This isn't really agility related, but with no shows on, what else am I supposed to write about?
Mum's Party has been and gone and she will hit the big 50 tomorrow. We had a really great night with a room packed full of friends and family and food. It was nice to see agility folks all scrubbed up, out of our fleeces and into shiny shoes instead of muddy runners - how on earth did we tell each other apart without our dogs by our sides and our club logos on?! Saying that, Angela's dogs did make the journey, they just weren't allowed in the venue ; )
Anyways I know a few of you were interested to see the cake(s), so above is a picture.
Each part of the paw was a different flavour; Fruit, Carrot, Victoria, Chocolate & Coffee. My Uncle Mark did a grand job, the cakes were delicious (I have to thank Elaine Snook & Bob & Igne for sorting us out with the miniature equipment). Mum's face was a treat when she saw it and there is still some left to enjoy tomorrow.... and the rest of the week for that matter!
It was another cold wet and muddy day but wow did I enjoy myself! Hex had her first 1st, winning the Grade 3 Agility by 2 seconds and then proceeding to gain a 6th in the 1-3 Jumping and a 2nd in the Grade 3 Jumping. She was simply fantastic all day. See attached Video:
I also got to watch Sarah run her guys and she had a 10th with Jemma in the Grade 1-7 Helter Skelter and a 14th with Elliot in the same class. For her vids go to her blog (link in the top right corner of this page). Well done guys!
Please note I have now added Jeannette’s video to the Conquest Farm Blog (Below).
Hope everyone likes the countdown to Christmas I’ve added to the blog and that you’re all feeling well and truly on top of your Christmas preparations. It’s been really great to see a number of you treating yourselves to an early Christmas gift in the form of running shoes, everyone’s been coping really well with the change in the weather and ground – keep up the good work and energy!
Hex didn’t have a great day today, she was firing on all fours and the rest but came out the weaves early twice and fell off the dog walk once, I’m glad she keen, but really Mrs - focus! She did have one clear but turned the wrong way after a jump and it cost her time so no place for The Baby. We also got asked to leave the queue for a class today by a member of the ring party because of Hex’s ‘running commentary’, so I took myself outside in the wet and mud (where she continued to cheer) and that’s when I realised how rude this person had been; I’ve paid the same entry fee as everyone else, she wasn’t upsetting anyone in the queue, in fact she was helping excite the dog behind her and I heard a number of dogs barking in the same manner that Hex does throughout the day and they weren’t banished, it put dampener on an otherwise fab day. And I wouldn’t change or swap my baby for anything. Rant over.
Now on with the fab day! I had three people representing today; Emily and Alfie who did a grand job, unfortunately for Emily poor Alfie decided today to forget how to weave! But he didn’t know he’d gone wrong and he thoroughly enjoyed himself and the bits that went well, went very well. Jane and Boot who got a 5th in the Large 1-2 Jumping, the run was beautifully handled by Jane. Jeannette and Tess had their first show ever got and got 5th in the Small 1-2 Agility, placings were only to 4th, but who cares – what an achievement especially when you consider that Tess has never run in front of other dogs before or indoors... or even on anyone else’s equipment. Jeannette handled Tess’s original doubts in the Jumping with patience and professionalism and helped show Tess that it was just the same as at the field – only dryer! As a result Tess went from strength to strength with each run and finished the day with her clear, I was so proud.
Blackdown next week and I’ll be keeping an eye on Sarah and her guys ; )
Well the results are in and Mum passed the Agility Club Instructors seminar so she is now an Agility Club Approved Instructor! She was only 5 marks off the 1st Class pass, but she’s not disappointed, she knew she made some mistakes in her first exam following a serious attack of the nerves, and that’s what cost her. She thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and so did Hex who went up as her demo dog, I’m really proud of how both of them coped with the long days and the information overload and no, we still won’t channel weave!
The photo day on the 7th November was a huge success with every place booked, we were SO lucky with the weather, with only 2 brief rain showers and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. Thank you everyone for your patience, this is the first time I have ever tried to organise anything like this or tried to take a lesson with more than just training on the brain, and it was obviously frustrating for me not being able to be my usual hands on self with the dogs cause of my injury. I hope that everyone gets some great pictures out of the day, knowing Carol’s work, you won’t be disappointed – I did get to have a sneaky peak at a few on her computer before we left and the bright sunshine on the field with the dramatic stormy backdrop has worked really well. Thanks obviously to Carol as well for coming all the way down to visit us and getting down in the wet and mud to achieve what are going to be some really interesting shots. The pictures should be up on her website tomorrow (9/11/09), there’s a link on my links page, her number is on her website if you have any queries.
Hex’s first indoor show is this Saturday, hopefully she’ll be a good girly because I have a special treat for her Sunday; a training session with Anthony Clarke.
Hex had a good weekend; after 3 weeks off with a virus she finally got to do some agility!
We were at the SWAT vs LEADS interclub match, Hex was 1 of the 5 dogs representing SWAT’s grade 3-5s and she won both the Agility & the Helter Skelter, she also came 5th in the Jumping. I was really pleased with her especially when I left her no space to take a jump in the jumping and she still cleared it and recovered.
I felt really ill all day with a stinking cold developing, but I still had a fantastic day, it was really well organised and there were some great courses, but what I enjoyed most was actually getting to sit down and watch everyone. We spend so much time at shows rushing around trying to sort out our own runs and walk our own courses that usually it’s only by chance that you pass a ring when a friend is queuing and get to watch them.
Unfortunately the results weren’t in SWAT’s favour but we still have the away match in a couple of weeks and I’m sure we can pull it back!
Hex’s first show at Bromsgrove seems like such a long time ago now! But she was such a good girly. She was a bit taken back by actually being allowed a go but still managed a 20th in Gr3-4 Jumping (her 2nd run ever!). Other than that it was just silly puppy mistakes; getting over excited and misjudging jumps, and going under first jumps in a bid to get to me asap! But she worked like a dream and I am very proud of her. Sprite had a 6th in the Anysize and Kif came home with a couple of clear rounds, as did Phee. As for everyone else, I must send my apologies; I spent most of the weekend in a daze, I didn’t really take in all that much and even tried to send Kif the wrong way in one of his classes! Feel free to fill me in! Below are all of Hex’s runs from Bromsgrove. I think you’ll agree that some of the courses were a lot to ask for a baby’s first show!
Round 1 = Gr3-4 Agility: A silly handling mistake by me following a last minute change of plan. Round 2 = Gr3-4 Jumping: 20th Place : D Round 3 = Gr1-7 Agility Round 4 = 1-7 Jumping: Jumping very green Round 5 = Gr3 Agility: Silly me setting her so close to jump 1, really really pleased with the rest though, lots of dogs struggled with the weave entrance - not The Baby!
Then we had the final big show of the season! Devon Dogs/Honiton and I don’t think one person I know had a bad show!
*Jane & Boot had another 1st in Gr1 Agility, good job they’re moving up – leave some trophies for the other Gr1’s! *Jo & Fluke won the Gr3-5 combined Agility taking Fluke up to Grade 4! *Sam & Billy won the Gr2 Agility. Billy is a spotty Grade 3 now, so he’ll also be leaving the Grade 2 trophies for the Grade 2s! *Mike & Rio had an amazing run in the Gr3 Agility and came 2nd
In fact SWAT pretty much owned the prize givings with places for Daz, Toni, Trudy, Natalie, Kim and Martin as well.
As for my woofs, well Kif had a very good show with a 4th in the Gr4-5 Jumping with one of the trickiest courses I have put him on and an 18th in the 1-7 COMBINED Collie Sprint! Sprite only had the one run and in protest he decided not to listen to me and travel the entire length of the course to pick out a random jump that he felt needed to be done but which of course got us eliminated! Hex came out all guns blazing at this show and was MENTAL. She did manage to complete an extremely challenging 3-5 jumping course with only a pole down and came 10th in the Grade 3 Agility – Her first Point!
So lessons have changed to Fridays & Saturdays from this week; I’ll look forward to having the evenings to myself for a bit (although what I will do with them, who knows?!) and my Fridays & Saturdays are now pretty packed. I have entered a few more shows for the winter, details on the right of this page. And that’s about all the news I have... I think? I’m still having a blonde week.
Ooo I know what else, something rare and magical happened this week; I have an agility person on my team at work now! (Hi Caroline!). For those of you that have tried to discuss agility, or even just normal doggy things with your work colleagues, you will understand how rare it is to find someone who a) cares or b) understands. I feel very privileged : )
And now for the drama which comes in sparkly spotlights; Prestbury Park show Results (report from Mum who was there, of course!): *Mum & Kif with our friend Diane & Fraze came 9th in the pairs together (Diane also cleaned up around Gr3 with Fraze with a number of places including a win up to Gr4 with the youngster). *Mum felt Phee was up for running the pairs (and the vets okayed it) with Jo & Fluke; following a re-run Phee only had the 1 pole down and Fluke did a flying Clear – go the spaniels! * Jo & Fluke had a 2nd and a 4th *Sam & Billy had a 2nd in Jumping even with his on-going tendonitis (currently being treated by the amazing SMART clinic) *Sam also borrowed Sprite who had a whale of a time and did a stonking clear for her on the Sunday and then proceeded to help himself to a tripe stick out of the treat box that they put near the finish line for the anysize dogs – honestly, I ask you?! *Mike & Rio won the Gr3 Jumping *But top of the class; Jane & Boot won Gr1 Agility taking her up to Gr2! Not only that but she also had a 2nd in Gr1 Jumping and a 5th & 7th the previous day. Boot is 9 years old! – Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?!
Well done guys! – I’ll go on holiday more often ; )
P.S: Stitch has had his KC Name confirmed, he is..... Experiment Six Two Six
The Agility Sprites Blog is an attempt at recording and sharing my results and doggy doings as well as sharing the successes of my friends and people who train with me at A-SIT (Agility Sprites in Training).
