11/11/09 ACWA agility trial

Sunday 11th October ’09 we had the ACWA agility trial.

ACWA trial had individuals then strategic pairs. I love playing strat. pairs – such a hoot.

We had individuals first. This was to be Diva’s first Masters agility – oooohhhh!!!

Mini was up first in novice agility. She only needs one more pass to get her title and graduate into excellent – which has the seesaw and yep we can’t do that just yet. So there is no hurry at the moment to get out of Novice. (She’s still not “great” on her other contacts, start line or weaves either so there’s definitely no rush. We got a refusal on a collapsible tunnel – go figure, the wee scaff ran past it barking at me, lol. That’s cool though ‘cause she got all her contacts and weaves – yey minmin.

I think it was excellent jumping next (can’t remember too well) but I think she broke the start line and I would’ve made some stupid handling faux pas which I am obviously blocking from my memory, lol. No pass their either.

Wee Diva’s turn and we had Masters agility. Lovely challenging course and I stuffed up big time. Handling at one section was a crock and I made her pull down a bar. Dam it – sorry Diva. She had a close call on the seesaw and didn’t give the wait at the end I want (and it looked like she came off early too) – I stuck her back on; got the seesaw I wanted then retired. Looking back on Jens video she actually did get the seesaw but it still isn’t what I want so glad I did what I did – sorry for mucking up the jump Diva.

Masters jumping was the last of the individuals and boy if I had a gun I’d ask someone to shoot me. It was a nice challenging course and we got the pull through and just a 180 (or more like a 230) on another jump next – that’s cool – “out” would’ve probably been suffice – but what actually came out was “go tunnel” (which was in fact the next obstacle after the "230" jump) – well before I realised what I had done wee div had shot through the tunnel – what the........ OMG, good girl.

If there was a first place for the worst handling I’d definitely win the masters class in that easy. I even think I’m currently winning for worst handler of the year award, lol. I must say though I’m not entirely to blame. Some of this blame must go to Stacy P. Since she’s not been over to do a seminar this year and kick my butt then I have to put some of the blame onto her. Sorry Stace but the facts are the facts, lol. I’ll just have to keep on failing miserably and plodding along until you come over and show me what’s up with me (besides the obvious), lol. Feeling guilty yet, vbg – got your flight booked yet, lol. – Just remember to bring Jule P with you – she doesn’t know it yet but she gets to run Mini :-) Now that’ an experience and a half – you’ll thank me one day Jule (or never speak to me again) lol.

So we have strat. pairs in the afternoon. I love strat. pairs. I had done so miserable in the previous rounds that I was gonna try really, really hard. Well do my best anyway.

Mini and Dancer were on first. They are in Novice S.P’s. When we started strat pairs a year ago it included Mini only doing the a-frame and jumps, wee Dancer had to do majority of the course. Mini got to do contacts, the weaves and jumps – yay mini.

Dancer is blinding quick and was owning the course – go Dancer. Wee Mini isn’t exactly slow and was screaming too. We lost a bit of time on one of the change over’s. I was getting Mini lined up for the weaves and forgot you could hold the dog still when you’re not in play – so mini’s bark bark bark and dancer had already done the tunnel and jumps before I knew it. I forgot how fast Dancer is and I’m sure her feet didn’t touch the ground over the line of jumps after the tunnel, lol. There was smoke coming off her she was going that fast. Anyway I managed to get Mini lined up again and into the weaves, jump and a-frame. Phew!! The rest of the course was awesome for them.

This was the best strat pairs Mini and Dancer had had together (now that Mini’s getting her act together and not the spare wheel anymore, lol). They both did an awesome job.

They now just need 1 more pass to get into excellent. It’s got the seesaw in it so that’ll have to definitely be Dancer’s thing until Mini learns it and shares the burden, lol. Hey Dancer’s got an awesome seesaw anyway so that’s fine by me.

To top it off they ended up getting first place, yay girls. As you can imagine Megan and I were over the moon. They won a rosette and a bottle of wine each – yummy.

Diva and Epic were next. It was their first masters strat pairs and boy did they do their thing. Diva was absolutely on fire and I couldn’t ask any more of her than what she gave. Epic was hooning round too.

We kinda mistimed one thing on a change over which was near the end. Diva came out the tunnel over a jump, change over; epic to do the a-frame, change over again and diva do the jumps out.

This would make it flowing and quick as Diva comes out the tunnel and takes the jump in the sequence, continue over the not in play jump straight ahead of us and continue down the “in play” line of jumps home. As wee Div’ was taking the not in play jump Epic would do the a-frame.

Well didn’t quite flow like that. As I said Div was screaming and did the jump after the tunnel, the not in play jump then the start of the line home jumps in a nano second, crap, we had to pull back and do the jump again.

We haven’t done strat pairs for a year and are a bit rusty with our timing – but they had both screamed around the rest of the course and obviously made up heaps of time there because they still got first place – wooohoooo!!!

On top of the world is only a portion of what Megan and I were feeling. So we won another rosette and another bottle of wine – hangover waiting to happen, lol.

Jasmine's 4th Birthday

Saturday 10th October ’09 my wee “baby” niece turned 4. Not so much a baby anymore, how time flies.

I had spoken to my big sis’ and we were all going to AQUA to celebrate her wee birthday.

Made my way onto the motor way (oops I mean freeway in Oz, lol) and proceeded to get to my destination of AQUA. Well I thought I’d gone too far and missed the exit then came off, made my way back and ended up back in the city again – doh!!! Back on the Freeway again and Amanda (my big sis’) called to say they were about 20minutes away – also gave me tips on what exit to take, lol – thank you big sis’. I just had to go another 5 minutes from where I first turned off and would have got there – oh well. Got there second time round – where’s the GPS when you need them???

I met Amanda, Nige and Jasmine there at lunchtime and we went it. The weather was a bit drizzly but most of AQUA is indoors anyway so that wasn’t a bother.

I gave wee Jazz her prezzie outside and she was rather pleased with them. I got her a Dora the explorer wee hidey tent and sweeties, and Samroc, Diva & Mini got her (awwww) a wee shitsu toy dog that walks, barks wags its tail and is very well house trained, lol.

Wee Jasmine was all excited and loved seeing all the sharks, stingrays, giant turtles, crocs, jellyfish, etc. I think the touch pool was a big hit too. They even have a place where the youngies can colour and make their own badges (they wouldn't let me and Amanda do it though since we are too old, lol).

It was such a great day and we all had a “whale” of a time.

It was absolutely fantastic spending time with my big sis, Nige and my wee niece Jasmine.

We went to the Sorrento acrade to look around the shops and have some lunch.

The day was topped off with us hitting the UK sweetie shop - OMG, Christmas come early. Drifters, Wotsits, Smokey Bacon Walkers crisps, jelly babies, wham, whispa's, the list goes on and on.

Happy 4th birthday Jazz, not long now until you can come out clubbing, lol :-)

Perth Royal Show 2009

Well it's been a while since my last post and I have a lot of updating to do.

Will start with the Perth Royal Show.

The "Royal" is one of the big agility events of the year for me and a whopper of an "agricultural" show for Perth. I say agricultural with a smirk 'cause although that's what it actually is I think the kids nowadays go for the rides and show bags.

The agility was on Saturday 26th September and Monday 29th Sept. Teams and open were on the Sat and individuals were on the Mon.

The build up to the Royal for me was shocking. 4 weeks before Diva came into season and didn't get down training or trialling at all. The week before saw me coming down with an almighty cold - very ill. I was in bed from the Wednesday afternoon until the Saturday morning.

As Diva and Mini were in the same team (with Epic and Brynn) I couldn't very well scratch as I was half the team. I had no energy and was feeling really bad. Tom was a gem and came through to pick me and the girls up (I didn't even have energy to drive).

We got there way early and waited on the trial starting at 9am. I had already told Tom and Megan I couldn't run and Megan opted to run Diva and Tom decided to take on the Minxter.

Both had very good job considering they don't normally run them. Megan was unlucky with open jumping with a last bar - doh! and Tom done superb with Mini - she actually stayed with him most of the time and didn't run out looking for me (wee Minmin and her seperation anxiety) - well done guys.

The open came in the afternoon and as Diva had jumped off her a-frame in the teams agility round I had said to Megan I would take her and Mini in just to get their contacts and that would be that.

Wee mini went in open agility (I keep forgetting the seesaw is in it and mini hasn't reached that obstacle yet - doh!). Anyhoo we plodded along got the a-frame, walk and weaves then retired.

Diva was a wee bit after. I had mustered up some energy from somewhere????? We get on the start line and the rest is really a blur. I can remember her running into her 2o2o position on the a-frame and I gave her a quick release. I done the same for all the contacts - supposed to be proofing them my butt - I honestly can't remember much and we didn't get it taped to look back over - oh well. The highlight of my day was the little buggar ended up getting first place in the open agility - OMG what - hang on, what happened again, lol. I was very surprised and very proud - although all I wanted to do was go home to bed. Well done little Diva and thank you!

Monday had me feeling a little bit brighter - not fab but at least I didn't want to just lie down all day and suffer, lol.

Mini had novice agility first and bombed out with breaking her start line - this is dejavu from last year - little minx :-)

Mini done such a good job in excellent jumping although I nearly missed a jump and was heading off for another jump - by the time I tried to rectify it the game was all over - I wasn't quick enough and the minxter got a refusal on the jump - doh! after that I kinda gave up and just wanted outa there - well done mini, great effort wee lass :-))

Diva had masters jumping next and it was an awesome course. Fast, flowing and challenging too. We did an awesome round. A couple of very minor hiccups but nothing to write home about. We got 4th place. On watching the top 3 runs I was very honoured to come 4th to them. I'll tell you though it was a very exciting course to watch. The difference between 1st and 10th was less than 2 seconds, and watching the other 9 rounds I was lucky to come 4th too - that was also special for me - go Diva.

Our last run of the day was the one I had went to the royal for - excellent agility. I desperately wanted a pass in this. It was the final leg/pass we needed to get her excellent agility title and I wanted this bad. We're in excellent longer than I wanted so was very very nervous about this one. Diva's wee brother Maverick came over and had a word with us too about getting our act together and take out this round "FFS" or he would loose all respect for his big 'sis, lol. Thanks Graeme, this actually calmed me down a bit (just a smidge) :-))

Mav egging his big sis' Diva on It had to be said - now come on

Well she done it - CLEAR, woohoo. I almost mucked up the last jump. I ran out of steam (fatty) and nearly made her take the wrong jump. I just had enough energy to get another few steps in and keep her on track - thank the lord. I would've been kicking myself for years to come otherwise. Anyhoo to top it off we won it - yay!!! She was such a good girl (pity about the other half of the team - i.e. me, lol).


I've got some of the runs on video - unfortunately not the open agility as that was supposedly a cracker. I'll put them on my video tab as soon as I get my act together.

Other news from the Royal (yes, yes it's not all about me, lol).

Sam Weaver and Billbee qualified to run in the main arena in the 3 sheep trial. (Only the top 3 sheep dogs with accumulated points throughout trials from the year are invited too). Go Sam and Bill.

Kriszty's Jess - agility and obedience champion - had her final agility and jumping runs in the team’s event. They went out with a bang and won both agility and jumping teams.

Tom got 3rd in Masters jumping with Brynn - Royally beating mine and Diva's ass to the ground, lol.



Megan and Epic got 5th in Masters Agility.

Graeme and the awesome Maverick (Diva's wee brother) got 2nd in CD (Obedience), 3nd in Novice agility with a couple of penalties and 2nd in novice jumping with a bar down - wow. Just wait until he gets clear - watch out Diva he's coming to get ya :-)))



Well this years Royal's was one of the best ever. I really enjoyed myself (besides the cold). And will more than likely be there next year.

Diva can hold her head up high with her wee bro' Mav - well done to them both!!!

Aim for next year's Royal show:

Diva - to be a master in her seesaw and me not baby it

Mini - get a comfy lead out and get a clear round :-))

Who know's though - it is the Royal show and anything goes - as long as we have fun :-)))