dogs look familiar...have you shown in USDAA in RI before??
 

BostonBanker

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#15
Are you going to the USDAA regionals in Rhode Island this weekend?? I'll be there with Ocean! I heard this is going to be the biggest USDAA regional in the US!
No, sadly I am skipping it. It was kind of my goal for the year. Gusto's stress issues are improving but still a work in progress. I was afraid that with all the extra chaos and stress at regionals, it would wind up setting him back. Hopefully next year. I've never done regionals, even when I was trialling Meg a bunch.

I've definitely seen you at the Riverside trials down there though. I try to catch your runs when I can; Ocean is such a powerhouse, he is a blast to watch!

I am planning to be there for both the Aug and Sept Riverside trials. It's a long drive for me, but reliable footing and climate control are worth a lot of driving with Gusto.

Have fun this weekend! I will be enjoying the live feed at least.
 

MrsBoats

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#16
BUMMER!!!!

I'm pretty sure I've watched you and Gusto. Is he a little border staffy in starters/P1?? I'm going to drive myself crazy trying to remember you. I will be at Riverside in August and September. :D Please find me and introduce yourself!! ;)

I do believe everyone knows Ocean! ROFLMAO!!!! He's kind of hard to miss at USDAA. :rofl1:
 

BostonBanker

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He kind of looks like a black and white border staffy, and Meg is my rapidly greying brindle who looks kind of like a hound/pit bull mix with a docked tail. They both run 16" PIII. I actually think we spoke when I was standing near the ingate with Gusto at the last Riverside trial; you didn't have a dog attached so I am not 100% sure it was you though.

I will come say hi next time I see you. I almost did once, but felt like a creepy person. "Hey, I know you online."
 

Laurelin

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#18
I know this is an older thread. ;) Are you going to the USDAA regionals in Rhode Island this weekend?? I'll be there with Ocean! I heard this is going to be the biggest USDAA regional in the US!

Your dogs look familiar...have you shown in USDAA in RI before??
Is that the one free live streaming?
 

MrsBoats

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He kind of looks like a black and white border staffy, and Meg is my rapidly greying brindle who looks kind of like a hound/pit bull mix with a docked tail. They both run 16" PIII. I actually think we spoke when I was standing near the ingate with Gusto at the last Riverside trial; you didn't have a dog attached so I am not 100% sure it was you though.

I will come say hi next time I see you. I almost did once, but felt like a creepy person. "Hey, I know you online."
Don't ever worry about me thinking you're a creeper. ROFL I've met a good number of people in real life who I knew from online. ;)
 

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