Lansdown Action

Thanks to Martin Tait for capturing some of Ella's runs for me:

Another Lansdown done and dusted

Exhausted! But very pleased by how well another Lansdown show went, it's a real credit to both Severnside & Clifton agility clubs. Had a good day yesterday with a positive G1-2 Agility run (weave issue still there sadly!), and a fabulous (even if I do say so myself!) clear run in the Pedigree team event. Oooh she's good :-) Plus we were shades off winning the G1-2 Jumping at the end of the day, but my dozy dog ran over the last but one jump to the start line to find her toy for a job almost well done! Still, was very proud that Mark Douglas who was judging sought me out afterwards to tell me what a cracking round it was. She is a good girl, if a little dozy at times :-))

Today didn't quite pick off where we left off yesterday evening. Martin watched our rounds and felt she 'bullied' me into letting her do the weaves, so she wasn't controlled enough as she entered them and therefore made mistakes. I'm trying to take comfort from the fact that she now seems to be getting her entries okay, it's just bending back to complete them properly that's the problem now. Back to the drawing board!

However disappointed I might be not to have won a rosette this weekend though, I'm delighted at how many Severnside club members picked up. Notably one of the small Pedigree teams - 4 clear rounds earnt them first place and a place at Crufts 2010!! So we had a lovely pizza party with champagne on Saturday night to celebrate - it felt like a great achievement for the club, even those who aren't exactly small dog happy :-)) Then today, Caroline and Milo only went and won G2 Agility - she was shaking with excitement telling everyone, it was so lovely to see! Also Jan & Ruby went and won the G1 Jumping as well as being placed elsewhere too, Rhi & Jess placed, Rhi & Abbey placed, Helen & Eko won G3 Agility - I'm sure there were others but I'm so tired I can't remember properly!

So today I'm grateful for a lovely sunny weekend for our club show, the good fortune that shone on my friends, and my fantastic fabulous family for supporting me in what I love to do best. Great weekend all round really - roll on next year!!

Golden Valley DTC Show

As I write this we're nearer Lansdown agility weekend than Golden Valley now, and I can't honestly tell you where the week has gone! We camped at Worcester last weekend along with Helen & Hattie next door for the first time. They enjoyed their weekend away and took away several placings - ladies I apologise profusely for not remembering exactly what! This is why I should write things down :-)

I do remember my own, if only because I have the rosettes on the dresser to remind me! Sue James & I ran in the pairs on the Saturday and came 2nd which was very exciting, and quite unexpected really. Ella's weaves were a bit dubious last weekend and there were 6 poles in the pairs class. But we did them, which I have to admit did cheer me up - well done Sue for not letting me back out of running her. Sunday was more positive again - 4 clears in the Team Dash for Severnside Red (or Green, memory failure again!) led to a 4th place, and just outside qualification for the final. Ella & I ran last and I didn't watch the others run, just focused on us. I'm glad I didn't realise everyone else had gone clear, I don't think it would have been good for my nerves :0)) Finally, Ella & I came 3rd in the Collie Sprint class (jumps & tunnels - no weaves - bliss!), with plenty of room for improvement on our time. It's nice to know she's competitive time-wise despite her handler ;0)

Ooh and that wasn't quite all - Hazel Tait let me run her Molly in the G6-7 Agility. Brain went a bit mushy as it was this run and then home, but I drove at the equipment and don't think I did too badly. Martin Tait may disagree though :-)

Anyway, have lots of agility thoughts that I'd like to write about, but have training this evening in Hinton so must go and have tea otherwise I'll be starving and won't be able to concentrate.

Thames DTS Agility show

Another great day, although no trophies to show for it I'm afraid. Not that you'd know that from the great big grin plastered all over my face - Ella hit the entries for 3 sets of poles, only coming out of one set at the end which had a tunnel beckoning at the end of them. So very happy as the handling errors I made were small (unlike the runs from last weekend, I won't elaborate further :-)) so I'm upbeat about this season. I have such a great dog!

Anyway think I should probably be headed on up to bed. I'm pleased to report that Callum has managed to wait until 7.00am or after for his bottle these last few nights, but I wouldn't like to say that it's a permanent arrangement just yet - or at least not without touching wood :0)

Plus I spent a very uncomfortable night on Friday with a terrible headache, which was still hanging around on Saturday morning. My back was all kinds of stiff, so after a visit to the osteopath it was decided that I might want to be a bit kinder to my body. After all, it has provided me with the most beautiful little boys not so long ago! So this week my aim is to practise my stretches and when I need to lift anything, to do it carefully. Fingers crossed!

Today I'm glad that Callum was better from his heat rash of yesterday, that I got to spend an hour with Jamie before he went off to bed after getting back from the show, and for Mike who refused to let me stay at home as I had considered with Callum being poorly and my bad night on Friday. He knows what I need more than I do some days, I'm a very lucky girl indeed :-)

Group session at Dervish

Just back from fantastic training session with Ella. Joined Martin Tait's 8.30pm class at his indoor venue in Hinton and was very nervous to be rubbing shoulders with handlers from grades far above me! Apparently it was just what the doctor ordered - I'm proud to say I rose to the challenge and of course my wonderful dog didn't let me down. Especially pleased at how good her 'Wait' was tonight, easily one of the best in the class :-)

What was particularly lovely was tonight I was 'me' rather than Jamie & Callum's mummy. Now don't get me wrong - I adore being their mummy and they are the most gorgeous little boys. It's just I had forgotten how much fun I could have all by myself - it was great to rediscover parts of my personality which had lain dormant for the last couple of years!

Today I'm grateful for my husband for encouraging me to go out to training, Martin for being such a good friend & instructor, and those clever, clever dogs of mine. They've given my dreams wings and freedom to fly as high as I dare :-)