A Nanaimo girl and her border collie are headed overseas this spring, hoping to thrive at the World Agility Open Championships.

Mackenzie Bailey and Luna had previous efforts hampered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with regional and national event cancellations, and will compete in their first major event representing Team Canada from May 19-22 at Ermelo, Netherlands.

The 15-year-old and her dog will compete running a course in the 600-millimetre height division. Preparation consists of daily training in their yard, as well as twice-weekly training with coach Dan Steel of Agility Unleashed.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 jumps, tunnels, an A-frame, a dog walk, in some competitions thereB次元官网网址檚 a collapsable tunnel, thereB次元官网网址檚 a teeter-totter B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 jumps for length and height, thereB次元官网网址檚 a wall jump, thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of different obstacles,B次元官网网址� Bailey said of LunaB次元官网网址檚 training.

In an e-mail, Steel said Bailey and Luna will have to cover more ground at the championships, as they will be navigating an international course, and training will concentrate on B次元官网网址渂uilding endurance.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淪he will be faced with greater distances between obstacles, and the running surface will be much longer and wider than we are use to seeing here in Canada,B次元官网网址� said Steel. B次元官网网址淭his will require that she run faster than she is use to, and that she ask Luna to be more independent on the course B次元官网网址� we will be timing her manoeuvre options for effective course planning during the walk-through, where you get to physically get on the course prior to running it with your dog.B次元官网网址�

Bailey says she is one of two who are under the age of 18 on Team Canada and hopes people donB次元官网网址檛 judge her because of her age.

B次元官网网址淓veryone looks at kids and say, B次元官网网址極h, there not going to know what theyB次元官网网址檙e doingB次元官网网址� and people trying to give advice thatB次元官网网址檚 not needed, is what IB次元官网网址檓 worried about,B次元官网网址� said Bailey.

Steel has faith in Luna and Bailey.

B次元官网网址淪he has great skills as a handler, not just as a junior handler,B次元官网网址� said Steel. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e very proud of her and excited to see this opportunity unfold.B次元官网网址�

Regardless, Bailey is excited to be competing, as all the delays were difficult.

B次元官网网址淐ompetitions were cancelled repeatedly, so [Luna] hasnB次元官网网址檛 competed in a long time,B次元官网网址� said Bailey. B次元官网网址淭raining was difficult for a while because of masks and social distancing all that, so there hasnB次元官网网址檛 been any competitions. There hasnB次元官网网址檛 been as many classes that are indoors, so that was hard.B次元官网网址�

Fundraising efforts for Bailey and LunaB次元官网网址檚 trip will begin closer to the event and Steel says more information will be made available on the Agility Unleashed Facebook page. For more information or to donate, e-mail macbailey2@icloud.com.

More information on the event can be found at .

reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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