17/10/09 - West Coast Challenge (GSDA)

The GSDA West Coast Challenge is one of my favourite trials of the year.

It's a big one for me. This is the trial I remember the most about when Samroc and I first came over to OZ and started competing here.

Not only do they have spectacular trophies, they used to invite the winners from the agility and jumping classes along to their AGM which is all about the members. Boy the club really is a good one for the members. It was a really feel good night, all the GSDA presentations were done and there was food and drinks too - a real club party and real celebration of the year just gone.

Unfortunately this no longer happens. They still give out the fab trophies but no longer an invite. That's ok - I still have the memories and I think this is why this trial is so special to me.

So on the day - we get there and it's an afternoon trial as per norm. Well what on earth is mother nature thinking - it was 38 degrees. OMG talk about a heatwave.

Masters agility with my wee Diva was such a shame - again the handler let her down. She done all the hard bits and only had a short jumping sequence to go and yep - I royally screwed up. I sent her on to go though the tunnel and bolted diagonally away, trying to get into position. Now that's ok if a) I've got a much slower dog and can get there before she comes out the tunnel, b) I keep my eye on my dog coming out of the tunnel in case she comes out quicker than anticipated, c) I'm an Olympian sprinter. We'll unfortunately none of the above in this instance - and a definate ruling out of "a" and "c" for future reference too BTW. As I got into position I turned around to see wee Diva had shot out the tunnel and had already taken the tyre which was straight ahead of her path - good girl - silly handler -aaaarrrrgggg!!!!!! The dog is absolutely great - it's the handler than needs to learn to cope with such a fast dog - out of practise on the masters courses I think.

Novice agility - another oops. The 3rd or 4th obstacle was the weaves and mini missed the correct entry - aw well she waited on the start line :-) good girl mini

Excellent jumping. This was a real shame. It was a lovely course and a real "mini" course too. This was the kind of course mini really enjoys and powers through too. So what happened????? well guess who didn't walk it?? hmmmmmm - yep me. I thought it was the open jumping course (didn't enter open) - so I went in kinda blind. I came straight out of novice agility and had to bolt over to the excellent jumping ring. There was only 1 dog left to run before the luck last - mini and me. That;s not too bad I'll watch the dog go around and see where we have to go. The course had a lot of spirals in it which was kinda hard to read the numbers as you go around, lol. So the 2nd last dog goes in before us and nooooooooooooooooooo - gets and off course and retires, aarrrrggg.

I got a lead out and frantically trying to read the numbers as I'm leading out to see where I'm going - GO - we almost got it - 1 refusal, owch. I was reading the numbers as we were going and mucked up a section - I started heading off the tunnel to another jump and mini came with me - awwwwwww. Sorry mini - she done a lovely round besides that though. Shame.

So lets leave the best til last. Masters jumping. A trickey course. Had to really work it but lovely and flowing if you got it right. On the collapsible tunnel there was a massive thud - I think diva had smacked into the inside. The grip at the bottom of this tunnel is way insufficient and that's probably to do with it. I hadn't realised at first - head the noise but she came shooting out and on fire so we continued the course. She got a nice clear round but it wasn't until the run home I realised in my head what had happened back there and started freaking out. We crossed the finish line and i cuddled her and checked her out - she was fine thank God.

Well we ended up getting a first and wee diva was all fine - not injured at all. So she can stick the trophy where the sun don't shine - giving me a fright like that, lol. Well done little Div - very proud of you!

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 :-)))

Pleasantly surprised

We had a big weekend of agility last weekend. On Saturday we had a double header with Gosnells dog club and on Sunday another agility trial – fundraiser for the nationals. Yes I actually trialled - woohooo!!!!

Photo by Gillian Self -
www.flickr.com/photos/gillianself
We rocked up to Gosnells trial on the Saturday morning and our first run wasn’t until the second half of the morning so we pottered about and watched others do some spiffy runs and others doing some specky stuff but with hard luck stories, then it was our wee turn. We went into excellent jumping first. It was Richard’s course and such a lovely course too. Anyhoo, we get to the start line and Mini’s her usual “barky” self. Little scab broke her start before I was in place but she done brilliant. If her handler wasn’t such a baboon she would’ve got around clear. The novice agility again was a great wee attempt on Mini’s behalf. Vicki was judging and set which I may add a challenging section in the course for novice dogs – wee Mini managed to get it (although I nearly stuffed it up with a “late” front cross and she had to jump out the way of my fat ass, lol). The last 3 obstacles to go were “jump, spread and jump”. Mini has a problem with straight lines and will tend to run around them (she wants more of a challenge) I think it’s just a novice thing – although I’ve been told it’s a Koolie thing. So she does the jump, starts to veer off the spread, I stop to pull her back onto the line of the spread, she’s taking off and crashes the spread – why oh why did I stop?????? Aaaaaarrrrgggggg. Sorry Mini. Was way happy though – she got her weaves and contacts (which we are very novice at and need lots of practise with) – go the minxter!!

Gosnells PM trial – well I was over the moon at Mini’s performance from the morning and although no qualifier I was still on a high. We went into excellent jumping, Cindy had set up an awesome jumping course – again if mini’s handler aka me could actually handle we would’ve gotten around the course – kick me!!!! Oh well she had fun and barked all the way around.


Novice agility was judged by Nic Forde – again a lovely novice course. Wee Minmin got all her contacts, her weaves and actually got around clear – yay Mini – to top it off she won – woooohooooo!!!!! (Hence the photo at the beginning with the quail card and Rosette – thanks again to Gillian Self for the photo). On a high doesn’t even come close.


I did notice something though – Mini needs a lot of help on the course – I think after going through all that stage with diva and now having a more confident dog and well basically a dog that’s been trained lol I have been not lazy but expecting too much of wee Mini. I have to take that extra step or tell her “jump” at that point – she needs that extra helping hand at the moment. This will differ as her experience grows but I need to “baby” her at the moment. Glad to have found it out now though than stuffing her up. Feel free to kick my butt if I’m slack with Mini and not helping her out.



So we had it all to do on the Sunday again. We rocked up to CAWA for the fundraiser trial and had excellent jumping first. Cindy was judging again and set up a great jumping course. Wee Mini goes in – on the starline and “woof woof woof woof” – I wasn’t confident on the start at all. I wanted to get into a spot and do a front cross but released her and wasn’t even in the spot to do a fc so we done a rear instead (Mini’s learning rears and picking it up not too badly) – anyway she was listening to me all the way around and – yep we got clear – OMG Mini got clear in excellent jumping – guess what – guess what else – she won it!!!!!!!!! Yippppeeeeeeeeee. Way to go Mini.

We had novice agility next and she done really well up until the weaves – owwwwww she went into the wrong entrance side – she really tried though. All we had left after the weaves was table and jump – nearly Mini – she tried soooooo hard too. Great effort mini well done wee chicken.

Don't have much video footage of mini but managed to capture some on the weekend and have her runs from the classic in march (lol - if you seen it you'd know :-) ) So I'll have to put together a wee movie for Mini with her runs on it.


I'm pleased at how mini is coming along - especially with our lack of training. Mini is supposed to be a 400 dog in CAWA but we now jump 500. She can cope easily. She's obviously much slower on 500 than 400 but I have confidence that she will speed up. I'll let her do that in her own time though and make it as fun as possible along the way. Sure we're gonna have some hiccups and setbacks but that is the game of dog training. It has to be fun for her and I have to make it fun. Afterall I have to remember she's doing it for me.


Thank you Mini xxx

Contact debate

Well well well, I have to talk about contacts and a little debate I'm having at the moment.

I have taught Diva a 2020 for both a-frame and dog-walk. This enables me to have a quick release if I need it but ensures I have a reliable dog on her contacts (obviously not 100% as she is not a robot although she is a magic dog, lol) :-) The last time at training I quick released Diva every time and she nailed them - very naughty of me as I didn't go back and hold them before the session was over. Nevertheless, next time at training I will do a few quick releases but more holding them - hopefully I haven't lost them :-S She has very fast contacts and I have put in a lot of hard work and time into them so I don't want to stuff them up.

Now what to do with Mini??? She had a fast dog walk and I have been teaching a 2020 and now completely stuffed up her walk- doh!!! I think I may stick with the 2020 on the walk and work on improving it - as I am in 2 minds I don't want to work on 1 method then change my mind and ask for something else along the line - this will just lead to confusion and totally stuff her up. So I'm not sure if I want a 2020 or a running???? hmmmm. The other thing is the a-frame. We have been working on a running a-frame and when she gets it - boy she gets it. Move over Diva 'casue the Minxter is coming through. I am again half hearted in a running a-frame but she can do it sooooooooo fast and am thinking about persuing this - again in 2 minds and don't want to stuff her up. I have been slack in training mini in agility and want to get her properly going for next year. I want good contacts that I can come out the ring thinking "yeh that was nice - good job" rather than "OMG my heart skipped a beat and almost completely stopped".

Since I have been searching for Mini's best methods and what she can do quickest and easiest naturally I have been faced with another question which seems to be varied in answers - how to time your contacts and how long to hold them for? I will be working on this with mainly diva for the next few weeks. I have an idea in my head what I want to do but am I wrong?

If I am timing her contacts do I time them from the point she touches the up to the point she leaves the contact? From the point she touches the up to the point she touches the down contact? Remembering I will be holding her on 75% of the sessions? hmmmmm.

On this note do I have a standard time to hold her on? one second, two seconds, five seconds? Do I be consistant on the timing?

Do I then count the 2 seconds from the point she hits the up contact - one, two, then release her or do I hold her on the down contact, one, two then release her? To me it makes sense to hold her on the down contact for one, two, five, etc, seconds then release but others seem to be doing this a bit different?

Over the next few weeks I'll work on contacts and keep with a 2020 for the walk and running frame for now, and also diva's contact - I'll work on my own timing methods i.e. count when she is at the end "one, two, disco" and will also vary the timing length - but have it in my head before we do the obstacle. I am interested in your opinion though - what do you think about the contacts?

agility nationals fundraiser agility trial

Well we actually entered an agility trial today - wooohooo :-)

Have to say - although I had a stinker of a headache (think it was the lack of food and water) I had an absolute blast.

The weather was very kind to us - only had a couple of little spurts of rain - so can't complain at that - considering the grey clouds that were upon us.

The jumping rings were a bit soggy though - no fault to anyone except mother nature :-) Made it very hard to run and the dogs were sliding about too - poor mini and her face plant - she's all good though - in fact I think around 50 per cent of the dogs and handlers either slipped or landed on their rear - poor Erica Pope running Roy feet slipped away from her and she still got up and ran - the second slip was a bit hard to recover from - luckily she was allowed a re-run and performed an awesome run with Roy.

I didn't have luck on my side today at all - was wanting my final leg in Excellent agility - Diva managed to nail the seesaw (along with all the other contacts and weaves) - it was just a jumping sequence left - normally diva would have nailed the jumps if I could help her out and actually tell her where to go - my legs were like lead - my quads were throbbing for some reason - must've hurt them from friday?? not sure - anyhoo she went to do a wrong jump (where my body was telling her to go) - managed to push her off the wrong one and by the time she was at the "next" jump to do she was upon it and dropped it - doh!!! I stopped after that - my legs were sore and gave up - she was a good girl, and she got the seesaw - yey Diva.

Masters jumping was a bit of a disappointment too - I sent her in the wrong end of the tunnel - doh!!! it was as if I was watching someone else run and didn't work her at all - oops - again my wee diva I'm sorry for stuffing it up. We got in the correct end of the tunnel and done a rather nice round - not like a normal blitzing diva run but nice all the same - just that one thing - if only..... hmmmm!!!!

And wee mini was in too. She done her first excellent jumping - I was terrified and not sure how she would cope - must say even though we didn't come close to clear she done a not too bad round - along with a face plant. She's getting there - starting to understand the obstacles and what I am asking of her.

Wee minmin was also in Novice agility - OMG - she got 1 fault - and it was dropping the first bar - awch. I mean the round wasn't very pretty at all but go minmin. Trying to think back what happened - she was funny on the walk - didn't jump off at the end - rather done a 2o2o position but at the beginning of the contact zone on the down ramp instead of actually on the grass. I asked again and she moved slightly further down - 3rd time she done it correctly - tells me she's trying to work it out - kinda getting the idea - that's cool - indicated what level she's at and clearly doesn't understand that the position I am after is at the end of the contact rather than there abouts - she's thinking though and not just blowing me off - which is nice. She stayed on the table and let me get a bit away from her - good girl, after the table there was about 2 or 3 jumps then the weaves - still learning the weaves - have to help her into the entry (not practised them nearly enough) so I mucked about with her and got her lined up nice and easy and she done them all - yay- it was just the a-frame and last jump (think it was a spread or broad - can't remember now) - anyhoo she nailed the a-frame with a running (which is what we are doing - well for now :-) - then she went to deviate from the last jump straight in from of her - hey blondie you've gotta finish correctly - not sure where she was going but kinda went behind me or something - was weird - I called her though and like little harry potter she reappeared as fast as she had vanished and done the last jump - great effort mini - well done wee chicken.

There were some awesome runs and heaps of hardline stories too.

Megan had an awesome day - Epic got 3rd in Masters jumping with a lovely run, she also done a fab round with Dancer and won Excellent agility - well done Megan. Tom done a few specy runs too - think it was masters agility they were hooning around the course and got 1 bar down - what a shame it was a blinder too. Steve done a fab round with Spud - nailed the contacts and got a refusal on one jump - lovely contacts though. Tracey ran a great round with Makko and just got a penalty on the seesaw - owwww. Nicola ran a smashing round with Kite - he's coming on fab and with super fast contacts - as per normal for nic's dogs. There were other's too which I can't name right at this second but will remember as soon as I post this blog.

Tell you though I got a bit of a wakeup call and a motivator today when I saw Karen had her young dog Sonic in Masters agility and Masters jumping. She's doing a bloody good job with him. I can remember him and mini both being in novice together and now he's further ahead than diva who's about a year older than him. Kriszty had a bit of a laugh and said I had to actually enter trials to get qualies - yeh yeh - I know I have been soooo slack so need to get my but back into gear and back into the ring. I mean taking nothing away from Karen - she's progressed sooo quickly and so well - but she's give me a shake - thanks Karen - you've motivated me to get my butt back into the ring.

So my goals for this year (yes I am going to trial):

Get Diva her Excellent agility title
Gain 2 legs towards Diva's masters agility title
Gain 2 legs towards Diva's masters jumping title (she's got 1 so far - woohoo)
Achieve 1 good clear round with Mini in excellent jumping
Achieve 1 good clear round with Mini in novice agility

Note: by clear I mean no mucking about or babying - getting the job done and done right!!

Well that's the target for this year - now I think our next trial is the end of september (I think it's the Royal which I never have any expectations of going clear due the atmosphere so it's probably october) so we've got a lot of time for me to get my fitness up and to practice and pray :-)))