Happy Birthday Kiros!

Saturday was Kiros's 10th Birthday and he celebrated by running in the SupaDarl Finals.

It was a really hot day and I was so glad that I hadn't actually entered him in the show.  Ann and I managed to keep him cool with him wearing his cooler coat and keeping in the shade until his runs.

I completely embarrassed myself in the jumping by getting him eliminated with some silly handling but did better in the Agility getting around clear.

We ended up with 14th place in a very competitive final - I've heard the first 11 dogs were separated by less then 1 second - so given his age, the heat and the fact that I was very careful with his contacts I think he did really well.

Sunday was Agility Nuts - I was so looking forward to this show as I decided I'd run Reno (if the courses only had 6 weaves) and Jackie was coming with Speedy (unfortunately he couldn't run as he was injured!).

Reno's first run (jumping) started jump, six weaves which he did beautifully.  Unfortunately after that point I forgot I was running a baby and didn't work the next corner getting him eliminated.  Alan Boutel took some lovely photo's of him doing this run - http://www.theimagefile.com/?skin=916202&Action=_VC&id=56874450&ppwd=72204wnd  page 12- I'm thinking of buying one.  Which one to you think is best?

He took a pole down in the speed section of the Speed and Power and then decided that he fancied the Dog Walk more then the Weaves in the Power section so got eliminated.

His Agility was going really well until I miss timed a front cross and didn't work a corner (notice a trend here?!!)  and the least said about my handling in Gamblers the better.

I entered Reno in the last class - Open Pay on the Day Steeple Chase.  Reno ran excellently and went clear in a very reasonable time finishing 4th (despite a strange moment after the flat tunnel when I realised back cross wasn't going to work and had to pop in a quick front cross!)

Reno is entered in KC shows from this weekend (Rugby on Saturday) and I am so tempted to give him a go.  The only thing holding us back at the moment is 12 weaves and my handling :-)

Kiros was his normal cheeky self at Nuts.  He broke his wait in the Speed and Power so I took him back and eliminated him (typically after that his run was perfect) and was naughty in the Agility, completely ignoring my handling but excellent contacts.  His best run on the weekend was his jumping finishing 3rd.

I must end this post by congratulating Jo on her awesome resent results with her Mali Mob.  She now has 3 Dogs in Grade 6 with Keisha quarter way to Grade 7 and Zippy in Grade 4.  Such a major achievement and I don't think the wins will end there. 

All Change!!

What a couple of weeks it has been.

Starting with Agility for Britain.  It was nice to go to a small show and catch up with a few friends.  Jo and Jackie were there with Reno's brothers and Daddy. I only entered Kiros in two classes at this show as he wasn't running well when it closed however at the show he ran lovely getting 8th place in Grade 6 jumping. 

He was a very naughty boy in the Agility missing both his A-frame and Dog Walk contacts (by miles!) but "No worries" I thought, "I can correct them at Tuffley". Unfortunately he over stretched himself at training on Tuesday night so now I don't have any opportunity to correct them before the Rescue League Finals next weekend,  assuming he is going to be fit to run as he now appears to have stood on something that has stung him and won't stop licking his paw!

On Friday I took Lynne to pick up her new Puppy. 

Meet Deco. He's a really cute Rough Collie Dog from excellent show lines (his Mum is a Crufts Best of Breed winner) and full of personality.

I so hope he lives up to his potential as I know how much Lynne wants to get into Showing again.

Either way though, I know he is going to have a very happy life.  I'm taking Reno around on Thursday to meet him.  That should be fun!

This weekend Ann and I went to Tuffley show.  It was our first visit to this show and we only went one day as it was a very long way and we were just sounding it out as a potential "weekend away" show for next year.

I think it is a definite.  The venue is spectacular with a large exercise area and a lovely river running through.  Although I wasn't running the Doggies they had great fun running around and Reno enjoyed almost going into the river.

He stood on the bank wagging his tail in the mud and then wagged it all over us so Ann and I had to drive home caked it mud.  Not sure how we would have explained it away if we had been stopped!!

It was nice to catch up with a few more Mali people.  Dave, Candice, Grace and Alex were there with Rusty and Kiah.  Hope Kiah enjoyed her first Grade 6 show Grace?

Ann and Harley had a serious "If only" run in the ABC qualifier.

Since we started competing in 2001/2002 Paul and Pen Sensky have been so supportive of Ann and myself as we have won up through the Grades.

My good friends have always gone out of their way to support Kiros and me at big events such as travelling down to London to see us at Olympia and arriving at Crufts at the crack of dawn.

I'm so happy now to be able to congratulate them on their recent successes.  Pen and Brenn won their final Grade 1 jumping at Lincoln  putting them into Grade 2 and, much to his surprise, Paul and Quincy won 3 Grade 1 jumping classes at Barrow this weekend also putting them into Grade 2.  I'm really proud of you guys.

Reno's training is continuing to improve.  He can now do 6 weaves in a straight line and is jumping and going on far more confidently.  I've started trying to put the weaves into a course but he is struggling with his rhythm if I keep moving so this is proving a bit difficult.  I'm hoping to get this sorted by next Sunday so I can do a few more runs with him.