My posts are a little out of order at the minute. Zara ran well at Ribble getting a clear in G4 Agility but just out of the places, but a good run.
Sunday, 9 March 2014
Margaret
Sadly we said goodbye to Margaret Whitehead in January. Margaret started right at the beginning with K9 Skool and was a character. She started off with her Bichon Frise, Candy with puppy classes in 2008, despite being on 2 walking sticks she persevered and gained the puppy foundation, bronze and silver good citizen awards. The following year she enrolled Holly her new puppy, also a Bichon. With Holly Margaret attended agility classes and used to make us all laugh with Holly's hoodies. When she had to give up training due to ill health Margaret kept in touch. Her life revolved around her dogs, sewing and family. RIP Margaret you will always be remembered as an inspiration to others.
Adams February Show
Well all I can say about Zara is she was brill :) Should have been 3/3 clears, but we had an unplaced clear in C4-7 jumping, a 4th in G4-7 Agility (with faults :( ) and an E in G1-4 Agility, Zara was clear and lovely run, but I managed to miss out a jump aarrrggghhh!!!!! From Zara's point of view she didn't knock one pole, she got all her contacts and had no refusals, wow, well pleased with her :)
I haven't competed with Ruger this winter as the indoor shows are too close and noisy (or some are!) so this was his first competition for a while. He did relly well, his first run was Graded 1-3 Agility and went clear with a strangely steady run, to get 10th place. The jumping course was a lovely Ruger course but he got scared on the startline and then for the first time ever noticed Simon, who was filming him and headed over to him and jumped the wrong jump. His last agility was a bit messy but clear, but not fast enough for a place. I was really happy with him though he did well.
I haven't competed with Ruger this winter as the indoor shows are too close and noisy (or some are!) so this was his first competition for a while. He did relly well, his first run was Graded 1-3 Agility and went clear with a strangely steady run, to get 10th place. The jumping course was a lovely Ruger course but he got scared on the startline and then for the first time ever noticed Simon, who was filming him and headed over to him and jumped the wrong jump. His last agility was a bit messy but clear, but not fast enough for a place. I was really happy with him though he did well.
Monday, 24 February 2014
Catching up
January was very hectic, for a change!!!
We both attended the Sports Psychology Course and learnt how to put a training plan together. We'll see how this works in the following months.
Zara competed at Wilmslow and managed a clear round in agility, not placed, but 2 more points.
Zara has also qualified for the Rescue Dog Agility Finals in Rugby in June, for her performance in last years league, she had her best year ever for clears and places too :)
We both attended the Sports Psychology Course and learnt how to put a training plan together. We'll see how this works in the following months.
Zara competed at Wilmslow and managed a clear round in agility, not placed, but 2 more points.
Zara has also qualified for the Rescue Dog Agility Finals in Rugby in June, for her performance in last years league, she had her best year ever for clears and places too :)
Monday, 6 January 2014
2014 Already!
What happened to 2013?
Quite uneventful end to 2013, Zara was lame for Wilmslow show, so we didn't get there. Went to Border Collie show in December but no results to record. Zara did some nice runs but unlucky with faults.
We are starting this year with a sports psychology seminar, to see if that can help my performance in the ring, looking forward to it as I am now teaching some psychology, on a basic level at work, so will be interested to see if it helps.
My plans for this year are to keep Zara fit and healthy and hopefully carry on competing, can't believe she is over 7 years, she doesn't look or act it. Mawgan is doing well, the only signs of ageing is that she is finding it harder to get into the van. Ruger is Ruger, he is still a puppy, a puppy that will be 4 in less than a month. In training he is doing well, his stays are better and I am finding him easier to turn, this may or may not be his year, we will enjoy trying! I am not competing with him indoors this winter as it stresses him out, except for Dig It, as they are not so busy as the Myerscough shows.
2013 was a turbulent year for K9 Skool, my decision to move outdoors turned out to be a poor one, we hardly trained last year, as it was such a wet winter. It was great to have the equipment set up outside in the summer for only for a few months in reality. We were lucky to find a new indoor venue last September, within 15 mins from home, hopefully we will be there for some years to come. K9 Skool is starting its 7th year, only agility now but I am happy with that :)
Last year we found some nice new shows that we will definitely be entering this year, and I have already accepted quite a few judging appointments. I have added some random pictures as I been neglecting this lately.
First 3 are Ruger at 4 weeks then at 2 years, Mawgan 2008 and Zara 2008, all 3 together in March 2010 and August 2010, Ruger about to fall asleep and Ruger on the see saw (or rather alighting!!!!)
Quite uneventful end to 2013, Zara was lame for Wilmslow show, so we didn't get there. Went to Border Collie show in December but no results to record. Zara did some nice runs but unlucky with faults.
We are starting this year with a sports psychology seminar, to see if that can help my performance in the ring, looking forward to it as I am now teaching some psychology, on a basic level at work, so will be interested to see if it helps.
My plans for this year are to keep Zara fit and healthy and hopefully carry on competing, can't believe she is over 7 years, she doesn't look or act it. Mawgan is doing well, the only signs of ageing is that she is finding it harder to get into the van. Ruger is Ruger, he is still a puppy, a puppy that will be 4 in less than a month. In training he is doing well, his stays are better and I am finding him easier to turn, this may or may not be his year, we will enjoy trying! I am not competing with him indoors this winter as it stresses him out, except for Dig It, as they are not so busy as the Myerscough shows.
2013 was a turbulent year for K9 Skool, my decision to move outdoors turned out to be a poor one, we hardly trained last year, as it was such a wet winter. It was great to have the equipment set up outside in the summer for only for a few months in reality. We were lucky to find a new indoor venue last September, within 15 mins from home, hopefully we will be there for some years to come. K9 Skool is starting its 7th year, only agility now but I am happy with that :)
Last year we found some nice new shows that we will definitely be entering this year, and I have already accepted quite a few judging appointments. I have added some random pictures as I been neglecting this lately.
First 3 are Ruger at 4 weeks then at 2 years, Mawgan 2008 and Zara 2008, all 3 together in March 2010 and August 2010, Ruger about to fall asleep and Ruger on the see saw (or rather alighting!!!!)
Saturday, 2 November 2013
TAG
Nice show, I've not done TAG before, don't know why as it's not too far, well 2 hours away.
The ground was muddy, but the rings had been moved outside the main arena which was great as there was loads of space
I helped on a ring most of the day with Deb and Dani, not many helpers that day :(
Ruger ran his first agility run, I was really pleased as I thought it was a clear, judge was clapping as we left the ring and a few people said Well Done, turns out he had 5f for the dogwalk contact, thought he had it, as he did stop but obviously just missed it!
He did manage a clear in the next agility class, not placed but I held him on the contacts, and he had 5f at the weaves in his other agility class with excellent contacts, so I think we are making progress. Both his jumping classes were tough, expected in 3-5 but not in 1-3. In the 3-5 he was brill and stayed, which I must admit threw me a little, but he worked the tight bit like a professional, really pleased, but the temptation to go in the tunnel instead of weaves was too much. In the 1-3 I overworked him, Ruger knew what I wanted, but the course was just one pull through too many, not a good confidence building course, tried it in training which was good, but not in competition at this level :( I was very pleased with his performance all day, he was a well behaved little Mali.
Zara did some lovely work, especially in the 4-5 Agility, fab run but knocked the last pole, aaarrrggghh not done that for a while. No clears today, but she enjoyed her 3 runs :)
Must go back to TAG, lovely show everyone friendly and a good atmosphere
The ground was muddy, but the rings had been moved outside the main arena which was great as there was loads of space
I helped on a ring most of the day with Deb and Dani, not many helpers that day :(
Ruger ran his first agility run, I was really pleased as I thought it was a clear, judge was clapping as we left the ring and a few people said Well Done, turns out he had 5f for the dogwalk contact, thought he had it, as he did stop but obviously just missed it!
He did manage a clear in the next agility class, not placed but I held him on the contacts, and he had 5f at the weaves in his other agility class with excellent contacts, so I think we are making progress. Both his jumping classes were tough, expected in 3-5 but not in 1-3. In the 3-5 he was brill and stayed, which I must admit threw me a little, but he worked the tight bit like a professional, really pleased, but the temptation to go in the tunnel instead of weaves was too much. In the 1-3 I overworked him, Ruger knew what I wanted, but the course was just one pull through too many, not a good confidence building course, tried it in training which was good, but not in competition at this level :( I was very pleased with his performance all day, he was a well behaved little Mali.
Zara did some lovely work, especially in the 4-5 Agility, fab run but knocked the last pole, aaarrrggghh not done that for a while. No clears today, but she enjoyed her 3 runs :)
Must go back to TAG, lovely show everyone friendly and a good atmosphere
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Chippenham
We had two lovely days at Chippenham. On the Saturday both Zara and Ruger had clears, sadly not placed but Zara's was in a combined 1-7 jumping with a fab run. Ruger's was G3 jumping and he wasn't far off a place but we lost time as he spun round between the first jump and the weaves and didn't want to go forward. Zara ran a G4-7 Agility course that was quite tough and amazingly she got faulted on the weaves by coming out at no.10, but went clear on the rest of the course, typical. Ruger managed a 2on 2off on the dogwalk without touching the contact, aaarrrrggh, the judge looked at me and apologised when he marked it with 5 faults, but he was absolutely right to do so!!
On Sunday Zara managed 15f in the ABC agility for a pole and 2 contacts, then she got 10f in her next 2 classes. Ruger was consistent with an E in all 3 runs, but I must say his stay was much better, its coming back and he got most of his contacts.
Ruger and I trained with Lee Windeatt the day before the show, and I have some new ideas to move Ruger forward with. I have written myself a training plan for the winter which I need to stick to, as Ruger does not have many shows left now this year, just TAG and Clevedon, although I may do Dig It and train in the ring.
Zara is doing well although her rate of clears is dropping, she is fit and well and probably the best she has ever been.
On Sunday Zara managed 15f in the ABC agility for a pole and 2 contacts, then she got 10f in her next 2 classes. Ruger was consistent with an E in all 3 runs, but I must say his stay was much better, its coming back and he got most of his contacts.
Ruger and I trained with Lee Windeatt the day before the show, and I have some new ideas to move Ruger forward with. I have written myself a training plan for the winter which I need to stick to, as Ruger does not have many shows left now this year, just TAG and Clevedon, although I may do Dig It and train in the ring.
Zara is doing well although her rate of clears is dropping, she is fit and well and probably the best she has ever been.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
