Friday Afternoon Weather Update at 3pm

Most of the current forecasts for the area are currently predicting the following scenario for Saturday:

Snow should begin around sunrise Saturday in Maryland, around mid-morning in Pennsylvania, and New Jersey/New York around noon.  Total accumulation in the area of the show is expected to be 1-2 inches beginning with snow showers at 3 am, changing to snow around 6 am, changing to rain around 1 pm, before moving out of the area entirely by 3pm.

Foot’s Forecast has the following travel advisory that applies to the entire Mid-Atlantic region:

“The event will only last about 12 hours as it moves out of MD mid-afternoon, Pennsylvania/New York around sunset, and New Jersey during the late evening hours.

Travelers heading on long weekend vacations will be impacted if they try to leave Saturday. If at all possible we advise leaving Friday, or early Sat AM. Temperatures will be sub-freezing to just above freezing in most areas leading to some snow covered roads and icy conditions on roads that snow melts. Expect travel to be difficult through the day Saturday, especially on roads where melted snow refreezes.”

Based on this forecast, we plan to start the show on-time (see the links above with confirmation and scheduling information) as the majority of competitors will be traveling and even arriving before there is much accumulation.

Everyone, please give yourself several extra minutes for travel time and drive carefully!

Dec 29, 2012 – Dec 30, 2012 Trial Information Has Been Posted

The Confirmation, Worker Schedule, and overall Estimated Schedule  for the Mid-Atlantic MADness fall trial is now available for viewing/download at http://www.midatlanticmadness.com.  See the menu items at the top of the page to view this information.

A draft copy of the running orders is also posted.  The final version with any received corrections to entries will be posted late Thursday night.

Thanks !

Dec 30, 2012 Rally Trial Premium Available

On Sunday, December 30, 2012 of this year’s “New Year’s Trial” at the Laurel Soccerdome, we will again be having an APDT Rally trial hosted by Kamp Kitty.

As you may have heard, USDAA acquired the Rally program from APDT earlier this year and the effective date of the transition is Dec 31, 2012.

The format Kamp Kitty is offering is a training match in the morning and a trial in the afternoon for Levels 1-3 plus Puppy and Veteran.  Although the premium states that the dog must be APDT registered, USDAA registration numbers may be used also.

Click here to view the premium.

December 2012 ‘New Year’s Trial’ Premium is Available

The premium for the December 29-30, 2012 Mid-Atlantic MADness USDAA trial is now available on-line.  This is a ‘tournament-only’ trial which has all three of the local tournament qualifiers needed to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2013 Cynosport Games (aka the ‘USDAA Nationals’)  to be held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, from October 23-27, 2013.

Click here to view the premium.

This trial is held in a soccer center on Sprintturf and our judge is Peggy Hammond.  This is our annual laid-back tournament-only trial beginning with a Steeplechase/PSJ and Dog Agility Masters/PVP team classes on Saturday. Sunday classes include the  final two classes of the team classes followed by Grand Prix/PGP classes.

In addition to the usual prizes for the first place teams, special prizes are also awarded to the High-Scoring Rookie teams in the DAM and PVP tournament (a ‘rookie’ team is defined as any team containing at least one dog who is showing in Starters or P1 Standard).

As with all USDAA trials, entries are unlimited, as long as the entry is received by the closing date of December 15, 2012.

If you have trouble downloading the premium, please email me and I’ll be happy to post a paper copy to you.

Sept 22, 2012 – Sept 23, 2012 Trial Information Has Been Posted

The Confirmation, Worker Schedule, and overall Estimated Schedule  for the Mid-Atlantic MADness fall trial is now available for viewing/download at http://www.midatlanticmadness.com.  See the menu items at the top of the page or the Blogroll links to the right of page to view this information.

A draft copy of the running orders is also posted.  The final version with any received corrections to entries will be posted on Thursday.

Thanks !

September 2012 Trial Premium is Available

This trial will be one of the first in the area to start earning Grand Prix and Steeplechase qualifications towards the 2013 Cynosport Games (aka the ‘USDAA Nationals’)  to be held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, from October 23-27, 2013.

Click here to view the premium.

Entry fees for the titling classes are the usual, ever low, cost of $13 per titling class (more for the tournament classes).

For those new to the sport, we are offering Intro Snooker and Intro Jumpers classes (either for titling or FEO) at $7/class.  If you’re planning to show FEO in Snooker, don’t worry; you can finish the course even if the opening didn’t go as well as you wanted 🙂

As with all USDAA trials, entries are unlimited, as long as the entry is received by the closing date of September 9, 2012.

If you have trouble downloading the premium, please email me and I’ll be happy to post a paper copy to you.

Information for the July 21-22 Agility Match

A schedule has been sent out to everyone who emailed beforehand with an interest in coming to the match associated with this weekend’s USDAA Judging Clinic at Hog Dog.   This schedule will be posted in a couple of days after they’ve had a chance to look at it and ask for any modifications.

Day of match drops-ins will still be accepted, however preference in run order will be given to those who pre-registered.  The match runs on Saturday from 12:30 to 5:00 and on Sunday from 10:00 to 2:30.   Time slots that it would be helpful if drops in showed up for are Saturday from 4:00 to 5:00 and Sunday from 12:30 to 2:30.  Again, there is no charge for attending this match (see previous postings for more information).
Other information is as follows:

Directions to Hog Dog Productions

Directions: From the North: Take I-97 South off the Baltimore Beltway. Exit New Cut Road. Turn right at the end of the ramp. Follow approximately 1.5 mile to fork in road. Bear left onto Gambrills Rd. Go approx 2 miles to flashing red traffic light and turn left onto Dicus Mill Rd. Turn right at the second street, Ski Lane. After 3 houses, the main road turns left and the driveway to 470 continues straight ahead. Follow the signs to the far back of the property.

From the South: Take either 97 north or Rte 3 north to Rte 32 west. Exit Burns Crossing Road. At the end of a long ramp; turn right at the traffic light onto Burns Crossing. Take the first immediate street on the right, Dicus Mill. Go approx two miles to stop sign and flashing yellow light, continue straight and follow the directions above to Ski Lane.

From the West: Take Rte 32 east to Burns Crossing Road. Turn right at end of ramp. Right at first traffic light, then left at next light onto Burns Crossing. Turn right onto first immediate street, Dicus Mill and follow directions above.

If using a web search engine or GPS unit to determine directions, use the address 470 Ski Lane, Millersville, Md.

Parking & Site Provisions

All competitors must park and unload on the gress in the designated areas.  If you’ve never been to Hog Dog for one of the trials there, you can see a birds-eye view of the site located at http://bit.ly/PfqaKh that shows where you can park.  However – since this is a clinic/match and not a trial, you can also park in areas that are marked Reserved/Handicapped as well.  This site map also shows which direction you drive onto and exit from the property.

The match will most likely be held in the fabric agility building so that we can take advantage of its shade.  You are welcome to set up in there, however you will probably find your dogs will be a bit cooler outdoors in shade.  If you do set up indoors and have portable battery-powered fans, I would recommend you bring them.

The current weather report for the weekend is a relatively balmy mid-80’s and wading pools/water will be available.  Still –  take care and protect yourself and your dogs against the heat.

Miscellaneous

The judge will be signalling faults based upon the level of certification they are attending the clinic for (usually Advanced or Masters) and the clinic instructors will be working with them and sometimes grading them on  on how well they identify and signal faults, their mobility in judging contacts, etc.
You will be running on an Advanced/Masters course.  You can run the course pretty much however you like.  If you have to stop and do something ‘unusual’ to help your dog do a section of the course, that’s fine.  (The clinic instructors don’t actually mind this as it gives them a chance to observe how the apprentice judge should be calling it).

Agility Dogs Wanted for USDAA Judging Clinic Examination

On July 19-22, Mid-Atlantic MADness is hosting a USDAA judging clinic and examination at Hog Dog in Millersville, MD.

On the Saturday and Sunday of this clinic, we will run a practice match for which we need dogs for the new judges to practice their skills on. Participation in this match is a good chance to get your dog on different equipment in a different location as well as a good way to give back to the sport. Rubber contacts, a breakaway tire, and 24″ weaves will be used at this match.

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Requirements: Your dog must be able to perform all of the standard equipment outdoors in an open level field. (Note: depending on weather conditions, the match may be moved inside Hog Dog’s fabric building and held on a sand/sawdust mixture surface). The dog does not need to be USDAA registered and does not have to be measured to participate. However, several CMJs will be available at this clinic and it is an official USDAA event, so you are welcome to bring your blue measurement card if you would like to get an official measurement.

How it Works: There is no cost for entering the match. You may specify the height of the jumps and the AFrame (Championship, Performance, or Veterans) that you want to work the dog at. You will be asked to sign the usual disclaimer before participating. Although you may come at any point, it will work best if you sign up beforehand in 1 to 2 hour slots so that you and your dogs are not outside in July for several hours. (Wading pools and hoses will be available and the dock diving pool may be open as well). Match times are Saturday afternoon (signup begins at 12pm and runthrus at 1pm) and again on Sunday morning (signup at 10:30am, judging at 11:30am). You may be asked to run 3-4 times in your time slot under different judge trainees. We would ask you only not to train in the ring when you are actually being judged.

How to Sign Up: Send an email to JLGauntt@aol.com with the following information:

Handler Name:

Dog Call Name:

Dog Jump Height (4, 8, 12, 16, 22, 26):

Aframe Height (5’0, 5’6, 5’10):

Preferred time slot on Saturday afternoon:

Preferred time slot on Sunday afternoon:

Email address you can be contacted at:

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More information will be posted on this web site starting a week before the clinic.