Well Norfolk Autumn was a really lovely show. Despite being quite far away, it was 4 proper runs a day. The ground was rock solid though and Saturday was very windy! All the jump wings had to pegged, there was no Dog walk in the outside rings, and whenever i went to walk the wind would literally push me along. After it being windy all day, I had an awful head ache and couldn't wait to go to bed!!
So Saturday runs... I had 3 course that were in Dave Hutchinson's ring and although they required quite a bit of work, I really liked the courses. First up was Combined 6-7 agility. The jumps were quite tight which required me to turn Pie left after number 3. It was just too tight going right and it can't be good on their legs to take them that way especially with it being so close and the ground being rock solid! Anyway I was lazy with the turn which meant P thought we were going right... no no! He nearly back jumped aswell. Oops! He worked really nicely though apart from flying out of the tunnel barking and not listening to my shouting 'right right riiiiiight!!' so I re-did that little bit to make him do it properly!
Then was Grade 6 Agility. Again a nice course. I was late with turns again... and then he ran off into tunnel after see-saw. I'm not sure if this was a place for a dummy but ahh well.
Laura ran Pie in the Combined 6-7 Jumping. She's always giving me stick about Pie bla bla, so I said that she could run him. Plus there was far too much running it in for me ;) She didn't do too badly... you can watch the video... and yes I did chuckle a little as her hat flew off!!
Then last run of the day was Grade 6 Jumping. It was back in Dave's ring. I ran off too early for a jump and Pie came with me. Pie struggles to pick things up like this especially if it's off set. It's OK when i can be there, but when i need to run off to get somewhere it's tricky for him as Iim not there to help him. He also has this problem with tunnels. Off set things is something I really need to work on.
Saturday evening it started to rain boo!! And I was not impressed ha ha. Laura and I are big x factor fans and seeing as we haven't sorted a TV out for Laura's caravan we were stuck on Saturday night. Thankfully Linda and John Cook were kind enough to have us both other to their lovely caravan to watch it. I haven't seen Linda and John in quite a while so it was nice to spend some time with them. They are so lovely.
Onto Sunday. Well I think in my last post I said that my aim for the weekend was to get 2 clears out of 8 runs. As Laura had one run, it was to be 2 clears out of 7. After Saturday it wasn't looking too good!!
First run on the morning was Combined 6-7 Agility. At the start there was a snake, which I had been struggling with recently. Pie had been running past the second jump, my fault of course. Bad training and handling. I had decided to run his contacts in this, but only if the first big was tidy and tight. It was, to my surprise until the left turn before the see-saw. I checked him late which meant he jumped long, looking for the dog walk, which meant I trained my contacts. I know what people mean about me not 'meaning' it when I run. I just jog around not pushing at all. This showed in this run as P's aframe and dog walk were slow. I was determined that this wasn't going to happen in his Grade 6 agility.
I really pushed his contacts in this. They were much better speed wise but he self released. This goes to show that i need to do this all the time, as when i just jog along he stops fine but as soon as i push them i lose them. Not good. So in more runs I will push them, and maybe only quick release one, to test him on the others. He worked really nicely though.
His combined 6-7 Jumping i was also pleased with. Despite him missing a weave entry that he should of got, i was really chuffed with the run. OK it wasn't perfect and we didn't get a clear, there was some really nice bits. I know people will read this and watch the video thinking it was rubbish, but i honestly don't care. I've struggled this season with him, and in this run it actually felt like we were on the same wave length :) and I think i was more confident coming out of this run than any other.
His last run was Grade 6 Jumping. Laura really wanted me to go for this one and on the course it was i thought we stood a good chance. He landed badly after 3 as he didn't check properly which meant he fell onto his chin, which lost him time. We managed a clear, with me nearly falling over after the pipe tunnel (!!) and was 0.9 behind the winner. We finished 4th which was really good, as I'm not worried that he wont get another jumping win. Without that fall he could of easily won. If the round had been perfect and we still finished 4th, then i would be worried. So we managed our 2 clear rounds yay!!
On the way home we got stuck in too much traffic. Whilst Laura and I were moaning about it, Pie was nice and cosy, snoozing...
Videos to come once YouTube has finished uploading them. Our next show is North Downs, again 4 runs. I'm aiming for one clear round.
Also here are a couple of photos of Phoebe and Rodney for Laura...
L x
So Saturday runs... I had 3 course that were in Dave Hutchinson's ring and although they required quite a bit of work, I really liked the courses. First up was Combined 6-7 agility. The jumps were quite tight which required me to turn Pie left after number 3. It was just too tight going right and it can't be good on their legs to take them that way especially with it being so close and the ground being rock solid! Anyway I was lazy with the turn which meant P thought we were going right... no no! He nearly back jumped aswell. Oops! He worked really nicely though apart from flying out of the tunnel barking and not listening to my shouting 'right right riiiiiight!!' so I re-did that little bit to make him do it properly!
Then was Grade 6 Agility. Again a nice course. I was late with turns again... and then he ran off into tunnel after see-saw. I'm not sure if this was a place for a dummy but ahh well.
Laura ran Pie in the Combined 6-7 Jumping. She's always giving me stick about Pie bla bla, so I said that she could run him. Plus there was far too much running it in for me ;) She didn't do too badly... you can watch the video... and yes I did chuckle a little as her hat flew off!!
Then last run of the day was Grade 6 Jumping. It was back in Dave's ring. I ran off too early for a jump and Pie came with me. Pie struggles to pick things up like this especially if it's off set. It's OK when i can be there, but when i need to run off to get somewhere it's tricky for him as Iim not there to help him. He also has this problem with tunnels. Off set things is something I really need to work on.
Saturday evening it started to rain boo!! And I was not impressed ha ha. Laura and I are big x factor fans and seeing as we haven't sorted a TV out for Laura's caravan we were stuck on Saturday night. Thankfully Linda and John Cook were kind enough to have us both other to their lovely caravan to watch it. I haven't seen Linda and John in quite a while so it was nice to spend some time with them. They are so lovely.
Onto Sunday. Well I think in my last post I said that my aim for the weekend was to get 2 clears out of 8 runs. As Laura had one run, it was to be 2 clears out of 7. After Saturday it wasn't looking too good!!
First run on the morning was Combined 6-7 Agility. At the start there was a snake, which I had been struggling with recently. Pie had been running past the second jump, my fault of course. Bad training and handling. I had decided to run his contacts in this, but only if the first big was tidy and tight. It was, to my surprise until the left turn before the see-saw. I checked him late which meant he jumped long, looking for the dog walk, which meant I trained my contacts. I know what people mean about me not 'meaning' it when I run. I just jog around not pushing at all. This showed in this run as P's aframe and dog walk were slow. I was determined that this wasn't going to happen in his Grade 6 agility.
I really pushed his contacts in this. They were much better speed wise but he self released. This goes to show that i need to do this all the time, as when i just jog along he stops fine but as soon as i push them i lose them. Not good. So in more runs I will push them, and maybe only quick release one, to test him on the others. He worked really nicely though.
His combined 6-7 Jumping i was also pleased with. Despite him missing a weave entry that he should of got, i was really chuffed with the run. OK it wasn't perfect and we didn't get a clear, there was some really nice bits. I know people will read this and watch the video thinking it was rubbish, but i honestly don't care. I've struggled this season with him, and in this run it actually felt like we were on the same wave length :) and I think i was more confident coming out of this run than any other.
His last run was Grade 6 Jumping. Laura really wanted me to go for this one and on the course it was i thought we stood a good chance. He landed badly after 3 as he didn't check properly which meant he fell onto his chin, which lost him time. We managed a clear, with me nearly falling over after the pipe tunnel (!!) and was 0.9 behind the winner. We finished 4th which was really good, as I'm not worried that he wont get another jumping win. Without that fall he could of easily won. If the round had been perfect and we still finished 4th, then i would be worried. So we managed our 2 clear rounds yay!!
On the way home we got stuck in too much traffic. Whilst Laura and I were moaning about it, Pie was nice and cosy, snoozing...
Videos to come once YouTube has finished uploading them. Our next show is North Downs, again 4 runs. I'm aiming for one clear round.
Also here are a couple of photos of Phoebe and Rodney for Laura...
L x
