Charlie Bochenek, of Union Springs, and his dog, Chessie, finished in sixth place out of 12 competitors in the junior division at the 2005 DockDogs National Championships in Hamburg, Pa.

”She did what I expected,“ Bochenek said. ”She did real good.“

Chessie, an 8-month-old Chesapeake Bay retriever, leaped 13-feet, 4-inches - more than a foot farther than her previous longest jump - but still came up short of fifth place by a foot. The winner in the junior division flew more than 20 feet.

Though Bochenek said the injury Chessie had suffered in late summer didn't appear to affect her, the weather played a role as it rained throughout the competition.

”Jumps were shorter for some dogs that usually jump longer,“ he said. ”A few dogs wouldn't go off the dock.“

But overall, Bochenek said the weekend was a success, and he was very pleased with Chessie's performance. He is aiming to compete in early November at a contest in Cincinnati.