National dog agility plans taking shape
Competition Approximately 500 talented canines will make their way to Sussex in August
SUSSEX - Hershey's focus has never been so keen as he prepares for a place on the New Brunswick team.
Tearing through the obstacles of his home-based agility course in his Dutch Valley dooryard, the five-year-old border collie and his handler Allyson Mitton don't waste any time as they gear up for the regionals in Salisbury at the end of June.
Their dream is to capture 350 points in that dog agility competition to make it all the way to the nationals"¦ a few miles away in Sussex. To succeed, practice is paramount to ensure Hershey has the speed and focus to complete his obstacles in order and with precision.
This is the first year the prestigious national event has ever come east. It will be held here Aug. 7-10.
"It will so suck if we won't make it when the nationals are in our own little town," said Mitton, who is also helping organize the 2008 National Agility Championships.
She expects 10 to 15 agility dogs will qualify from the New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island region. They will be part of a roster of about 500 top agility dogs in Canada and the United States to be on trial at the Princess Louise Park Show Centre in Sussex.
Mitton said planning a national event, which is costing about $200,000 to host, is no small feat. She said for months now hotels throughout the region have been booked, and to accommodate the overflow, a camper's village will be set up on the show centre grounds. It already has a waiting list.
"On every square inch of ground we have, we are creating a little camp site," she said.
Because of the dogs coming and the equipment that will be on site during the four-day event, security has been arranged for around-the-clock coverage.
Among the visitors to the region, Mitton said the top agility trainer in North America will be here, as will seven judges from across the continent.
"In the agility world, this is huge," she said.
"To the outside world it may not seem so big, but this is huge. I just hope our own community grasps how big this is and comes out to support it."
Mitton said when Maritime agility clubs expressed interest in hosting the event, the region's remoteness was a concern to the Agility Association of Canada. They had nothing to worry about, Mitton said, as dogs and their handlers are flying in or driving here not only for the event, but they're planning their summer vacation around it.
"The response has been overwhelming. I think the event will be bigger than we ever expected," she said.
"Not only are people excited to get down here to see the Maritimes, but they are looking forward to seeing the quality of the dogs we have."
Sussex recreation director Jason Thorne said the ball field fencing at the site will be taken down and reassembled to create six large competition rings. As well, he added, the town is resurfacing some of the grounds to make them prime for the sport.
Mitton said the committee organizing the nationals is aiming to impress, and said "thousands and thousands of dollars worth" of new equipment will arrive here from the United States. It has all been pre-sold.
"We just wanted everything to be so new and special," Mitton said, "and we were able to do that by selling it off beforehand so we're not left with that huge bill."
This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the agility association in Canada, and while celebrations are in store here, Mitton said they won't include the typical formal banquets held during most nationals.
"There will be no crystal or bouquets of flowers on the tables," she said, adding menus will consist of fish and lobster, and trimmings will include lighthouses and seashells. "We are planning a Maritime kitchen party. We want to show our very relaxed Maritime way.
"I think the friendly, heart-felt welcome is what will make our nationals unique."
More sponsors and about 200 volunteers are needed to pull off the event, Mitton said.
"We expect to have 1,200 to 1,500 people on site every day. That takes a lot of organizing, but we really want to bring more awareness to our sport," she explained.
Awareness is key, Mitton added. She said while there is money in provincial coffers for hosting national events, she has run into dead ends every time "dog" comes into the conversation.
Mitton said even before this first-time event for the Maritimes is held, organizers are hoping to be placed on a three-year rotation to share hosting duties with Ontario and British Columbia.
"Agility is growing so fast in the Maritimes," she said, "and Sussex has the prime facilities for an event like this. We have looked all over the Maritimes and nowhere has what we have with a show centre like ours practically in the centre of town."
To volunteer or for more information, visit online at www.aacnationals.ca.
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