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