Another cold, wet weekend in May

I wasn't going to enter BATs, it's such a long way away, but after that costly mistake at Kernow, I decided to make the trip for another Olympia qualifier for Stitch.
We combined the trip with a visit to my Gran the day before. Mum, myself, Hex, Stitch and Voodoo descended on her Luton property Saturday afternoon, Voodoo immediately rolled in cat poo, my Gran provided a watering can and some Herbal Essence to clean him off. I remember once reading that Herbal Essence (or the people that made it) tested on animals, I felt some guilt as I squeezed out the shampoo, then some relief because if it had been tested on animals, at least Voodoo would be safe from boils and loss of fur.

We went to bed after a lovely roast chicken dinner and awoke nice and early for the show.

First class of the day - Hex's 6-7 Jumping; a nice clear, but I got a jump ahead of myself at 15 and went to send her round the back of a jump she was supposed to be going over! I'd managed to save if for the clear but had wasted to much time to be placed.
Then the qualifier with Stitch - I have been using the sports psychology exercises I learnt on the Louise Ellis training day which SWAT held and as such I went into the ring feeling positive. Stitch put in a stonking clear and went into 3rd place, the dog leading the class had already qualified so we just had to hold on to 3rd, unfortunately, it was not meant to be, we ended up 7th (less than a second off the qualifying time). I've played the run back in my head, there is one space I felt I could have saved a little time, but probably not enough.

The rest of the day went quickly, Stitch put in another good run in the very difficult jumping, only for me to pull him out of the weaves too soon, Hex went lame so I took her for an onsite massage and then Stitch partied in his last run - absolute chaos! Voodoo met lots of other dogs and puppies and enjoyed the day and got 2 new toys, he went home a tired and happy chap.

Results:

@BATs
Stitch - 7th, C6-7 Agility
Hex - Clear, C6-7 Jumping

@Worcester
Wendy & Ryley - 3rd, 1-3 Jumping at their first show!

North Somerset Show

I am sorry for the absence of posts, a lot has gone on in the past 5 months which I have had difficulty getting through, around, over... I know I have missed results from shows for both me and A-SITers. Off the top of my head, Sarah and Elliot have been winning stuff at UKAs, so have Wendy and Ryley and Gill & Mollyanna had a win at a limit show, Anne and Chas and Rosie and Freddie have also been collecting rosettes. And I am sorry for not acknowledging these on the blog sooner or having an exact record of the results but I hope to be back on form now!!

 Monday we went to the North Somerset Show in Wraxall to stand out in the cold, wet and MUD! It was not a pleasant day at all but I smiled the whole day through. Lots of A-SITers there doing well (some making their debuts) and despite having not seen Stitch for nearly a month, I felt we were a good team and I had Hex back after her LONG break having babies. Everything just seemed to be as it should.

Results:
Anne & Chas - 1st, 1-3 Jumping
Stitch - 1st, 5-7 Jumping
Julie & George - 3rd, 1-3 Jumping (They're first show!!!)
Anthony & Amy - 7th, 1-2 Agility
Gill & Mollyanna - Clear, 1-3 Jumping
Gill & Kassey - Clear, 4-7 Jumping

So well done everybody! Also well done to Anne and Zara who were only 2 jumps away from a Clear at her first show.

And a get well soon to Jennine who broke her finger holding somebody else's lunging dog and to Maggie who had a recent trip to Hospital.

Next week I am judging at Blackdown show, I hope the weather has something better in mind! I have finalised all my courses and can't wait to see you guys on them!

Here's a little taste of the North Somerset Show for those of you who missed it .