Wyre

Another snowy weekend, meaning a late start and missing both dogs agility runs, first thing. Zara had a lovely run in the G4-5 jumping, hindered by me confusing her at a jump which lost a second or two, but still clear. Really happy that she was placed fourth in G4, (and would have also been 4th in G5!) She had some good runs in the other classes but unlucky with faults. Ruger did some nice work but no clears, but it was good to see him so focused at a very busy show, can't wait to compete outdoors when he will be able to relax a bit more, with space around the rings. Deb and Lassie had their first KC show on the Sunday at Wyre, and Deb's handling was great even though she was nervous, Lassie was listening, and did some very good work, they will be a team to watch for the future :)

Springers

Well after having flu for 5 weeks I was determined to get to Springers! Especially as I was judging. Woke up Sunday to a good covering of snow, not good as it often means the car will not beable to get off the drive :( Called Deb and asked if the worse came to the worse could I have a lift with her and I would leave my dogs at home, as she has a 4wd. Car sorted and off drive no problem, Deb arrived but her Disco was making alot of noise, so change of plan again, Deb, Lassie and Jet would travel with me and Dani with Ali, but poor little Ruger would have to stay at home :( he was not a happy Mali. I love Springers show it is friendly. We had a lovely day there, my course was ready to go when I got there and the ring party all organised. Zara's first jumping run was all over the place as she had been in the car and just quick run on the exercise field, so we got E'd her second was good with just one pole down. Her agility runs were really good but in each one she missed the A-frame contact, if its not poles, its weaves or contacts, her time in the second run could have got her second place, main thing is we enjoyed the run, its lovely when Zara is listening and I get it right too. Dani and Jet ran a lovely fast clear in my Helter Skelter class to win, their first trophy, and a lovely jumping run, with sadly one pole down but got fourth place.

March Already!

Can't believe where this year has gone, although I have missed the last 4 weeks with flu, which has resulted in 3 whole weeks off work (not good) hopefully I will be back tomorrow. It also has made a mess of my plans to get fit with the dogs. This year started off with a Dig It show in January where Zara was unlucky with poles, although she was manic on a couple of courses too! Ruger did some nice work, got a laugh when he did a lovely set of 12 weaves, but self groomed through each pole leaving white hair everywhere. He got all his contacts, with lovely 2o2o :) and went clear in steeplechase to get 9th place. We did a days training with Lee Gibson on course walking, which was very beneficial, and has shown me I can take risks with Zara, and need to, to make up time. I also learnt that I am holding Ruger back, as I tend to distance handle him, but if i run I still can send him on but he is faster as I am moving too. Went away determined to be fitter for the next training day in March. I then did a one to one with Claire Bacon, and we worked on contacts with Zara, again if I run forward she does nice running contacts without jumping out to the side at me! Spent alot of time with Ruger on the see saw, as the one used at Lee's had the granulated surface which was coming off, and was obviously offensive to the sweet little Mali paws, he only did it twice (first time ok and the second time jumped off at the pivot) that was enough to put him off, he's so sensitive. Claire's aluminium & rubber see saw shouldn't have been a problem but he kept jumping off at the pivot, he's always loved the see saw, but it doesn't take much to put him off. He still wasn't 100% with the see saw at the end of the session, but will have to practice at home. It was a lovely trip to Gloucester and Bristol and I went away with lots of ideas to practice and was looking forward to my next show Wilmslow at the weekend. Bad start to the day, car was stuck on the drive with the snow, so I got to Wilmslow for the afternoon, meaning Ruger only had one run. He got E'd in the C1-7 jumping, as he broke his wait so I put him back, then did some nice work. Zara went clear in the same class, but not fast enough for a place and they had run out of clear round rosettes :( Her G4-5 Agility was a lovely run, she missed the down contact on the A frame by millimetres, just her long stride, but got the rest and had a good time, would have been 6th if clear, at least I know she is competitive. We then had C4-5 Jumping where I messed up by trying a dodgy front cross, resulting in Zara zooming past me, so I lost her for a couple of seconds, but then she knocked a pole too. I was so pleased with both dogs, but especially Zara, but 3 weeks to next show, so a long wait!!!! I didn't get to the February Dig It show as I was too ill, same with NW Interclub where I should have been judging so fingers crossed for the rest of March. The weather has been good lets hope it stays like this so that we can start training again.

Round Up of 2012

Well I got my wish, Zara eneded the year in Grade 4, we moved up on points which I am glad about, as she is running much better on the higher grade courses, as they suit her. She is getting a higher proportion of clears now. I got Ruger in the ring, first KC show being Wye Valley where he showed lots of promise. He had his first KC clear at Hare & Hounds in September, it was unplaced but I held him on the contacts for a long time, and his weave entry was wide, but he got it :) He had plenty of rosettes at Dig It, FAB and Delinquent Dogz for clears with places and some 1sts too. Once we both get our acts together he will be fab!!! Mawgan is fit and happy, not missing agility at all, and her back end has not got any worse :)

Caerphilly, SWAT & Brecon Shows

Wow Zara has been amazing. At Caerphilly she had 3 clears with a 13th in Grade 3 Jumping, I was so pleased with her, she doesn't go clear very often, although we didn't quite get a dragon SWAT was totally amazing, Sunday was disasterous but I was ill and shouldn't really have gone, and the show got cancelled partway through, due to torrential rain. We should have camped but managed to find a lovely B&B that allowed 3 dogs in the rooms, and had a paddock fully fenced in and set aside for dogs. Monday I judged and met some lovely people, some who were ring party, and watched some great runs, the day flew by so fast. Tuesday Ruger almost had a clear, I put him back when he broke his stay and he then ran a fantastic clear (after being E'd). Zara was fantastic with 3 clears out of 4 runs, just one pesky pole, but she had 8th in Grade 3 Agility. She then went on to get 3 out of 3 clears on Wednesday, sadly just not fast enough to be placed, although not far out :) At Brecon yesterday Zara was leading Grade 3 Agility for quite some time and then at the end got pushed out to 3rd, I was so happy with her, she also had a clear in Combined 3&4 Agility. In the jumping both Zara and Ruger had 5 faults in the weaves :( shame as both good runs up to there, Ruger was clear until weave no 10 when he ducked out as apparently I moved slightly towards him, he's getting better as he has had a few runs now with just 5f.

Another Dig It Show

Sadly Wigan Alsatian got cancelled so another weekend off, I think I have had more shows cancelled this year than I have competed at. The Fab show at Dig It was FAB. Not only because of our results, it was well organised and friendly. My first run on Saturday was newbie steeplechase with the little mali, he did a lovely run nice and smooth and clear to the last but one, when I didn't push him to the left so he went round the last jump, so 5R, not to worry it was a lovely run. Zara pretended that she had never been trained in agility in both of her first 2 classes. Ruger ran a lovely jumping but I got us E'd because I stood in his way after he did a lovely front cross so he couldn't jump the correct jump. I had words with Zara after lunch so she decided that she would listen and did a lovely clear in newbie agility to win the class. Ruger's last agility class went haywire as he decided that a twig with leaves on it was a tuggy after jump 4!!!! He then couldn't concentrate as he was looking for toys :( On Sunday Deb had entered with Lassie and went in the ring for newbie steeplechase she fell over partway round, but went on to win the class Lassie's first red rosette :) In newbie jumping I fell over so Ruger stopped to make sure I was ok, he then went clear and won the class Ruger's first red rosette:) (in agility) Do we need a new technique to win? Zara was great with an unlucky pole in steeplechase, but 2 lovely clears in jumping and agility to win both classes. She ran so well, it was good to see after her lameness, although standard height does suit her more than large. Jules was there Sunday with Jette and Flynn who both flew round their courses, Jette winning the steeplechase and Flynn having a fun time.

Wye Valley

Well the big day - Ruger's first KC show. Started with Grade 3 agility, missed out the last weave of 12 so E'd, but in all it was a good run, he stayed and got his contacts (except the see saw, where I don't ask for a wait and it was one of the light aluminium ones which took him by surprise) he did some nice distance work, so I was happy with the little Mali. Grade 3 jumping was next, it looked complicated when walking, but ran better than it looked. Ruger went for the wrong end of the tunnel so got his now seems like favourite E!! he then went clear including weaves for the rest of the course, again with some fantastic distance work. Combined 1-7 agility was our worst run of the day, from both of us, funny enough we didn't get e'd but managed 15 faults and 10 time faults, but no E :) Sunday was the wettest day of the weekend and I judged all day. Really enjoyed this, starting with the Juniors under 12 and over 12 jumping, there are some fantastic young handlers out there. I then judged Large Grade 1 jumping and Large Grade 3 jumping, it was lovely to see the standard of the new dogs and both dogs and humans enjoying the experience. I have noticed alot more motivational handlers lately, who are appreciating thier dogs efforts, praising the good bits and not dwelling on the mistakes. Monday we had 2 classes, Speed and Power was an E in the speed section as Ruger is not easy to turn at full speed lol but he got some of the more difficult bits. Last class was Large ABC Sprint, we were clear from 1 to 15 but Ruger took a little detour past no 16 to ask a scary scout to leave the ring, typical Mali, so easily spooked, so we got 5R then cleared the rest of the course. Overall I was happy with Ruger out of 5 runs we had 3 x E, a 5R and a 25F, when he grows up he'll be alright. Zara did not compete this weekend due to being on anti-inflammatories for lameness. Vet could not find anything so she is being rested and maybe x-rays next week to try to diagnose what's happening. Finger's crossed its nothing serious.