a quick summary first:
ok, ok, :) so WAO (World Agility Open) is a competition held each year. Australia sent a team last year to compete in the UK. So this year it's in Belgium.
Due to quarantine regulation Australia can't take our own dogs over so we have to have host ("borrowed") dogs to run.
Australia had the tryouts in December 2011. It was run under the ANKC height rules :( and I had Mini and Diva entered.
The tryouts were over 2 days and 7 runs - OMG I know - right :S but anyhoo that's what it was.
Anyhoo - I made it onto the team with Mini - I KNOW de Minmin - wooohooooo ;). So excited and what an awesome team is going too.
This is the team of handlers going over with me to Belgium :) what a fantastic bunch and what experience is going over to represent Australia - wow - I'll have to brush up my handling now - arrrgggg - Belgium :)
So for the team from this photo we have - starting at back left
Di Rose running 525,
Me aka Jules ;p running 400
Simone H (from QLD), the short one between Meegs and I & my new best pal running 650
Meegs - my always best pal running 525
Frank running 400
Second row - left to right"
Tom - my other best pal and big bro running 650
In the middle all in black with no glasses or hat - Simone T running 525
Right of Simone with blue hat - Tracey running 650
next to Tracey - Karen running 300.
Yeh Belgium is gonna be soooo friggin awesome I can't wait - yet I don't want it to come around too quick 'cause it'll be over soon after that :)
Also sharing a house with my 2 besties Meegs and Simone H so that will be such a hoot :) wooohoooo :).
Now onto the thing about host dogs. Well we are on the hunt for dogs for us to borrow to run in Belgium. It's proven to be much harder to find than we initially thought TBH.
So focusing on me I had the option of 2 dogs - Magners a Border Terrier and Morgan a Cav King Charles. Both these wee dogs are great and melted my heart. Also owners awesome and so kind.
Sometimes having a choice can be so hard rather than someone saying to you right this is how it's going down. Anyway I made my choice and not looked back for a second.
So on that note I would like to Introduce you to Magners my new dog - well for WAO anyway :)
Isn't he awesome - I love him sooooooo much.
he's got a right wee attitude - just like a typical terrier - such a cool little dog :).
His owners Lara and Michael are coming over to Belgium too - wooohoooo.
You know I've never met Lara in person but since we've been talking on facebook and e-mail I feel like I've know her for years. What an awesome person she is and so looking forward to having a good few beers with her too :)
Meegs and I will go over to UK and spend a day at my Bros in Leeds - hopefully more of the family can come see us there too. Travel to Birmingham on the friday and it's all go from there :)
I have a trial with Magners on Saturday morning - Meegs and I will be meeting up at a hotel with Lara, Mags (Magners) and his sister BB on Friday - probably getting smashed :) at a competition on Saturday morning with a hangover. Meegs picks up George from the same show - OMG what are the friggin odds seriously out of all the dogs and all the people it's us 2 lol - going to another show on Sunday and travel to Lara's place in gorgeous Cornwall after the show sunday. We'll hopefully get some training in on Monday and go to Belgium Tuesday. Arrive Belgium Tuesday afternoon with Meegs and George, Lara, Michael and Mags and Simone H, Laura and Buster on Tuesday - have lots to eat and drink and wake up Wednesday all refreshed :) hehehe.
The WAO comp is on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
You know I can't believe that I get to compete against the best in the world. OMG I am in AWE that I will actually get to stand on the same startline as these people - WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway me and my wee Mags are gonna rock - even if we don't even qualify once - we're gonna have such a great time :)
BTW there are supporters shirt for sale if you wanna buy one - all for a good cause and we can never have too many agility shirts either :)
Oh and I've already been in training for running a small dog - Nic let me run Jasper (her friggin awesome sheltie) at the last ADAA trial. He's such a good dog. I just have to remember to not take off so quick like I would with my guys - Jasper and Magners legs are much littler lol than my lots - well mini doesn't count she just has to make it there :) see ya I'm off mini :)
also the seesaw takes a little longer to drop than when my guys are on it too :)
But in jumping I'm gonna have to have my running legs on - rather than my legs like lead and treetrunks - OMG - can this wee man move :)
so excited and will keep you posted :)
BELGIUM BELGIUM BELGIUM :)))))
oh and this too.........
Aussie Aussie Aussie :) xxxxx
