Good input!
I am glad that someone brought up the issue with the dogs, especially the smaller dogs, having to negotiate the feet of the gates if they try to turn tightly around a gate. That had been brought to my attention and I forgot to include it in my post.
I am leaning towards having three EGC classes, since we have three TTW classes (Tunnelers, Touch N Go, and Weavers) and three NADAC jumping classes (Chances, Jumpers and Regular). The logical removal would be X-Chances, since we already have Chances in the NADAC program and X-Chances is the least favorite for clubs to offer and for competitors to enter.
The same issue is being brought up that has been observed with Barrelers........ that is it TOUGH for handlers to remember the courses at the Elite level. If we added a couple Tunnels like we do in Gaters, it doesn't lessen the connection and path work required, but does make it easier for course memory.
I do think that people love Gaters because of course design. If we used the same type of course design for Barrelers we could make that class even more fun!
I am still trying to work through the thoughts on Gaters......... turning a dog in a curve around a flat obstacle never "looks" right. And the issue with the feet being in the dog's path is an issue. As people say, it isn't the gate itself that makes Gaters fun, it is the course design used.
A cool idea was mentioned in a private response.......... to combine X-Hoopers and Barrelers in a combo type class where the dog does part of the hoop circle, come out to do a barrel type pattern and back in the hoop circle, etc........ to combine the skills of X-Hoopers and Barrelers in one combo class.
Sharon
