Point-Time Estimation for Snooker

Using the point-time estimation works for snooker, too.

I did not run this course with the "magic points" in mind. Bug, a 16" Championship dog, had 50 seconds to complete the course. He would tell me what Scout, a 16" Performance dog could do. (At the time, I was going for Top Ten points for her). Both dogs run about the same speed, even though no one believes me.
Bug's Course
Opening: R1 + 4, R2 + 4, R3 + 7
Completed Closing and crossed the finish line: 47.29

Note that amount of hauling butt you need to do to cross the finish line. If Bug crossed the finish line before the timer sounded, then I had more time to get more points. It didn't matter because he took first, SuperQ and his Snooker Master title.

With a 50 seconds to get it all done, I can do 25 magic points. Let's add.
Opening
R1 + 4 + R2 + 4 = 4mp
The run to R3 = 1mp
The run to 7a = 2mp
7a, 7b, &c = 3mp
TOTAL = 10mp

Closing
2 through 5 = 5 mp
The distance to get to 6 = 1mp
A-Frame = 2mp
7 combo = 3mp
TOTAL = 11 mp

Bug's Total: 19mp.

Scout's Course
I changed plan for Scout - went for the #4 and two #7s in the opening. Let's do the math:
Opening
R1 + 4 + R2 = 3mp
7c, 7b, 7a = 3mp
Scooting to R3 = 2mp
R3 = 1mp
Scooting back to 7a= 2mp
7a, 7b, 7c = 3mp
TOTAL = 14mp

Closing
Same as Bug's, 11mp.

Scout's Total: 25mp

Alternative Openings
The dog that placed first ran R1-5b-5a, then the remaining reds and sevens. Scout could not have run faster than this dog, but let's compute her opening estimate anyway:
R1 + 5b +5a + a scoot + R2 = 5mp
7c, 7b, 7a = 3mp
Scooting to R3 = 2mp
R3 = 1mp
Scooting back to 7a= 2mp
7a, 7b, 7c = 3mp
TOTAL = 16mp

Time wise, this would have been cutting it awfully close to NOT finishing the #7 and, had we did finish, it still would have been second place.

Scout would have needed at least a 6-7-7 to win.
R1 + a scoot + 6 + a scoot + R2 = 6mp
7c, 7b, 7a = 3mp
Scooting to R3 = 2mp
R3 = 1mp
Scooting back to 7a= 2mp
7a, 7b, 7c = 3mp
TOTAL = 17mp

I don't think we could have successfully completed the #7 with this opening.

Conclusion
In 50 seconds, I expect to get 25 magic points with Scout. The course I happened to choose, without any analysis, worked. She crossed the finish line at 53.41 seconds. Scout took second and SuperQ'd.

And, in case you're wondering, Scout did make the 2008 Performance Top Ten for Snooker.

Seeing the Point-Time Estimation Method in Action

Using "Magic Points" can easily help you with a Time Gamble.

Here is the USDAA DAM/PVP Time Gamble from Mark Wirant at Good Dog Agility in Tempe, AZ. In a nutshell, the ideal time to cross the finish jump was between 30.01 and 31 seconds in a 1-2-3-5 system.
A couple of considerations:

1. In a 1-2-3-5 system, the value of the contacts and weaves, unless one is the 5-point obstacle, is not much compared to the jumps and round things. It is to your advantage in a 1-2-3-5 system to get the 5-point obstacle twice, and focus on round things (tire and tunnel). Round things and jumps are cheap and fast, usually faster than contacts and weaves.
   
2. Tire is always your friend! It is fast and easy, and worth more points than a regular jump.

I ran this with my older, very consistent dog, Scout. She has a fast A-Frame, and, as luck would have it, that was the 5-point obstacle. I stressed because I wanted the tire twice but could not work that into a nice flow. I planned for 14-15 magic points, with the option of taking the tunnels on the left twice, depending on her speed.

I did a couple of things I would not normally do: 3 back-to-back obstacles. I did, however, allow Scout to safely exit the obstacle and nicely turn around to re-perform it.

Because of her speed on the tunnel-jump sequence that EVERYONE took on the exit, I opted to toss in a back-to-back tunnel by the exit jump.

Finish time: 30.30 seconds.
Opening Points: 28
Gamble Points: 15
Placement: 1st, P16 (my partner finished at 30.36 with extra jumps - the double the wrong direction, and a dropped bar), and highest in PVP Class

The following was my strategy, red text shows the sequence numbering and magic points, blue shows the obstacle values:

Gamblers Opening Strategy

This is not my idea. It was given to me by someone else, who got it from someone else, who... well, you get the picture. I further tweaked the method.

BASICS

1. Each obstacle has a point value based on the relative amount of time it takes a dog to complete it. I call these "magic points".
2. Obstacles are assumed to be spaced 15-20 feet.
   
3. Any dead space greater than 20 feet in a sequence counts as a magic point.
4. The better the flow, the more magic points needed.
   
5. Almost every dog, regardless of size or speed, averages 12-16 magic points in a 30-second opening sequence.

MAGIC POINTS

1. Each jump counts as one (1) magic point.
2. Each contact counts as at least two (2) magic points. If the dog has a slow dog walk, then that obstacle may count as 2.5 or 3 magic points.
3. A set of 6 weaves is one (1) magic point for a good weaver.
4. A set of 12 weaves is two (2) magic points for a good weaver.
5. Tunnels count as one (1) magic point.
6. Any dead space distance greater than 20 feet counts as a magic point.
   
7. Jumpers caveat: 4 consecutive jumps count as 3 magic points.

WHAT IS YOUR MAGIC NUMBER?
If you can't have someone track the obstacles you do in a set time, then use a standard run without a table. Count the magic points for each obstacle, divide by the time completed and multiply by 30. That is the number of magic points, on average, you need in your opening for gamblers.

The example I am posting is theoretical. Pretend that there is no table in this run:
There are 22 magic points. If I completed the course in 44 seconds, then I have averaged 0.5 magic points per second. Multiply by a 30 second opening, and that is 15 magic points.

The following is a Masters/PIII Gamblers course from 02/14/09, Saguaro Scramblers, with Sheri Boone as the judge. The opening is 25 seconds.
Scout and I sought 13 magic points (about half of 25, using my example ratio above). The buzzer blew right as she took what would be the 13th magic point. This left us with a nice entry into the gamble.
This method works nicely, of course, for time gambles, and for estimating what you can do in snooker.

A Better Doggie Wheelchair

I found this link in the University of Louisville Alumni magazine. It's FREE instructions for a fully adjustable doggie wheelchair. I think the lady who came up with it said the parts all cost $200, and are readily available at your local hardware store.

http://web.me.com/gbertocci

General Rules for a Successful, Strategic Run

Each dog is different. When you get to choose your own course, it should be fun for the dog. Unless you are training something, avoid your dog’s weaker obstacles. Scout isn’t the speediest weaver, so if we don’t need to do them, we don’t.

1. Highlight your dog’s assets. If your dog loves tunnels and contacts, select a course around that.
2. Flow is key. Back-to-back obstacles can be demoralizing and actually slows the dog down. Wrap the dog around a jump before sending him up the A-Frame again.
3. Run with your dog. If you’re not running, then why should your dog?

With an older dog, I do not recommend back-to-back obstacles. Ever. You risk injury to your dog with the sudden stop, 180 turn, and the need to accelerate again. This is the voice of experience.

Introduction

The first step in rehabilitation is to admit you have a problem.

Hello, my name is Jessica, and I am an agility addict.

Now that I have that squared away, you can attend my briefing.

Scout is my first agility dog. She is first and foremost a beloved house pet. I discovered agility on accident two years after I adopted her from the pound. Click for Scout's Story. Everyone kept telling me she’s a 16” dog. What does that mean? It means that if you are over 16” at the shoulder, you are jumping 22” in USDAA in the biggest height class. Scout is 17” at the shoulder and 20.5 pounds. If she is not the smallest dog in her class by height, she most certainly is by weight. Oh, and she’s not a border collie or Aussie or Sheltie. She’s an All-American Mutt.

I began trialing with Scout when she was at least five. Since her birth date is unknown, I felt it best to compete with her in the Performance Program. In some areas, the USDAA Performance Program is very small, but not in the Southwest. The Performance entries at trials rivals those in the Championship program. I had several people tell me that I would have to travel outside my region to get the SuperQs necessary for the APD (Performance equivalent to an ADCh).

The point being is that I was going to have an uphill battle getting the champion title on Scout.

I traveled to the Midwest (along with a family visit) and snagged two SuperQs. There were three open dogs in Performance. Cool! One more!

And it became discouraging… getting Qs and that’s it.

Then the miracle happened in January 2008, San Diego, California. A three or four red snooker with a 7 jump-tunnel-jump combo, and the 6 was an A-frame. A scratch in the 22” class meant that the open dogs were combined. Three 16” dogs did all four reds. I estimated that I could do two sixes and a seven and complete the closing. Scout bounced the last jump and the horn blew. Perfect timing. I paced. And waited for the 22” class to run. Scout was in fourth place. That’s encouraging. I paced some more. After the 22” score table tallied the 22” class, I realized that we earned the last SuperQ.

Not too bad for an 8-year-old dog I was told would never get it.

At a trial in March, we stumbled upon another SuperQ. I picked a flowing course. At a May trial, I picked a nice course, and had a ton of time left over. Not good! Scout and I could have had more points! My friends Linda and Leslie encouraged me to go for more points because I can. So that’s what I do since I finally figured out the game.

I have an up-and-coming dog, Bug. He’s another pound adoptee and competes in the 16” Championship class. I acquired him in April of 2007, and began training him in September of that year. He’s now a Snooker Master.

I have quite a few people ask me for Snooker courses, as if I am some sort of guru. I’m not. Once you figure out the game, it’s easier to play. And succeed.

This intent of this blog is to discuss strategy (following numbers isn’t strategy!) in agility games.

• Timing Snooker for maximum points

• Finding flow and time estimation in Gamblers

• Flow and shortest distance in Snakes-and-Ladders

• Determining assets and liabilities to maximize success