International Poodle Agility Championships, 12-14.09.25

 Already before Minnie was competing, I registered her to the International Poodle Agility Championships (IPAC), because this year it was in Sweden that is quite close to us. Minnie started to compete in agility courses only 2 months prior to IPAC (3 competitions), the first 2 competitions were quite unsuccessful (all agility runs were DSQ and the contacts were raw (dont want to say bad)), so all august we did not compete but I was focused on the contacts. The week before IPAC competition in Viljandi was the main test. And boy! I was very happy to get a clean run with beautiful contacts on agility course there. So I had hope for IPAC.

Anyway, I still went with a lots of doubts there, the goal was to get a clean run (may from jumping course?)! I was also very nervous about the team event - I was lucky enough that Minnie was invited to a team - all the three other team members were already level 3 runners.

For the individual finals there was 4 tickets for the Level 1 competitors - for the 1st place of each course - in case the 1st place had a ticket - then it moved forward. So if the cards play right and we dont get all DSQ..maybe there was a hope for that??

So, on Wednesday morning we packed the car and drove 7h to Klaipeda for the evening boat.

Minnie sleeping in the boat cabin:

We arrived to Sweden in the early morning of Thursday. It was nice weather so we did some hiking:

In the evening we could check in to the camping site and also we went to visit the competition site to put up out tent: 

FRIDAY

Next morning early (8:00) started the Level 1 competitions, 2 agility runs were planned for the first day. It had been raining a lot in the night so everything was wet. The first course started with a straight line to dog-walk, but then turned after. Minnie slipped on going up to the dog-walk, I stopped to see where she is and then she jumped from the end of the dog walk, but by the time I realised that she jumped, we were already after the next jump (the initial plan was to put her back if she jumpes the dog-walk), but I kept on running. Minnie slipped one more time on a turn and another time in the tunnel. The whole course I felt very off, I was late in handling and too disturbed about all the slipping. But rest of the course was clean and actually our result was -5 from dog-walk, and this gave us surprisingly 3rd place. I was very surprised! And thought that at least we got on the podium once :)

The second course everything was dried. Same start, the second obstacle dog-walk, but now straight to tunnel after that. This was very good for us and Minnie did a beautiful dog-walk. Also the rest of the course was very good! She was more confident! And it was clean round!! I was super happy! 

This time we earned to 2nd place!

And the ticket to the final! Because the 1place was the same dog as on the last course!

It was super successful first day. I got my goal fulfilled - clean round! And in agility course! And beyond the goal to get the ticket to the final. 

Afternoon we still went for a little walk:

SATURDAY

Planned 2 jumping courses. No stress of the contacts and already got my clean run and also the final ticket - so I went to this day with no stress. Only fun fun fun! We were laughing that only thing missing was the highest podium place :D

First course. Minnie was excited to go on the run! Results clean run with very good time! And first place!!

Second course had more turns, but no problems for Minnie! Again clean run and 1st place! Amazing girl!!!

The collection of two days!

Just resting for Minnie in the evening as three difficult runs waiting in the next day.

SUNDAY

First it was team jumping course. As said I was in the team with three other Level 3 dogs. The jumping course was with the difficulty of Level 2. A bit scary was the last obstacle - double jump. Minnie had never seen this one before. The course went quite well, I dint do the planned move before the last jump. Minnie didnt estimate the jump right and completely crashed on the second jump of the double jump. Therefore the result was -5 for us. Mattias Kull captures Minnies not so elegant first try of the double jump of her life :)

This time even a video!

Since my teammates managed to get 3 clean runs then we got 2nd place at the jumping course! We lost to the first place 0.09 sec!!! If Minnie would have got clean run we would have won....

Next up the individual final. Agility course, I would say the difficulty was between Level 2 and 3. I made couple of principle errors in the course walk (rookie mistakes). And while running I was late after the A-frame. So pushed Minnie to the wrong side and result was DSQ. The rest of the course was quite nice, until the end, where we would have got DSQ anyway, because I rushed to the end obstacle (double jump again) and forgot to push Minnie to the tunnel. 

Video again: 

And the the team agility course - no pressure right :) We were standing at second place with the difference of 0.09 sec from the gold. The course was difficult. Way beyond Level 1. Proper Level 3 now.  So first team member pulled a clean course, second got -5! Pressure was totally on! And Minnie did the best contacts of the entire weekend! And we did it! Clean run! It felt amazing - with everybody cheering! Only thanks to my team mates who helped me with the course walk and gave lots of valuable tips we could do it.

Our forth member got -5. So in the end we placed again on the second place! Again, if no fault..we were 6 sec faster!

And overall second place! Vice world poodle agility team champion 2025! Amazing for my little 21 months old Minnie!

With all the treasure from IPAC from 3 days!

Estonian team at IPAC :)

 We had ferry ticket back to Klaipeda at 17.00 on Sunday (but it was quite clear that we have to change our plans, because I could not have missed the team agility run), so we decided to take the ferry next day to Tallinn. The event ended after 19, so we drove 1.5h closer to Stockholm in the same evening. It was super tiring day (started at 9.00) for everybody. Pärli was all day very brave!

On Monday we drove to Stockholm to get to the ferry to Tallinn.

Later than planned, but we arrive back home on Tuesday much more confident than week before!