Discoroc

Friday, February 26, 2010

Tis the season to be jolly........

No I'm not loosing my marbles - well to be debated.
No I'm not celebrating X-mas in July early; and
No my time machine isn't working and it's December again

So we've got the Western Classic coming up this weekend. One of WA's greatest and biggest agility comps of the year where you win clocks and plates and other goodies. If you win a class you also get your photo in the Canine news, which mine tend to turn out like something from Shrek - sure the post should read "princess Fiona with ............" That's what happened to my modelling career, the camera's wouldn't work right, lol - yeh right.

So I've got Diva and Mini entered in the teams event on Monday. Both in the same team, along with Brynn with Tom and Epic with Megan. No reserve as per norm.
I've got them in the individual events on the Sunday - think it's just their classes though and no opens (which I normally enter at the big ones - will have to wait and see the catalogue as I've had sooooo much going on - especially with work and not sure if I'm arthur or martha at the mo.

I like the classic - it's a good event. At night time too, which is much cooler considering the blistering hot conditions during the day - and I'm not just saying that because I'm Scottish - even the Aussies agree.

I had both Diva and Mini in last year. Wee Mini was in Novice agility and Novice jumping - this year she's still in Novice agility (lol - sorry Mini) and Excellent jumping - wooohoooo Minmin :-)))
My wee Diva was in excellent jumping and excellent agility - she's now in Masters for both - and may I add has her Masters jumping title too - go the Divster. We only have 2 passes in Masters Agility but we won't go there (silly handler, lol).

So on Monday I went into work and didn't get home until about 8.30pm. Had left the house about 7.15ish so it's a long day. Stopped off a HJ's to get a burger and also the dogs a cone each (they love the ice-cream). Got in with a normal overwhelming greating from them all. Later in the evening as I was sitting infront of the laptop (yeh I know workaholic) I noticed someone giving someone else a bit more attention than normal and that someone else not liking it at all).

What.....it can't be yet....you're early....way early......

So I got a tissue and done the check and yep - that someone is Samroc and that someone else is Diva. She's in season.

Just one more week - oh well, when you argue with mother nature you're not only gonna loose, you're gonna get beaten to a pulp.

I went and spoke with the vet regarding AI a few months ago and they said to bring her in when she comes into season.

I finished work on Tuesday and took her into the vets to be tested. Got results back on Wednesday and went back in on thursday to get more tests done. I've to go back in on Saturday and see the vet. I've got a feeling they're gonna call me in on either Sunday or Monday - just my luck. Oh well if they do then I have to go - it's my priority over a trial.

Sorry wee Mini - I'm sure you won't mind too much.

So fingers x'd "'tis the season to be jolly".

I'll keep the blog updated with any news.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

I said heyeyeyey, I said hey - what's going on :-)

Well time flies when you're getting old :-))

It's now February 2010, and my last blog post was last year, lol. So what's going on - hmmmmmmm Well apart from having been REALLLY REEEAAALLLLY sick and getting better, starting back at work after having a nice break off, having to withstand consecutive days of heat above 43 degrees and of course starting a new year there's been heaps in my agility life.

Well Diva gained her Masters jumping title at the end of last year - wooohoooo. 1 down 1 to go. She now has 2 passes in masters agility - 2 down 5 to go, lol.

Mini's doing really well too - only thing was I thought she had her ANKC novice agility title - had stopped trialling her because we'd be in excellent which has the seesaw and we're working on that - turns out I was getting confused with her titles and passes with ADAA and she actually still needs one pass in ANKC to get into excellent - what the....... the worst thing about it was at the end of the year when she got a clear in novice agility I was dancing around and weeeeeeeee - shouted out at the presentation "title" and got a great cheer and clap - oops. So when she does get a clear (note I'm not saying if - finger's x'd, lol) then I have 2 options - 1 to take it happily and quietly and really be jumping for joy in my head - or 2, shout out "title for real" and get rotten eggs and tomatoes thrown at me, lol. Either way I want that pass now - come on Mini - and what's the odds I try too hard and will be writing on this blog next february - "mini nearly got that pass in novice agility ........"

I've been doing training with them and got a good wee routine now - Diva goes on a tuesday, both train on a thursday and Mini on a Friday. Samroc can have mondays and wednesdays all to himself, lol.

I've stopped taking Diva training on a Friday altogether. Until the club gets new equipment in I can't chance it with her - she goes too fast - and wee Mini is starting to pick up the pace too so it may be the case with her on a Friday too and I may have to switch days (or clubs) to take wee Mini's solo act.

I got a real fright a few weeks ago which made me sick to my stomach. I was working on the walk with wee Diva and working on sending her on without having to have me at the end - also working on speed - which she was doing awesome. On our last turn on the dog-walk (last turn not because we had done enough but because of the following) - she screamed up the up ramp, her back legs were just on the along ramp and the up ramp of the walk fell on the floor - OMG. After Samroc I get all nervous, anxious and sickly when I see things like this happen - so I continued on and went to the seesaw - I didn't want to affect her at all and as she had just gotten into the "safe zone" of the along ramp she wasn't injured. So wee Diva doesn't play on a Friday. Mini's not as fast as Diva but she's starting to get her speed up the more we do and the more it sinks in the quicker she's getting.

Apart from that all's good. I really need to work on my handling skills though. This is our biggest downfall in the ring. My fitness level for one is a major flop and is holding us back in heaps - then I'll blame my handling. You can train your dogs to be awesome, fast and accurate but that means nothing if you can't help them out in the ring - so........

New Years ressie(s) ........

1. work on fitness
2. work on handling
3. keep training the dogs in a regular routine

Aims for this year:

ANKC

Help Diva achieve her Masters Agility title
Help Mini achieve her Excellent jumping title
Help Mini achieve her Novice agility title
Get at least 3 passes in Excellent agility with Mini

ADAA

Help Diva achieve her seniors title
Help Mini achieve her Intermediate title

Agility general:

Have Mini doing all contacts well
Have Diva sending onto all contacts well Have Diva's seesaw down pact
Have Mini's weaves fast and independant - including doing a RHS weave - oh boy
Not have as much handling errors on the course by me - bigger oh boy.

Well that's the plan. So I don't have any photos to put on or many videos - I'm working on another movie which isn't complete as yet.

In the meantime I'll get back to dressmaking (that's for Simonne and Robin).

I've posted a video for my buddies Nicola and Steve. Nicola normally runs Sage (an awesome fast BC), but this time Steve runs her down in Albany in Masters Jumping and does a phenom run with her and wins the class.

Cheers for now and remember to have fun with your dog - play hard and safe and remember to have fun :-)))

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Trials to date

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: 2^nd 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: 1^st 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: 1^st 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.

And for wee Mini she got a clear, go girlfriend - and since I was in such a huff with myself I wasn't really in the mood - gave myself a shake and went "whatever" with Diva's run - hey as long as we're having FUN that's what counts - wake up Jules and smell the roses, live in the moment and enjoy!

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

Friday, November 13, 2009

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!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

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.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

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 :-)

Thursday, October 22, 2009

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 :-)))