The Cutting “Edge”!
We hear of so many world famous competitors come from Sun Valley. They were born here, raised here and rocketed down the slopes of Bald Mountain, or skated the Sun Valley rinks to hone their skills to perfection. We wait breathless to cheer for them in the Olympics and World events and throw glorious community events to salute their victories! Few other communities can boast such remarkable champions!
But, here in our quaint little valley is another competitor, who fought against all odds to capture the hearts of so many, and the prestige of one of the top ranking dogs in agility! “Edge”, a TEN year old Australian Shepherd, ran his heart out, training and competing all of his life to earn an invitation to the AKC Agility Nationals in Reno, NV just a few weeks ago. There, among the 1200 top competitors and much younger dogs, Edge found an edge, slipped off the dog walk got back on and in record time still managed to become the top 6th place winner in the nation!
If you are familiar with the dog walk, you know that it is a narrow, 12” wide wooden walk way, 36 feet long, suspended four feet above the ground with an entry and exit ramp the dog must negotiate to make it safely up, across and down. Edge, not only slipped off the top of the walk and fell, but then his owner, Carrie Wesson was encouraged by the judge to let the determined warrior renegotiate the dog walk to earn himself 6th place among a field of 60 finalists!
With over a thousand of competitors that are the top in their field, such a placing is simply marvelous. But, to reach such a placing after falling, getting up and continuing to the finish is miraculous even for a much younger dog!
It is a team effort. Both dog and handler must be perfectly in sync with each other – the handler directing through the most difficult course imaginable and a dog that can physically make the maneuvers to get there and over or through each obstacle. Similar to stadium jumping with horses, it is precision team work, knowledge and physical prowess that make a winning team! Only a few of the most indomitable make it to the top of this sport!
Immediately examined by the show veterinarian, Edge was deemed unharmed in the fall. In fact, both local veterinarian and the show veterinarian agreed that for Edge to continue running after the fall probably resulted in his excellent recovery, physically.
While the AKC Dog Agility National is not the Olympics for our ski and skate athletes, it is the crown and glory in the athletic dog world, as prestigious as our beloved Westminster Dog Show for conformation dogs. The crème de la crème compete, but the best of the crème de la crème place!
Kudos, Edge and Carrie! Another incredible champion, more formally known as MACH2 Copperose Odds On My Side MAD MXS MJG MFB T2B2 SPD thrives in our well represented Wood River Valley!
