Dog Vegas 27th, 28th 29th Aug

We've had quite a hard couple of weeks Pen has found out Izzy has advanced degenerative joint disease in her elbow which has retired her from agility at just 3 they are now waiting to see what long term effects it will have on her :( Sal also had to have her gorgeous 3 year old mastiff Chester PTS on Thurs as he had arthritis from his hips to his toes :( and my other friend had to her old boy Buster PTS on Friday so really not good times :( Sal's Kandy has also become petrified in the ring, we are not entirely sure why she just freaks on the start line, she will run in the practise ring fine and at training. So Sal kept taking her into the ring over the weekend just to do the tunnel a few times as she loves them and doing the odd line when she was feeling giddy. Fingers crossed it just something we can work through for her over the winter its just so sad to see a dog who was so eager to play to be so scared bless her.
This weekend was Bellas first grade 4 show strangely I felt quite relaxed about it which is very unlike me lol Bella was very very giddy on Sat she was so aware of everything and excited so I kind of knew it would be a struggle and I was right 3 E's and 1 5F run I had to stop her mid way around a course as she was barking so much lol 
Sunday she was much calmer (I could tell when she got up and wasn't bouncing on my head haha) She worked fab 2 x 10f and 1 x 5f runs all due to the numpty handler being in the way!!! we did however manage a clear in 4-5 agility. Hels came along with Winnie to be measured just encase they decide to come in the future he was very good around the rings just need to work on his off lead control.
Monday calm Bella was back to play and our best day performance wise both of us almost on the same page we started with a very tricky 3-5 jumping course that people where walking saying was aimed at grade 7 (even other judges) lol my aim was for 1 & 2 as it was a tricky start, much to my shock we got to 15 before I cocked it up haha gutted as she'd of been placed but massive confidence boost that she can do those level of difficulty courses. Next we had 3-5 agility with some real fiddly bits which Bella took in her stride she was going so fast on the home straight she lost her footing and skidded up the A-Frame landing on her chest and chin I tried to stop her to check she was ok but she wasn't having any of it and finished off over the final jump bless her I was trying to check she'd not hurt herself but all she was bothered about was biscuits if you please :D Was very surprised to fine she'd been placed 6th too yay We then had a 4-5 jumping course which was aimed at speed and control she loved it flying round (I so need to get fitter for her lol) with a lovely clear. We finished off the day with 4-5 agility again with some really tight pulls and twists and she just takes it all in her stride we had 5f as I totally lost my positioning to the A-frame and she pinged off to look for me.
So please with how she ran she's so suited to the grade 4 courses with that little bit more work in them it really switches her on :D

Hels took a could of vids of her runs on Sunday I just love the weavies in the jumping course :D

Hare N Hounds at Barnard Castle

It was our last weekend in grade 3 we where all really looking forward to the weekend but it didn't quite go to plan!!!

We arrived on Thur night driving up after work which I don't think I will do again as its just too stressful didn't arrive until after 8 by the time set up tent it was time for bed so didn't sleep well all these things whizzing in my head gah. Considering it had been really bad weather most of the weekend prior we managed to find a pretty un muddy spot at the back of the field which was very lucky.
We started off Friday on a bit of a giddy note new venues always seem to switch Bell onto manic mode bless her new fields to run around in and new dogs to try and play with (yes this is correct!!! twice I had to call her back as she darted off to say hi to a random stranger lol very un Bell like indeed). Bad nights sleep had bad effect on me in a migraine so I wasn't running her well but we did somehow manage a 5th in graded 3-4 agility. We went to bed at half 7 which was a bit naff but I felt awful and was very worried about being ill in the tent, thank god that didn't happen!!
Saturday I felt alot better and you could tell from the runs we started with a very very steady clear in 1-3 agility thing the soft ground un nerved Bella a little but clear is clear :D we then only just managed to run out grade 3 jumping as they where shutting the class considering we where straight in Bella flew and I was so pleased when she got 5th. The grade 3 agility we just missed DW contact as I kept getting it wrong and slowed so she jumped off for me I need to keep running to push her to the end. And we had a fab run in the 1-3 jumping but got E'd as I said tunnel too early oppies.
Sunday got off to a good start with clear in the ABC comb 1-7 jumping we just missed out on a placing was very pleased with the run. Didn't have any runs until later but felt funny, almost fainted then the stupid heart racing started tried two runs with Bell but I just wasn't in the right place so scrapped the remaining run as I wasn't doing her justice and didn't want to confuse her (and pass out lol) so we went home didn't feel better until I got in the shower, damn mind doing stupid things to the body gah!!!

The girls didn't have the best of times either Izzy was running fab with 2 x 2nd and a 3rd then went lame Sat pm and still isn't sound :( Kandy didn't have a good day on Sat with E's then got freaked on Sun and wouldn't run for Sal just being daft of the start line fingers crossed it was just a one off. So roll on the bank holiday weekend we are hoping for a less stressful and fun weekend please!!!!!!
The good things I did take away from the weekend is what a fab show HnH is very thoughtful and helpful and how much better Bella does on the more complex courses she just rises to the challenge which has given me confidence that in the grade 4 classes we should be fine :D

Scunthope OATC 6th August

I was sooooo nervous again today with doing the ABC qualifier who knows why if only we could take out that part of our brains!!! So Bella was how shall we put it, giddy!!!! We started off the day with graded 1-3 jumping first half was fab but then it went a bit to pot knocked a pole, refusal at a jump as I turned too fast and knocked the last jump. Then we had the ABC qualifier nice course with a couple of tricky bits with the tunnel under the a-frame and a tight gap to pull in she did all of it beautifully but we just stumbled at the the right hand weaves as I rang out of breath lol so she came out and then missed the DW contact, overall pleased with the run and shows shes more than capable of grade 4 courses. Next was combined 1-3 agility in the pouring rain haha typical fast flowing course she ran it really well just knocking a pole the finish was just ace I was miles away from her and she didn't care in the slightest meant I could cut off the corner and finish the course with her clever labbiedor :) We finished the day with grade 1-3 agility tried a rear cross on see saw which worked she just knocked the last part of the long jump as I didn't say stretch, I  persisted with those right hand weaves and managed to get to 10 before she came out think I was getting a bit carried away lol All in all a good day (especially with a migraine which turns the brain to fuzz) shows what a difference those nerves make tho, I just need to RELAX !!!!! If anyone knows the answer please tell me hahaha

Dog Vegas at Grantham 30th and 31st July

Was really looking forward to the weekend away, have had such an emotional two weeks its never easy to say goodbye to some you love especially when they have been fighting an illness with such courage, but she'd had enough and as much as it broke our hearts it was time for her to leave us. I owe such a lot to her I'd never have done agility without her support (well more like a kick up the back side lol) she always told me to believe in myself no matter what and go for it so that's what I'm trying to do. Will miss you always hun love you lots xxxxxxx

The weekend started off before we even arrived as Sal, Steve and Pauline where competing Friday they where storming Sal with 4 x 1st Steve 2 x 1st and a 2nd and winning out!!! Pauline with a 3rd. So no pressure on poor Penny and I to do well on Saturday lol We started off the day with a lovely 1-3 graded agility it was steady for us but fab for first run as they can be a bit manic was surprised to come 12th good start. We then did another 1-3 graded agility but I set her off before I was ready and she shot off like a rocket and went in the tunnel so we where E'd lol After lunch we had the graded 3-5 jumping which I'd been getting myself into a bit of a tizz about but we loved it was a Kenny Waddell course who we love anyways was a huge confidence boost (sorry for jumping up and down on the finish in excitement lol) was very very surprised we came 9th what a bonus. Next we had graded 1-4 jumping lovely course I just turned her a bit quick so we knocked a pole. We finished off the day with the gun dogs power & speed, I got a bit lost in the middle of the speed bit but some how managed to not get us E'd was good to practise a nice distance in between two jumps with her lol Sal did great too getting 2 x 1st winning into grade 3, celebrations where needed :D

Sunday we woke to the sun shining (we are not used to this sort of camping lol) we knew it was going to be a hot hot day we started off the morning with Doc's 3-5 agility lovely lovely course another judge we love, it had a tunnel under the a-frame which I knew was going to be our biggest challenge as at Otley I'd lost her onto the a-frame. She ran really well and I got her into the tunnel wooop but then didn't get there to push her out for the next jump so got a 5R was really gutted as the rest was just lovely. Next was graded 1-3 jumping 5f for a pole I turned too tight and graded 1-4 jumping 5f  for a pole I set her up to close at the start. Next was 1-4 graded agility was just our sort of course, front cross heaven I managed 4 lol I only just got the first one in as she was flying, she slowed a bit in the weaves so had to clap to keep her going (defiantly going to have to try something that doesn't involve speaking to keep her going as the faster she is the less I can breath lol) I thought she'd missed the dog walk contact but was really pleased with the run and she was miles ahead of me working and I was really trying to keep up lol Was very surprised when the gang watching told me she'd gone clear :D I hoped we might have a chance of a placing. We had to wait around for an hour and a half for the other classes to finish for the results, Sal had checked the timings and though we where defiantly up there but couldn't tell for sure as the writing wasn't very good lol Needless to say when the called us out for 1st I was ecstatic lol never in a million years did I think we'd ever win out of grade 3, I thought the only option would be on points. I just can't believe it I'm going to be grinning for days on this one lol Pen also had a great day with a 2nd in agility (so so close to that 1st place) and lovely clear in jumping they are really working as a team now will only be a matter of time before they are in grade 2 :) Pauline also got a 2nd and Steve had a 1st and 2nd. Between 5 handlers we've had 17 placings and 6 clear rounds fantastic weekend we really need to do it more often its so lovely having such a supportive group :D