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One of the highlights of the 2011 AAC Agility Nationals was the Steeplechase Finals on Sunday afternoon! For the first time the entire weekend everyone at Nationals was gathered in the same small area with all eyes on one ring. The National Runs were done, scores were being tabulated elsewhere, and everyone was feeling good. Competitors were getting themselves and their dogs ready while everyone else gathered on all sides of the ring eagerly anticipating the event. The top fifteen percent in each division from Friday’s Steeplechase Qualifier made it to the Finals. These are handler and dog teams that know how to go for it! Those watching know it and can’t wait to see some serious excitement!

This was no simple steeplechase course either. The weave poles had to be completed twice in the course with a challenging ninety degree entry each time, once from a series of jumps and once from an a-frame requiring a ninety degree right turn off the down contact before the ninety degree angle weave pole entry! Whew! No room for the faint of heart on this course!

As each competitor approached the start line the crowd began to clap and cheer, the music started and the dog was off! “Run like you mean it!” “Run like a 10 year old!” “Gooooo for it!” “Faaaasterrrrrr!” “Go! Go! Go!” “Get ‘er doooone!!” are some of the things that were heard being yelled out from the crowd. Loudly. Many times. Some of the other things yelled and cat called you might get to hear when Rogers Cable 10 airs its video coverage of the event…..if it’s not edited out…..let’s just say there were some men in skorts involved and THAT topic deserves it’s own blog post later this week……so back to the steeplechase now….

With each successive jump and tunnel the cheers grew louder as the dog whipped its way around the course. Then suddenly, when each dog was about six feet away from those wicked entry weave poles there was a collective breath drawn in and silence as the crowd held their breath and watched each dog run towards that first pole. If the dog made the entry then WHAMMO there was a celebration and the crowd got progressively wilder and crazier as the dog wound its way down the weaves towards that last pole. The faster the dog worked its way down, the louder the screaming and the hollering continued as the dog got ever closer to the finish line. Very exciting! Of course we as the photographers were close to the action each step of the way. around the course. With five photographers in the ring for steeplechase, just about every angle of every run was captured…..can we mention the men in skorts here again……but for today….enjoy the weaves! We know all those watching the event live sure did!

cheers