To all agility people - here and there

On the occasion of having now completed Spenser's first year of agility
trials and embarking on the second - and the first for Sassy, I want to
express my thanks.

Thanks to the clubs and the organizations that do all the work to put on
agility trials. Thejudges, the trial secretaries, the club committees, the
volunteers. They do it for the love of the dogs and of the sport. I have
always tried to be respectful and patient when I needed either direction or
information from you. For those times, it may have appeared that I did not
succeed in my attempt, I apologize. I will try harder to remember that you
are usually dealing with fifteen other things - some of which *might* be
more important than me at that moment.

Thanks to the other competitors. As a newbie, I'm sure in my ignorance that
I made mistakes. Some of which may have irritated you. For those times, I
apologize. For those of you who took the time to clarify things for me and
explain things and tell me where to stand and where to go and what I needed
to be doing - all while you were trying to get yourself ready to compete - I
am grateful. And for those of you who talked with me on walk-throughs and
at the edge of the ring and discussed running strategy with me - and acted
as if I knew what I was talking about - I am especially grateful. I intend
to try to pass it on.

Thanks to all of you who have encouraged me in our attempts at this sport.
I am not an athlete. I am not an especially good dog trainer. However,
this sport is one of the most wonderful, absolutely most fun things I have
ever attempted in my life. That would not be true if not for all the
friendly, helpful people I meet and talk with at every single trial we
attend. DH made the comment that when you start with a group of people who
are spending the day sitting around a field with their dogs - just for the
opportunity to run an agility course with them - that you're starting with a
pretty good base of people.

It is incredibly challenging. Every single new thing I learn makes me
realize that I know less than I thought I did yesterday.

~~Judy