Pie's first Grade 7 win :)

Wahoo!! At North Downs back in November Pie and I won our first Grade 7 class. I've always liked North Downs as a show despite it always being cold. It's nice to catch up people and also there were 4 available runs for Pie.

Recent training had been going really well and Pie worked really nicely. He won Grade 7 agility by 3/4 of a second - clever dog!!

I know Pie isn't the fastest dog but I never thought he would be competitive at the highest level. Through no fault of his own though, I just don't have the self believe and confidence that I deserve to be competing in champ. Ok not every grade 7 dog ran in that agility class nor did every dog in that class run their contacts but I do know that, from the dogs Pie beat, those dogs do compete successfully in the higher grades and those dogs are always some of the ones to beat.

I say this time and time again, so sorry for sounding like a scratched record, but I'm fed up of people putting me down and next season is going to be so so different! Watch this space ;)

L x

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Suffering and sneezing

Bonjour all,

A lovely colleague of mine as inspired me to write a little more on my blog. You might not even be interested but either way, here I am on my new app on my iPhone. Check me out eh?!

I have just arrived at my Dads to be greeted with a box full of cardboard cutouts that he found whilst moving out of his house. Many many moons ago, i had cardboard cutouts of people and clothes that went over them. Haha!! Those were my only 'toys' I kept there so was quite funny to see them.

Tomorrow I am up in London for the last day of my CIPR course, although I think getting up is going to be a struggle. I have been sneezing all day, and annoying the girls in the office to say the least!! Hopefully the good old lemsip tablets will do the trick and work wonders for the weekend! Who knows.

L x

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Luxembourg

Laura and I had been planning to head over to Luxembourg since November, last year, I think to compete in a show called Agility by Night. It's pretty much what it says on the tin. Competing starts at about 6pm and finishes at 2.30am ish.

We left Friday morning at 3.15am and headed down to the Eurotunnel. As soon as we got on, Laura and I took the first opportunity we could get to sleep! Even if it was for just half an hour!! We only stopped twice I think which was very short, and just enough time to let the dogs out for a stretch and also so that we could also nip to the toilet. At about 11.30 we had already driven through 4 countries... England, France, Belgium & Luxembourg. We arrived in Bettembourg at about 12 however, didn't actually get into the venue until about 1pm as we had been driving up and down, through the village and past the venue for an hour!! Jana had told us to look out for the sign that said dog show. Laura and I took that in the literal sense and didn't even think that it would be in German... until my year 8 German skills of remember 'hund' meant dog. We eventually managed to find everyone.

In comparison to shows over here, it was such a small show but sooo laid back but still very structured and well organised. Camping was where ever you wanted to camp and however big you wanted your pitch. If only it was like that here in England!

Our first run wasat 6pm I think.... To put it bluntly.... we did crap hahaha!! Pie jumped wrong way of number 1 and it just went from bad to worse!! Unfortunately Rod was freaked out by the loud music and PA system all weekend. Bless him. After doing our runs and watching everyone else's from 'our camp' we headed to bed at about 3.30am!! It may have been even later, but I just remember saying to everyone that we had been up for 24 hours urgghh!! The nights over there were very cold, and probably colder than here, but then during the day it was BOILING! We were staying in a tent (I know, I couldn't believe it either!) all weekend and as the tent got rather hot in the morning we were up bright and early for a shower at about 11.

We all headed off to the lake which wasn't far from the show at all, however, we ended up being an hour walking around, trying to find a safe and suitable place to swim and for the dogs to get in too. We were unsuccessful and headed back!

I had nearly recovered from the lack of sleep until everyone started whipping out random drinks for Laura and I to share. Soo many included sugar sachets or sticks and then washing it down with Vodka. The taste seemed quite pleasant although Lucas decided that helping me drink the vodka quicker by pushing the cup into my face, would help. It didn't. It just ended up running down my chin!! It got rather messy with us discovering the amazing cocktail bar too!! I think it should be a rule that there should be one at ALL shows haha! I ran my last run veeeery drunk and was quite surprised that i didn't fall over, although Pie did completely crash into a jump - thankfully he was ok though! Laura was a loser and went to bed at about 2am, which was early considering Jana, Lucas, Paul and I were dancing, singing, drinking, talking until 4/5!

Oh... I must mention a few things. On Saturday afternoon Paul came into the caravan garden and went to sit on his chair. It broke and he fell completely through it! I've never laughed so much - it was brilliant. He then went on to take his anger out with the chair by literally smashing it and throwing it about. I think it made him feel a little better. He did say that he hated it!

On Sunday afternoon, Laura and I went for a little nap in Jana's tent. Here is Laura's description of what happened.
"Lucy and I decided to try for a power nap in Jana's tent. Something moved under Lucy (I had already told her, I had felt something the night before) I left the tent and was talking on my pho...ne in the van, she then came and told me she wasn't going back in the tent cos she thinks there is something under her. She had gone mad and started hitting the ground with her shoe when she was in there. Later on, Jana picked up the ground sheet to see what was under there, there was lots of little run ways and a dead mouse. Lucy had killed it! I pretended to pick it up and throw it at Lucas... he got scared and started screaming like a 5 year old school girl... very very funny."

I still laugh when thinking about both of those!!

Neither of us made the final however Pie did manage to win a jumping class on Sunday. It was the day of the final and there was one jumping class for everyone that was split by the handler's age!! So Pie and I won the under 50s, which then meant we got an extra run against the winner of the large over 50s, who went on to beat us because Pie flew past 2 jumps oooooops!!

I had such a great weekend and meet some fantastic people. Everyone was so friendly and their English was amazing. It must of been hard to understand Laura and I, as our English (well mainly Laura's) isn't good at the best of times!

Thanks guys for a great weekend, see you in October and definitely next year for Thames!!

I'll upload the videos once Laura has popped them onto YouTube.

L x

Thames

Well I think I have just about recovered from the weekend, or was it just Saturday night?! Thames is where I train so it I was pretty much on the go all weekend. Last year I clocked up 6/6 Es, So even 5 Es would of been progress on last year. Over the 2 days Pie and I managed 3 Es, 2 5Rs and 1 Clear. Woohoo! I wont bore you with each run but I was really pleased with how we both did. On the Saturday, it was just silly mistakes from me.

I was working on the champ ring both days so got to watch a fair amount of the large on Saturday. Greg won the ticket, even with a hairy round. That dog is too bloody quick - it's not fair!! haha! Ian & Bobbie where have an absolute STONKING round until number 16 where he went crazy and panicked and got E'd... BOOOO! I reaaaaaally want Ian to get a ticket this year and I'm pretty sure that he will soon, he's too close not to get one.

We finished our ring at about 3pm which meant i could go for a shower early and sort Pie out before the football and entertainment. We had electric hook up, thanks to Laura doing some flesh flashing to Andrew (nothing to do with be being a Thames member!!), which meant we had power for hairdryer and straighteners!! WOOOP! We also borrowed the Stokoe's TV to watch the football. We nearly had a nightmare with the aerial as Laura wanted the picture to be clearer which almost led us to us having no picture at all!! I think I can safely say that I was a liiiiiittle drunk... OK very drunk on Saturday night. I arrived back to the caravan at 2am where Laura & Emily were asleep and I woke up at 8.10 still fully clothed!! I was meant to be helping out on the ring at 8.30... that didn't happen! I eventually made it to the rings at about 9, where I had missed walking my courses.... oh dear!!

The chum was quite a tough course but I liked it. As it was split and was being run over 2 different courses in separate rings, only the top 3 qualified. The top 3, I knew we could only beat with a spotless round, which lets face it, never really happens with us! So i decided to train P's contacts, and also because in the Crufts Singles on Sat, he decided he now did 4-off contacts?! ERMMMMM NO! We got E'd at the end due to be being a muppet, but the beginning seemed to go well.

I was scriming for EVERY single small & medium champ dog on Sunday so had to make the most of when the heights changed etc, as that was when I could let Pie out for a wee or to run him! Whilst the medium handlers were walking their jumping course, I decided to make a dash and run P in the Graded 6/7 jumping. The course wasn't the best for us as it had 2 cross behinds in, and because I unfortunately can't run as fast as Usain Bolt, I had to do them! The round wasn't perfect as Pie turn towards me instead of away from me on one bit, which left me behind going 'aaaaaaaaah'!! I didn't bother to check my time as a)I didn't think the round was neat enough and b)because I had to get back to scrime. Later on, again on my quick dash back to the caravan, I had noticed that the class had finished and that the ring was all packed up. On the off chance, i thought i would go and see if we got a place, only to see that we had won the class!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! Pie & I are finally grade 7!! OH MY GOD!! Anyone see someone jumping around screaming on Sunday afternoon? Oh that would of been me! Our first champ will be Rugby... exciting!

I just want to say quickly thank you to everyone who has helped me. Just to think... I few months ago, i was considering giving up agility! Laura, you little gem, I've done it!! Thank you to you and Lee who have supported and helped me out so much. Without you guys we wouldn't of done it! And also to those who didn't think we would do it (which was me at times)... we've done it now, so nerrrrr!

I'm heading up to Northwich this weekend for Newton Heath. It is going to be so chilled as no pressure for last win. Ahh so nice :) Oh and also a half day at work, to prep for the hideous drive. Hello red bull and ipod!!

L x

It's been a while...

... since I last blogged. Sorry! Nothing has really happened to be honest. Pie was working really well at Vyne on bank holiday monday and managed a 2nd in Grade 6 Agility. I didn't think I would be able to get past number 3 let alone get a clear and finish 2nd! Laura got the run on video but hasn't uploaded it onto her YouTube page. Then Tunbridge Wells went downhill... My confidence has gone out the window again after a few bad training sessions at club. We managed a 6th in Grade 6 Jumping, with a twirl before the weaves which I think should of be a refusual.

Short and sweet I know, but things are so hectic with work at the moment and my roast is ready yum! Next show is Thames - See you all there x

Agility For Great Britain

Firstly how nice was the weather?!

Laura and I rocked up to the show ground on Friday evening at 10... came in through the wrong entrance... then got stuck in the wet grass. Oops! Thankfully Yvonne and Graham were there to help us.

First run on Saturday was the EO wild card class. The dogs finishing in the top 5 qualified for the European Open try-outs the next day. Pie and I managed a scary clear round and finished 8th. However, 3 people who finished above me had already qualified
which meant we got the last place to get us through to the try-outs the next day. OH MY!!

Then was Graded 6-7 Agility. I decided to train this and we managed another clear - Weird! 2 clears in one day!

Graded 5-7 Jumping was quite a tough course for me, because there were several places where I would usually dummy. I was late sending back over after a pull through so Pie flew past me taking another jump whilst barking! Haha!

Last run of the day was Combined 5-7 Agility. The course was too quick for Pie, and I had already decided that I wanted to train his contacts ready for try-outs on Sunday. On the start line, Pie managed to get his tail over the ring rope and got caught. He wasn't happy in his wait, so I did a quick release, which meant I wasn't able to handle the beginning of the course as I wished but meant I didn't have to leave him on start line unhappy and also meant I had to do a cross behind further on. We managed to do it woo!!

I was really looking forward to the EO try-outs. Lee was judging which eased my nerves a little. But on the whole, I was quite calm about the whole event.
I missed my normal entered courses as Pie had 3 try-out rounds and potentially a 4th final round, if we finished in the top 30.

Here is the video of Pie's clear in Round 1 Jumping. Couldn't believe we managed it!

Round 2 was Agility. Unfortunately, we got E'd at number 16... :( We were soo close aswell. Tried not to think about it too much as many people were getting E'd so I just had to focus for Round 3.

Another Agility, I was running fairly early. 13 or 14. I was worried about pulling him off the jump after weaves as I was hoping to make the second reverse. Again, it was all a little messy and we got 2 refusals for it. Then Pie took off too late and I was in his way which meant he had the pole down. We finished the round with 15 faults, hoping it would be enough for us to finish in the top 30 in order to qualify for the Final 4th Round. We finished 29th!! The final ran in reverse order which meant I was running 2nd! I over worked the weaves and got a refusal... oops! I don't really know why I over worked it, as if it was any other round, I would of let Pie pick up the entry himself as I KNOW he can get it, but I guess the pressure and things, I just thought I'd play safe - which back fired!

Overall, I was so pleased how we both coped with some of the 'big boys'. Pie is still Grade 6 and it's both of our first times under proper pressure, and our first 'proper' class. It was a great day and I thoroughly enjoyed trying-out, and it was a great experience for next year in case we manage to get in again. Just want to say a quick thank you to everyone who was supportive on the day and thanks to Lee for fab courses, and also being supportive too. Well done to those who qualified too!!

p.s. Laura is still uploading other videos, so I will put them up once they're on YouTube.

L x

Easter Celebration

First camping show of the season... It went really well and I'm really pleased with how Pie and I both worked.

As neither I or Laura were working Friday, we strolled up Friday afternoon to a very windy show ground and to be camped miiiiles away. As the ground was very wet everyone who was mad enough to still camp were being parked on the hard standing roads.

Our chum was on Saturday and was a nice course. Although I decided to train the round as I didn't think Pie would be quick enough on the course. Mainly because of my attitude towards courses at the moment. Following on from my long post a couple of posts ago, I'm not 100% confident in myself or Pie so i can't expect to go into a ring and win. Things are getting better though!

I hadn't planned to hold him that long on his see-saw but as I was running off he didn't hear me say 'go'. oops!

Grade 6 Jumping he came out of weaves as I haven't done enough proofing of obstacles at the end and around the weaves. *Need to practice*!

Then my last run of the day was 6/7 Jumping. I wasn't a big fan of the course as there was CROSS BEHIND and also a few places where I would usually dummy. Somehow I managed to do the cross behind, although he jumping a little long, I wasn't worried about it as it's a HUGE step since last season, when we couldn't do any, let alone worrying about him jumping long! Unfortunately he had a pole down near the end, but something else that I was pleased with, was that he was only 0.5 behind both Dave Alderson's dogs, one of which won the class. I think Pie's speed can be very deceiving. Just need to sort his sluggish weaves out now.

Saturday evening, Laura cooked crispy chicken and carbonara pasta which was yum. Followed by Lee's egg that he won for winning Grade 7 Jumping (which we conveniently stole! Haha!) I think we ate at about 5.30ish which was accompanied by vodka... which is never good!!

Sarah Stokoe & Ian came over to the caravan after their meal at the pub at about 10ish and the drinking continued until 2 I think in the end. They are such good company though so no one really thought about competing the next day, so what were we going to drink now that we had gone through all we had... Oh yes that's right... Port and diet coke... yuk! Laura turned out the worst I think!!

Pie's first run was 5/6 Agility. I wasn't keen on the course, but after both Laura and Lee had walked it with me, I seemed a little more confident as to where I had to get to etc. Pie came out of weaves again :( Must practice!!

Then was Grade 6 Jumping. Leslie Osbourne was judging and it was a really good course - Well I thought so anyway! Again Lee and Laura walked it with me, and I was pretty sure I could get round it. I've never said GO so many times and don't think I've ever run as fast as I did in this course! I was late calling him after tunnel so jumped long going into the pull throughs, however we managed a clear woohoo!! We finished 7th - and wasn't far behind winner, which I was pleased with as I think we could of finished in top 3 without the little blip before the pull throughs.

Then last run was silly connection agility. Needless to say mine didn't go to plan! But it wasn't my course - as I gave Laura mine and she finished 3rd. With courses like that I don't focus on the way I plan as I know it doesn't really matter what course I take.

I had a really good training session at club last night. I worked 80% of exercises from behind to practice my cross behinds - and I was really surprised and pleased at how well we did. No shows until Agility for GB next weekend, however I might do 1 day of a local UKA or just go down to the field and try and attempt push-throughs!!

L x

Crufts

Hi all,

I've got quite a bit to write about!

First off - Crufts.
Well Thames had qualified a team for Thursday that consisted of - Andrew & Tag, Roger & Ray, Alan & Chase and then P & I. Laura stayed over on Wednesday and groomed for me. I think we left at about 5.30 or something ridiculous like that!! Once we had parked etc, we got to the benches at just after 8.30. Tash's course was lovely apart from the change over. I instantly went into panic mode as the start and finish jump were the same! Not good for Pie! Him and Chase don't get on at all, as Pie can be an idiot with dogs sometimes, so them running into each other wasn't even an option. So I decided to run last. I don't handle pressure well so made sure that no one would come over and wind me up - which they did anyway! By saying things like 'Ooooh 3 clears and then you'. Brilliant way to encourage your own team member eh?! Nice ones guys!! Anyway, I held my ground and I WAS going to run last. I went over and over how i was going to handle it and where I would put turns in etc. Thames were first to run, which in some ways was good. I decided not to watch any of the team run, but just focus on Pie, and jog him around on the carpet for him to adjust (Thanks Lee!). Pie did a lovely clear round wooo, but Andrew, Roger and Alan all had faults.

Here is a video of the last part of Alan's run and then Pie running last.



Laura and I also went back up on Sunday to watch the champ and do the odd bit of shopping. Brilliant courses by Andy Hudson - although I doubt very much that i'd be able to get round them.

The following weekend, Laura and I went down to train with Lee. Despite the horrible weather, it was really good, and I think the cross behind issue is slowly fading in training. I just need to crack it in the ring now!

Saturday just gone - I went to a local UKA show at Newbury. I decided to use it as a training show as I will be running his contacts at Easter. I had 2 steeplechases, 1 agility and 1 gamblers. I messed up both steeplechases but he was working really nice. Then his gamblers - I took his toy in. His first dogwalk was slow, but 2nd wasn't too bad. Then the stupid judge was stood right at the end of the see-saw with her back to it, so as Pie came along he looked back at me - grr. But it was fine in the other agility class.

This week is only a 4 day week at work as it's Easter bank holiday - woo! Easter Celebration will be the first camping show of the year so hopefully it won't rain! Will keep you updated via Twitter though!

L x

Training & Mid Downs

Well it seems a while since i've posted. As you may have noticed, i've linked my twitter account up to my blog and also my phone. So I can send text message to my Twitter and they will post straight away - Which means as soon as I get E'd on a course I'll send an update which enable people to see straight away. Fabulous.

Anyway, some of you may know already that confidence is something I struggle with. I'm not going to go into detail, 1) because it will bore you and 2) because I get quite choked up about it. Recently things haven't been great and at one stage I was very close to taking a long break out of agility. However you'll all be pleased to know that some really great people have spoken to me about it and I'm going to go straight into the season and we're going to give it our best shot (aren't we Pie! ;). We may not set the world on fire but we're going to have a bloody good go at it.

I've had some great training from Tasha and Lee who have helped lots with the whole confidence issue. It's not gone and I don't think it will ever just go away but I'm working on how to handle it etc.

I just want to go abit soppy here and just write a little bit about the 3 main people who are helping me at the moment. I just want to point out that there is no hierachy, but each person contributes different things that make a big difference to me.

1. Tasha Wise - She helped me train Pie also train myself. She's always positive despite not being overly confident herself. She won the world champs last year with her medium collie, Dizzy, but she's still got her feet on the ground and it hasn't made any difference to the person she is with others. She isn't cocky or arrogant about anything and it's something that I admire. Tash always tells me to stop being silly about things and gives me little things to work on in order to achieve greater things. No only does is she a fab trainer but also a really lovely person and a great friend. I just want to thank her for always being the one to lift my spirits whenever they are down.

2. Sir Lee Windeatt - OK i've spoilt him by calling him Sir I think!! Lee is another person who helps me alot without even realising it sometimes. Lee is always good fun to hang around with and also turns out to be pretty good at agility too! hehe! No, on a serious note, Lee is brilliant. He is someone else who has helped/helping me with my silly confidence issue. It must be hard for him to find good bits out of my runs or sequences in training but he always manages to do it. I always go straight for the stuff that went wrong or was wide etc. Since last season, Lee has helped me lots with my handling. Even if no one else agrees, I think i've improved a little. Again not amazing but I like to make small steps with things! I shall finish off by saying; Thanks for you all your help Lee and good luck at Crufts on Sunday :)

3. Laura Chudleigh - Yes she is the girl who has an opinion on everything and one day will probably take over the kennel club. Literally!! Laura and I get on really well and always have a laugh about one thing or another. It is because of her that i've got a show practically every weekend up until August. Take that one as you wish. Good because i'm actually competing or bad because i'm just making things worse by not having a break. Well after long chats with her about be being a weirdo, I have decided to spend my summer weekends being a passenger whilst she drives like a nutter to the shows ;) Her approach to agility is the complete opposite to mine, which at times can be challenging as she thrives off pressure, whereas I crumble. However after Mid Downs which was my first show since having a little panic attack over everything - I think we're on our way. P.s. Just want to say well done for winning into grade 7 with Ploddy x

Now, i'm not saying that these 3 people are the only people who have helped me along the way, but i'm just saying that these are the 3 most significant people. They each contribute to my agility. People are going to disagree with things I say or do but i've just got to try and ignore that and realise that those sort of people aren't doing me any good and I don't need them to be pressuring me or constantly be putting me down. When I look back on what I achieved since the beginning of last season - it's more than I could ever of imagined! I know that some of you reading this with think I'm pathetic but i'm finally starting to realise that you people don't matter.

Sorry to bore you all with that. Onto training and shows etc. Well last month Laura and I went to the X Factor Tour at Wembley. After our stressful drive there is was brilliant and really worth it. We had brilliant seats too, which helped!

Last weekend I think it was, Laura and I went and did some training with Lee, which is always good and we always come away with things to work on. Me more than Laura!

Mid Downs was last Saturday. It made a change from getting up a stupid o'clock and it's always a nice show. I didn't do good and had an unlucky day, but had some really nice bits which I was actually pleased with for once. In the 6/7 Jumping there was a really tightly spaced pair of jumps which I thought Pie would run round because he's such a large striding dog and he did run past it, which was a bit of a shame.

In the 5-7 Agility, part 2 was nicer and i'd say easier than part 1, and thankfully I was in part 2 woop! It was the first time in a long time that I went into the ring really determind about the places I needed to get to etc. After the Dogwalk there was a jump to the right which I did a reverse after (note: So I could see Pie coming down the contact). However the silly judge decided to mark his contact. Which is a little annoying but there were other dogs that I saw completley fly the contact and she didn't mark them, so I guess her judging was just inconsistant during the whole class. But again, I didn't let it get to me that much at all because there is nothing I can do about it. Just a little annoying as Pie was only 0.3 behind Ian Jackson's Bobbi who won the class. Which is pretty good for little Piddles.

Here is a video of our agility round -



Think i'm going to leave it there. Sorry for the long boring post! My next show isn't until Easter now so hoping to get some training in before then. I'm also up at Crufts this Thursday as my team have qualified - so I will Twitter update how we get on.

L x

Hare 'N' Hounds

Laura and I travelled up 200 odd miles on Friday night, and stayed in a travlodge only 10 mins from the venue. I think we eneded up getting to the venue at just after 8, which is pretty early for us... but turned out we were actually late as the show started at 8! Luckily, we had enough time to walk our courses.

My first run was Graded 4-7 Jumping. Pete Jennings had set a really nice course but there were 2 bits where I thought I would lose Pie. The turn after the snake (where he had the pole) and then coming out of the tunnel after the snake. I was late with my turns (shock) but thought he worked quite well and was fairly pleased with the run.



Then was Combined something Agility. Was rubbish but here's the video anyway...



Then was Graded 6/7 Agility. I had a little trouble working out how I was going to handle the start and in the end didn't even do it how I had intended. A cross behind?! I know!!
It was an nice round, I thought, although pretty obvious i'm just lolling around, and P did a nice position-go on his A-frame. Not so well on his dogwalk - NAUGHTY! I managed to achieve my one clear round goal though :) Well done to Laura and Plods who won this class and so now have 3 wins towards Grade 7 woop!
Here's P's run.



Then the last run of the day was Combined 1-7 Jumping. I was cold, tired and my head wasn't in it. The thought of having to do a cross behind also wasn't good! There was no way I could get out of it, but did actually manage to do it - even though the silly woman got in the way of the camera so you can't actually see it :(
P ran past a jump - from my lack of dummying. But bounced a few jumps which was good.



Next show isn't until Mid Downs, then have Crufts. Laura and I have X Factor Tour Live tickets for Sunday at Wembley which should be good and then we're training with Lee the following Saturday.

L x

Walridge Fell

Ok... I've clearly been rubbish at updated by blog so apologies for that! But not much to say about Waldridge, only in that I was shocking as per usual! So no videos are going up haha!

But just want to say well done to Laura and Plodders for winning Grade 6 Jumping - getting their first win towards Grade 7 woop!

L x

Ribble

Happy New Year to you all. Hope you're all well.

Where do I start... Thames 'treat' their instructors to a training day at the end of the year, as a thank you for helping throughout the year. It's usually freezing but always a good laugh. This year we had Dawn Weaver and Nancy Hudson. A bit of an odd pairing but oh well. Dawn took the agility section and Nancy took the jumping. It was a good day, and Pie was suprising quite good...!

Since that training which was the 29th I think, I had said to myself that I wanted to do certain this in training. Leading up to Christmas I hadn't had a chance to do anything 'proper' training. By that I mean, actually achieving something from the session instead of doing/practising the stuff I knew I could already do. However, work was hectic and I was working right the way up until Christmas Eve and then was back in the office of the 30th and New Year's Eve, and by the time I get home, it's too dark to train.

Then we got hit by all the snow, which meant i was working from home, which was lovely as I could walk the dogs in it. Pie and Paddy love it!! Kip will be 12 in March, and his fit and healthly but I could tell the cold was getting to him. We had about 6 inches here, and then another few the following day. I've never seen so much of it. It was all very pretty but just not practical, as I couldn't go anywhere and was stuck at home. I will post some pictures on here some other time, but they are on my facebook, if anyone wants a little look.

Right back to the important stuff! Laura and I were meant to be going to Wilmslow but it got cancelled because of the awful weather, which was a shame, as we're both chasing wins. Thankfully Ribble wasn't cancelled yesterday, so I headed down to Laura's Saturday evening and got to hers at about 10.30 for her to tell me that the alarm was set for 3.40 am!! Took just over 3 hours I think to get there, which whizzed by with me having my signature snooze on the way ;)

My first run was the pairs. Laura managed to walk it wrong about 3 times, but luckily I told her she was going wrong ;) I went second as I thought Laura could do with the wait practise ha ha! She managed a clear round with some baaad handling (:p) and then we went... OOOOPS! Pie went in the wrong end of a tunnel, but the correct entrance should of been visible but it had moved and so Pie thought he'd do the wrong end... Apologes Laura.

It was the first chum of the season and the course was nice. Pie got marked on his dogwalk, which I was pretty certain he got, but I'm not going to complain about bad judging (unlike Laura!) and I just took it on the chin. I trained the rest of the run, but P did something a little strange on the see-saw. It was almost he did a hand stand!

On the way up to all the shows, Laura and i always have our 'clear round quota'. Well on Sunday, Laura's were 2 clears, and mine was 1 clear. She managed 3 (8th in Chum and 3rd we think) and I managed 1 which was a win wahoooo! We won Grade 6 Agility by 2 seconds. I always say that I just want a clear round, and that's honestly all i wanted. From the video you can tell i'm not pushing at all, I was just casually jogging around. Here's the video of our 3rd win towards Grade 7. Just the 1 to go... which can be either Agility or Jumping.