HulaHopp 2018: Great atmosphere despite night and arbitrary wildcards

In bright sunshine and scorching heat, the second edition of HulaHopp took place in Sweden. The largest agility event in Sweden with up to 2400 entrants and total prize money of 5’750 euros is increasingly turning into a fixed point in the agility calendar. However, some decisions in the second edition after 2016 caused discord. For example, the arbitrary award of wild cards for the final or the postponement part of the final on the early Sunday morning. The allocation of the wild cards did not detract from the sensational atmosphere in the final. Frenetically, all finalists were cheered and cheered on their runs. No matter what nationality the competitors are.

For the final, you could qualify in the first three days, as one of the top three in the Jumping or the A-run. Not a simple thing with the huge and international start field. As the only local Swiss, was Sascha Vadagnin with Kesch there. But the two missed the final just after a pole mistake, which otherwise would have meant third place. The final on Saturday evening started with an A-run. The best ten teams of each category were able to qualify for the final Jumping, which was awarded with 1’000 Euro. This was again counted from zero. Despite the final qualification, the two big favourites Jenny Damm and Zeljko Gora left early for the European Open in Vienna.

This of course opened Lock and Angel for other teams, such as Malin Elfström and Qii. The two win the FCI-Large category and therefore 1000 euros. In front of her two Swedish compatriots Cecilia Klingberg with Vic and Mia Baltrock with Ella. Also in the other two FCI categories Medium and Small were two Swedish teams the winners: Asa Emanuelsson and Alma, as well as Enya Habel and Party. Even the co-favorite Marta Miil from Estonia couldn’t change that. She failed in the final jumping of the small dogs at a hurdle. While the organizers had to contend with light after the XS Small and the Small Final. After an agreement with the international top judges, the second part of the final was relocated to the early Sunday morning for safety reasons.

Extra Large (FCI)
Malin Elfström with Qii (1000 Euro)
Cecilia Klingberg with Vic (100 Euro)
 Mia Baltrock with Ella (50 Euro)

Large
Camilla Jakobsson with Kes (1000 Euro)
 Geir Grefstad with Yolo (100 Euro)
 Marja Anglart with Li (50 Euro)

Medium (FCI)
Asa Emanuelsson with Alma (1000 Euro)
 Heidi Penttilä with Rosey (100 Euro)
Ina Himle with Wii (50 Euro)

Small (FCI)
Enya Habel with Party (1000 Euro)
 Sandra Sjöberg with Milla (100 Euro)
Heidi Penttilä with Vicky (50 Euro)

Extra Small
Maria Aronsson with Tyron (1000 Euro)
 Linnea Leigod with Freddie (100 Euro)
Anniken Gundersen with Lila (50 Euro)