RVA & East of England Show

I'd been looking forward to the weekend for the East of England show didn't really have any expectations from the agility side of things as new venue and I knew it would be busy so we just went to relax and for a good laugh. Being a longer drive for us (took near 3hrs as the weather was bad) we arrive at 5ish I just managed to get the tent up before it poured down and carried on all night I hoped it wasn't a omen for the weekend. Luckily the rain stopped as we got up and we just had spits and spots in the morning, we started off with a jumping run getting 10F, knocked a pole and popped the weaves at 10 but I was pleased as she was calm and focused just trying to be a bit too speedy hihi Next was combined agility she was steady going clear :D and was place 5th. We then had a big storm where Sals awning almost blew away we all had to grab a leg and hold on it was a bit mental lol We finished off the day with graded agility it was our sort of course with twist and turns and she was clear again :D coming 2nd but was 4 sec behind the 1st place we could have been a tiny bit faster but no way could we have won. The weather was then lovely on Sat night sitting out in the sunshine, but as soon as we got in bed the patter of rain lol Hey ho at least its not during the day ;) Sunday was grey but no heavy rain which was good as getting the tent dry at home is a nightmare there was a warm breeze so managed to get it all packed away. We started off with jumping lovely combined 1-3 it flowed really nicely, Bella had a blast I just called her a fraction too late so got her E'd oppsie. Next was graded agility again another course with a bit of work and funny angled entry into the weaves, she ran it really well she was a bit wide on one corner so I thought her time would be slow. We where going for a walk so thought I'd check her placing and to my absolute amazement she was 1st!!!!!!!!!! I really was in shock and couldn't quite believe it so grade 3 her we come :D We finished off the day with a graded jumping course and she was yet again clear (I think someone has swapped her!!!!!) coming 4th. What a truly superb weekend she had she was just so focused and calm I did keep thinking she must be ill lol Im just so proud of my little labbiedor she really deserves it every time she goes into the ring she gives me her all and enjoys every single minute, I really can't ask any more than that :D

Weimeraner Show 11th & 12th June

Well wow what a weekend this has just proved to me I made the right choice over these last few weeks I feel loads better and it showed as we enjoyed every minute (okey maybe not the rain and Bellas barking round lol). We started of on Sat with a fabby agility round 5R as I was too slow off the start and she was way ahead of me before I knew it she just went past the weave entry and came back for me argh bad mummy really gutted as her time was 2 sec faster than 1st and it was and open combined 1-3!!!! ah well we've almost done it once we can again :) Next run was truly awful lol barking nutty came out I had to stop her part way round as she was just going mental so I tried something new when we came out the ring, NO BISCUITS!!!! and straight back to the car to chill. Well Im amazed as that was all it took (could also be the fish for dog bribery treats hihi) every run after that was calm and focused she just understood, I did feel very evil tho lol Much calmer run resulting in 5f in ABC agility, clear in ABC steeplechase and clear in ABC jumping coming 5th.
Sunday we just a dream really lol First run was ABC agility we had a pole down as I turned a bit quick, the course was perfect for us it had 7 front crosses :D we had a blast not many clears either so really pleased she got 4th :) . Next was ABC Jumping I tried for a start line wait and got it !!! she flew the course and was clear getting 4th place :) Next was power & speed but done the other way around really simple speed course again we got a start line wait and she worked the contacts really well and got the weaves in the power section and was clear :) She was just outside the placings which was really good for a 1-7. Then we had 3 runs at the same time everyone was going for jumping or steeplechase first so I took her in the open agility, she was very unlucky as just lost her footing knocking a pole but ran super we even finished the round off with a flying dog walk running contact :D. We then did the open jumping and another clear I think someone must have swapped or drugged her lol She again waited at the start, I could have pushed her for more speed but I think we need to keep working this calm focus first as its just ace she managed to get 5th. Then we finished off with the steeplechase (maybe not a good idea as breathing was hard for me lol) I got a nice lead out and managed to pull her off the tunnel trap we had a little barking but she was just telling me she was coming hihi she ran well but was quite wide on a couple of the turns so didn't think she stood a chance with it being 1-7 I was pleased with another clear so was really surprised she got 6th. I don't think Ive ever had such a good weekend for calmness and focus it really was like she was a different dog I'm so pleased for her as she really deserves to show off what she can do its such an amazing feeling when it all comes together :D Also Sal & Kandy won out of grade 1 woohoo which was fab and makes up for just missing out due to her bad leg so many times at Dog Vegas :D
Here Bells is showing off her collection :)

Dog Vegas 28th, 29th, 30th May

Back to Bakewell didn't seem like five mins since we where here last time lol At least we managed to get the tent up without any rain was just a bit dull. As we've not trained for a good few weeks Bella was defiantly full of beans lol I think I was still a bit wary of my leg too as still not quite able to get to where she needs me to be but Iam making sure I warm up before each run. We had loads of naff runs really and shes started barking but its hard to tell atm if its just because we are not training or its something more. We did however manage a 3rd in jumping on Sat which Im pleased about as there was a huuuuuuuuge gap to the weaves which lots of dogs struggled with but I told her and she went. Sunday the weather was lovely at times and I managed a nice walk around Bakewell and the farmers market. We have 3 runs all of which where in the ring straight after the other bit of a nightmare for Bella as she had to be held at the ring side so I could walk, run, walk, walk run and run lol She did a fab agility run with 12 weaves done at some pace for her but just lost her footing so she knocked a pole I even managed to rear cross her on the A-Frame :) Then a nutty jumping run which we wont go into lol And finished off with a really good working agility course just our thing loads of front crossing we got 5f for a refusal as I tried a rear cross but she worked the whole time and came 3rd I was really pleased as they kept it the same for grade 3 so proved to myself we'd be able to do that level of course without too much trouble :D Monday was well wet wet WET!!!! I was a bit worried running myself let alone nuttyloo bombing about so we had 3 runs which where not good as I was just too scared I'd hurt my knee. We then had a really long wait until our last jumping class and I did consider going home several times then all of a sudden at 4ish this lovely sunshine just dried up all the ground and meant we could finally run properly. We entered the ring in fits of giggles as Pen had a wardrobe malfunction loosing part of the sole of her shoe, which we re attached with a shoe lace and elastic band lol We managed a clear by the skin of our teeth as Bella stopped part way through the 6 weaves as if she didnt have a clue what to do so I lured her through with my hand!!! She rand the rest lovely and I was just pleased to finish on a clear so was really shocked that she won the class, maybe the speedy dogs went home from the rain lol Well thats one towards grade 3 :)

High Peak 14th & 15th May

Wasn't the best of weekends had a very stressful week leaving club, the weather was pretty naff at Bakewell and my knee was killing me where the dogs knocked into me the other week so was having great difficulty running. Poor Bella was getting frustrated as I just wasn't there for her and all I wanted to do was hide in my tent and cry lol Hey ho it can't be good every weekend fingers crossed next time will be better.

All things change

We did a demo again this year for the Driffield Kite festival it was very very windy the first day was good had quite a few people on the pay on the day ring and a good few people watching the demos. The second day wasn't as good very cold and windy which I think puts people off coming. The weekend ended on a sad note as Sally resigned as chair for the club. Ive been unsure for a while as to what I wanted to do going forward as have felt the time I spend on club is pulling me away from my own dogs and hubby and the issues we've had over the last few months with kit, beginners etc etc the club has been pulling us in two different directions so now is as good at time as any to call it a day. I'm really sad as have made some lovely friends but I have to do whats right for me for once in my life and I hope they all understand. After speaking with Sal we have decided to set up a small competition only group as this wont require as much time and effort as EYAC did, it will also allow us to be able to focus on our own dogs more which was the whole idea of EYAC in the first place. I had hoped we could all part on good terms as the two clubs will be totally different but its looking like its not going to be :(