Well I managed to get a few more trials in since the west coast challenge with the German Shepherd Club on 17/10/09. Unfortunately I’ve had more hard luck stories (or more like bad handling stories lol) than good.
As we are coming to the end of the year and agility has a wee break over the summer we only have a few trials left. I’ll post about the trials we have done since the west coast challenge on one post rather than heaps of individuals (since I’m still slack at updating this blog)
Trial: Rockingham double header, 18/10/09 – didn’t do. Ok off to a bad start but here are the ones we did do, lol.
CAWA fundraiser jumping double header, 30/10/09
Diva: zero .Mini: zero
Comments: Had a crash with Richard the judge in excellent jumping when running Mini, lol. He was running to get out of the way and it so happened that was the way I was running and yep we crashed. Richard was lovely and gave me a re-run, but I think I rushed to much, didn't give wee Mini a solid enough cue for the tunnel, I started running diagonally away and yep she came with me, got a refusal, doh!, that was her only fault though, owch! At least I got a dance on the course though, lol.
CAWA fundraiser agility double header, 31/10/09
Diva: zero .Mini: zero
Comments: Mini wasn’t entered so zero, lol. I'd pulled Mini out of agility for a few trials since she only needs one pass to get her novice title and move into excellent. Seeing she can't do the seesaw I thought I'd hang fire until the last few of the year and try and get a pass - now thinking I probably should've entered all to try for the pass then pull her out once she got her title - oh well, to late now, lol.
ACWA jumping trial, 04/11/09
Diva: 2nd Masters Jumping .Mini: zero
Comments: Was a fun round with Diva, got pinched at the post by Andrea and Smudge by 0.02s – OMG, how close. Agility has gotten really exciting over here in recent times. The dogs are running at fab speed with great tightness. It's now down to who done a certain cross or pull or whatever that split second time quicker - and if you make a minor stuff up you've lost it. It's great to see and exciting to be part of.
Perth training trial, 07/11/09
Diva: 1st Masters Jumping .Mini: zero
Comments: We had a chuckle about this one, Andrea beat me last week, I beat Frank this week so Frank has to beat Andrea next week and we're all square, lol. Like I said before it is sooooo close with our WA Masters dogs it's really anyones game.
Rottie Club, 14/11/09
Diva: Zero Mini: 1st Excellent jumping
Comments: This is the only trial in my life that I have actually been really upset. Not just saying this but Diva done the most awesome run ever in Masters Agility – up until the a-frame. We were working really well as a team and she was having a run to remember – she was truly awesome. Then after the a-frame I shut down. Dunno what was going through my head. I think I panicked about nearly getting around clear and got myself way into the wrong position, stuffed up a pull through (OMG majorly) – got back on track and again was on the wrong side – we had one bar to go to get a clear and that was a jump to the left – what did I do – OMG not sure if I can relive this again, lol – I sent her over the bar to the right – WTF. I honestly wanted to go home, and I never get like that. Poor Diva, what am I thinking.
Albany 22/11/09: didn’t do, lol. Come on I have done heaps of others J
Southern River, 28/11/09
Diva: Zero Mini: Zero
Comments: Mini should have gotten 2 clear rounds here. If you read my other posts you will know that I have no problems at all about blaming the handler (i.e. me) for stuffing up 99.9% of the course. HOWEVER, and I say this with a grin, knowing this trial was not my fault, and no it’s not even a training issue – YAY, I can escape the blame on this one – or actually these 2, lol. Mini in excellent jumping – got almost all the way around the course – wasn’t the smoothest run but hey she’s still learning, get the straight jumps on the way home and voila we’re done. But my wee Minmin decides to do one of the 5 jumps then veer off to the other side of the ring to the start line. I actually stopped and watched in amazement – where is she going????? Hmmm, we will never know what she was thinking – was funny though. She had a sniff of my hat which was at the marshalling area at the start then seemed to be most interested in the timing gates and had a good long sniff of them before coming back to me – Mini you’re a star, lol.
What tops it off though is her agility round. Again got all the way round and had a straight line left – 4 obstacles, she done 1, then was hooning to 2, I’m running behind her and she’s getting further ahead, over 3, yes we’ve done it, I’m still running behind a little further back now and mini runs AROUND the last jump, WTF. It took her more effort to run around it that over it, lol. What a wally. She cracks me up. Not sure if it’s the timing gates or if she just really is blonde, lol.
CAWA trials I have left before January ’10.
ACWA 09/12/09,
Dobe 12/12/09,
Dogswest 13/12/09
I have 3 CAWA trials left to achieve my target which I set a while back. I have also added a new target to the list - get a clear round with both Diva and Mini on the same night, lol.
ADAA
We have 2 ADAA trials in December. Both double headers. The first is on this weekend then the other in a few weeks.
Both Diva and Mini are in the International program and both jump 550mm. Mini is in starters and Diva is in Intermediate. Both of them need one more pass in agility to move up to the next level – Mini will be intermediate and not sure what Diva’s is (still learning about ADAA) – it may be Open or Advanced??? Will have to check on that one
I love ADAA and really enjoy their trials and mostly the courses.
I also have set myself goals for the 2 ADAA trials coming up to achieve before the end of the year.
Diva to get an agility pass this weekend to gain her Intermediate title.
Mini to get an agility pass this weekend to gain her starters title.
New plan of action here - stop over thinking and go out there and have fun. Take the good with the bad but enjoy it always.
Jules
