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About Agility European Open
The European Open is an agility event, which is officially recognised
by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale ) and is based on
the FCI-Agility regulations.
The competition is open to all dogs, with or without pedigree.
Dogs have to possess a record book or a license issued by a national
member organisation of the FCI or a national organisation with a close
relationship to the FCI. If a country organise a selection process,
this must be OPEN to all dogs, with or without pedigree.
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Accommodations
Many competitors stayed in the camp place in the competion site.
There were over 350 campers and they set their camping-car and tents
around the lake, which was just beside the agility rings. It was very
convenient to be close to the rings, but it was also too hot for many.
The temperature was nearly 30°C even after the Sunset.
There were also large hotels, most of them were about 20 minute-drive
from the competition site. Naturally, they were compeletely booked out.
Luckily, Harry and his family found a small Bed & Breakfast nearby.
The owner of the hotel spoke only Italian, therefore foreign competitors
could not reserve a room there. Although it was very close from the site.
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Day 1: Veterinary Control and Opening Ceremony
Registration was open for all competitors from 11AM to 6PM.
At the registration, Harry had to show his Swiss pet-passport
and hand in his record-book issued by the Swiss Kennel Club.
The Opening Ceremony started at around 6:30PM.
All National Teams marched into the ring in the alphabetical order.
Then Mr. Jean Paul Petitdidiier, the President of FCI Agility Comission,
announced the opening of the event.
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Day 2: Individual Competitons
The individual competitions are an Agility round and a Jumping round.
The top 3 teams for each country and each height qualify for the Final.
The first briefing was supposed to start at 8AM. However it was Italia!
The staff started building the course at around 8AM.
Everything went slower than expected. When they had announced that the
briefing would be in 20 minutes, then it actually started an hour later.
As Harry's start-number was very early, his master was anxiously waiting
in the intense Sun. Then it happned... Suddenly she felt dizzy and her
hands and feet started convulsing. She got a heat-stroke!
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Drink a lot of water!
Harry's master knew that she had to drink more water, but she was also
afraid of becoming wanting to go to toilet before the briefing, as there
was a long que at the toilet beside the ring. Remember, as soon as she'd
done with the briefing, she had to run to get Harry to be at the startline.
How about Harry?
His master never forgot to give Harry enough water. She often took him to
the Lake to make his body cooler too. So Harry was OK.
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Competitions
Nevertheless, Harry and his master ran the Agility round without faults in
the morning, but went off course in the Jumping round in the afternoon.
Both Harry and his master was tired. Some small short-haired dogs refused to
go through the collupsed tunnel. The tunnel's textile got very hot in the
Sun. Most competitors were wearing their national uniform in the morning,
but by the noon, many were running only with swimwear or bikinis.
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Day 3: Team Competitions
A team consists of a minimum of three and a maximum of four dogs.
The competitions are held in the category Large and the mixed category of
Medium and Small. Combined scores of the best three dogs in the Agility
and the Jumping determin the winner of the Team Competitions.
The start-number of Harry's Team, "Mountain Jumpers, was the very last of all.
So Harry and his master set hertent in the shade beside the lake, drank a lot
of water, went to toilet even when she did not feel like to, and rested well.
Harry ran clean in both Agility and Jumping. His master was so grateful that
they could contribute to their Swiss Team at this prestigeous European Open.
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That's ITALIA
The final day's program was also heavily delayed. Harry and his family could
not stay there untill the award-giving ceremony, as they had to moved to the
Lake Garda before it got dark. So this is the end of the European Open 2007
report. Although there were some unfortunate happenings, Harry's family had
a good time there. Italian people may not be as punctual as Swiss people, but
they are friendly, kind, and the most important of all, very hard-working!
Once the competition started running, the staff looked after the ring very well.
Please also check Como and Garda, Italy in Harry's World Jouneys!
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Agility European Open 2007 
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Information on Agility European Open 2007