So for a while there it looked like the weather was going to cost us another event! Kelmarsh Hall was a mud bath and an extremely last minute decision was made to relocate the show to Rockingham Castle. Tony Griffin tells me that before the Monday before the show (which was due to start on Friday), the Kennel Club weren't even aware that the venue existed!
I am so impressed with the KCs ability to relocate such a huge show at such short notice, I actually preferred the venue and the set up, but I think a lot of that was helped by the AMAZING camping spot which we were allocated on arrival - just a stones throw from the shower block, toilet block, water supply and Ring 15!
The weather was beautiful so it was easily enjoyable even though Stitch was giving me a lot of 'up yours' moments and Hex was having a lot of near misses (I will get around to uploading and publishing the videos eventually). I just couldn't believe what Hex was throwing my way, she was more than exceeding my expectations on some courses which were way above what we have been training at. Unfortunately, she clipped a pole here, a long jump there and couldn't quite hold it together for a whole run, but I was absolutely buzzing taking her down to the rings and enjoyed every second in the ring with her. There was one course set by a foreign judge which nobody could get round, Hex got around all of the difficult bits only for me to fluff a turn off a seesaw and leave her wondering where the next obstacle was - ARGH!!!! Idiot! But it did leave me with a 'we can do anything now' kind of feeling. Unlike Stitch who was giving me the opposite feeling as his waits and contacts got worse and he continued to ignore every 'here' command I threw him; much preferring to take his own line.
We were camping along side Jo who qualified for the British Open with Meddler, so it was nice to get involved in one of the big events even if it was grooming for Jo and not running myself. Unfortunately Jo narrowing missed out on spot at Crufts but I feel she did herself proud and Meddi certainly enjoyed herself! And we enjoyed the evening Disco even though it finished at 10.30pm - what's that about?!
Results:
Stitch - 2nd, 6-7 Jumping
Stitch - 6th, 6-7 Jumping
Hex - Clear, British Open Jumping
