Bretford ups and Downs

I'm absolutely exhausted today after the Easter weekend. We arrived early Friday afternoon and set up camp, and enjoyed a very relaxing afternoon and evening in the April sun. Saturday was ups and downs, Amy and Summer only had 1 clear round gaining them a lovely 4th in Jumping, and although still no clear rounds for Maisy and I we did have some great rounds just taking a pole or missing a contact! so I was very pleased. Sunday was the same really Amy gained a 3rd in Jumping and again Maisy was a good girl listening well. but yesterday was a disaster, I think both Amy and I and our dogs were just too tired, Maisy had lazy legs resulting in lots of poles and Summer had her wandering head on! so no clears and a few dissapointing rounds.
Rupert had a great weekend, and I managed wuite a bit of heelwork training, I even had his running order in the post for his first UKA show when I got home so I'm really excited about that.

Ellen & Hamish won Grade 3 Agility on Saturday taking him straight into grade 4, What a brilliant pair they are and Anne and Gloria had some good placings too even Crafty managed a lovey clear round so Well done guy's. Also more congratulations to Jo and the Mali's who had another fantastic weekend with Zippy winning another Agility proving he really is more than ready to be in Grade 6 and Ronny winning 2 jumping classes taking him halfway to grade 7! I think we need to take bets on which one will get there first? I'll put my money on Zippy!

We're off to Dordale this weekend, we were supposed to be camping but have decided not to hopefully letting the dogs sleep in their own beds might make them ready for clear rounds on Sunday! fingers crossed.

Wallingford Update

I had arrived and set up the caravan, awning and garden all before Amy arrived on Friday evening and although it was hard work it was really nice to be able to relax with the dogs in the evening sunshine before the hecticness of the show starting on Saturday morning. Amy and Summer had a brilliant weekend, their first round was a little manic but after that she only had clear rounds gaining a 14th and 13th in jumping, and another 14th in the combinded agility. Amy has put it down to Summers new pink fleece harness! I just think they are both really enjoying themselves, all very pleasing to watch. Maisy and I didn't get any clears, however we aren't getting any of those mad rounds we did last season, obviously the courses are alittle harder now and without a proper startline wait they are almost impossible. however she has solid dogwalk and see saw contact and is hardly pole knocking, her weave entrances have been great all weekend and she is really listening to me and looking out for my body language so I am really chuffed. Rupert was also a star this weekend, after the shock to his system last weekend I have now ditched the headcollar and have really been working hard on his attention, we had a lovely walk around the rings both during a quiet time and during full competition mode and he was brilliant, we still have some way to go but I am really pleased with him thus far. Anne and the boxers come on Sunday and Gloria is really going well, more clears and and a placing and even Crafty is enjoying Anne's handling skills as she too was brilliant. Jo and the Mali's were at a different show this weekend and Little Zips has zoomed into grade 6 winning his agility and coming 2nd in his jumping, I remember last year in one of his first shows where he won into grade 4 Jo saying she had wanted to keep him in grade 3 for a bit longer, she also said it at the first show of this season where she won into grade 5 and if i'm not mistaked has said it again on her blog now he's in grade 6! Guess what Jo - Zippy says he is ready, can't wait for our next show together I think a little celebration is in order.

Shuttleworth 2011

I've been a bit nervous about this first show of the 2011 season, mainly because I've enjoyed my winter training so much it has become my comfort blanket, but the proof is in the pudding! Maisy and I had a brilliant day on Saturday, there were some tricky courses which had elements of our winter training in so I really enjoyed the challenge of them, although no clears Maisy got all her contacts and just took the occasional pole of a slight handling error pushed her in the wrong direction. Sunday started of well followed by 2 terrible rounds all due to me being lazy and Maisy showing signs of tired legs, but the last jumping run of the day was again brilliant with just the last 2 poles down. So I came away very happy indeed with how we had gone. Summer and Amy just had the best agility weekend yet. Summer came out on Saturday morning bright and bubbly, giving Amy a bit of work to do to get full control but by their 3rd run they were flying getting 2 clears in their agility classes and gaining a very good 5th place. We thought on Sunday Summer would be a bit tired as it was their first night sleeping in the awning this year, but this was not the case, she was rareing to go, gaining 3 out of 4 clears and a 6th place in agility, so what a brilliant start for them. Rupert was a bit overwhelmed by everything at the show, so lots of walking around the rings and just sitting quietly at ringside watching for him over the next few months, I think the winter came at the wrong time for an adolescent pup, so hopefully we can get over it quickly and make the show circuit a happy place for the future. Lastly a huge congratulations to Jo at the weekend winning just about everything on offer!! she had been waiting all day for a presentation that had already taken place only to find out she had won another 2 trophies for Best BSD of the show! Fantastic WELL DONE Ratty X

Not long now

At last the first running orders of the season have come through the post!, yesterday I spent the afternoon making sure the caravan was ready for action, and I've made a final training plan for Maisy for this final week. Amy and I and Maisy, Summer & Rupert will leave home at about 3pm heading towards Biggleswade for the Spring at Shuttleworth show, we always enjoy this one, appart from the walking back up the hill to the caravan after the runs! hopefully it will be a nice relaxing start to the season ahead. good luck to everyone attending X