11/21/2025
It's a wrap on the AKC trials for 2025. I have lots of thanks to send out.
First, I want to thank everyone for supporting WAG throughout the year by entering trials whether it's AKC, CPE or UKI, fun matches, variety of seminars. doing ring rentals or taking classes. It means a lot to us, and we really appreciate all of it.
On to thanks for the November AKC trial. There are no small jobs at a trial, and I greatly appreciate everyone stepping in to get the jobs done whether it is bar setting, leash runner, course building, putting ribbons out, scribe and timer and helping clean up at the end of the day. It takes everyone pitching in to make a trial run and especially run successfully. My broken record plea is if you are an exhibitor consider volunteering if you don't already at the next trial you are at. Keep in mind when you started volunteers were there for you to participate so consider giving back to the agility community.
Huge thanks to my key position volunteers. Some of these volunteers commit to doing the job weeks or months ahead of time and are at the trial from sunrise to past sunset.
-Trial secretary - Gayle Pluta and her back up team Jim Payne and Judy Payne who kept the paperwork going, worked on getting scores out on time and anything else secretary related.
-Chief Course Builder - Rosie Hatcher-Pientok who despite personal tragedy came for set up on Thursday evening and headed up our course building teams each day and worked tirelessly each and all day over the weekend.
-Ring captains- Judy Payne for Friday and Saturday and Pat Casey for Sunday. They kept on top of making sure all our volunteer spots were filled each day.
-Outside Grounds - Sheila Doran who kept p**p bag supplies ready and the p**p cans emptied.
-Inside Grounds - Thanks to Laura Hilger for organizing the volunteers and thanks to Tina Gradowski, Nadia Adint and Julie Janke made sure the washrooms were fully stocked and kept clean during the three days. They also kept garbage and recycling cans empty.
-Food Coordinator - Heather Green which is one of the many jobs she does at the trial. She kept our workers fed throughout the day and we were all very happy about that!
-Opening the building - Jim Payne opened the building on Friday and Sue McFarlane for Saturday and Sunday. I'm not a morning person so this made me very happy I didn't need to get to WAG before 7am.
In addition to day of trial jobs there are a lot of prework jobs that take place before the trial even starts. This involves, but not limited to, making up the MACH/PACH bars and stickers, inventory and ordering all the trial ribbons, ordering food to feed our volunteers, stocking beverages, getting the worker schedule done, making hotel reservations for the judge and keeping in communication with the judge and AKC, cleaning the building, checking inventory, making sure the equipment is in good working order and doing the endless inputting of entries into the database and sending confirmation emails just to name a few things. (Gesh my brain hurts just thinking of all the work that gets done!)
WAG is fortunate to have some awesome members who get the building ready for the trial. I am grateful and lucky for those volunteers who came in Thursday night to set up which involves clearing the mat ring from equipment, marking the crating area, setting up the first course, setting up the secretary area, moving gates around, getting the practice jump set up, getting the kitchen ready and stocking the washroom: Scott Persky, Pat Casey, Gayle Pluta, Judy Payne, Jim Payne, Nadia Adint, Tina Gradowski, Rosie Hatcher-Pientok, Joyce Partykevich, Sue McFarlane, Lauren Wells, Ginger Blossom
Then after three long days everything has to get put back and ready for classes for the week. Some of these WAG members were at the trial for three days and still stayed to help with clean up: Tina Gradowski, Sara Perlmutter, Nadia Adint, Gayle Pluta, Heather Green, Rosie Hatcher-Pientok, Lauren Wells, Donna Cordoba, Teresa Rizzo, Suzi Schmidt, Mark Rusley, Judy Payne. I'm hoping I am not missing anyone but if I am please accept my apologies.
Congrats to all who participate this past weekend. No matter how well you did or didn't give you pups extra hugs and treats for participating in a game that you chose to do. Huge congrats to those who earned a MACH/PACH this weekend:
June Koszynski and Tyler PACH
Jennifer Sumpter and Paisley MACH
Barb Glore and Remi MACH
Jennifer Smith and Rake PACH
Kevin Grudem and Kacy MACH3
Marsha Kilpatrick and Mak MACH3
Jennifer Graves and Jordon MACH2
Special thanks to our judge Steph Capkovic for first time judging for WAG and we hope not the last time! She had fun but challenging courses and we appreciate all of her time and energy because without a judge it's hard to have a trial. ��
Lastly my heartfelt thanks to my co-chair Heather Green. I say this every time, but I truly mean it. Heather does so much to make our AKC trials a success from worker schedule to feeding us and much more. Heather energy is endless, and she keeps me in line. Having her as a co-chair makes my job so much better. Thank you, Heather from the bottom of my heart!��
Again, thanks to everyone for doing what you do for the success of our trials. Your time, energy, dedication and hard work is truly appreciated. Here's wishing everyone safe and happy holidays.
Mary VanderBloomen
Trial Co-Chair
