Bank Holiday Sun!!

We had sun! And lots of it! It was sooo hot here yesterday, it reached 27 degrees. Phew! Having seen the forecast we headed out really early to walk the dogs before it got too hot. And we were glad we did, as even at 8.30am it was starting to really heat up.

With the rest of the day Paul and I decided we wanted to do something completely different for a change, so we headed off to the Durrell Wildlife Preservation Trust, often incorrectly referred to as Jersey Zoo. I say that 'zoo' is incorrect as Durrell is very determined to make people aware that they are in fact a Wildlife Preservation Trust. This means that all of the animals there are an endangered species, many due to the selfish actions of man, and Durrell is heavily involved in ongoing work to protect them from extinction. I am not a fan of traditional zoo's, in any shape or form!! But this really is quite a special place with a really important message. The grounds are just beautiful and it was lovely to wander around watching such fascinating animals up close. All the animals have the most amazing areas to live in, not the typical 'enclosures' you see in zoos. They try to replicate their natural habitat, and I have to say the results are just wonderful! It's an amazing place to visit, and really makes you appreciate our world and what we are doing to it.

Once it had cooled off we took the dogs down to the beach for a swim. It's such a shame as I forgot my camera, but both Mannix and Smudge had their first swim! Neither of them have ever been brave enough, but with a little encouragement (i.e me carrying them out!) they both discovered that they really wouldn't drown after all! I really wish I had the camera....Smudges face was a picture!!!

Sadly I had to go back to work today. I could really get used to not having to work for a living!! The good news is that I only have two more days to get through before we head off for Letchworth this weekend. Have to break myself back into the working routine gradually you know! :))

Where to start??

Mega blog update required!!! Ok so where to start?? I guess back at Agility Club. We had a lovely weekend there, which also happened to be my birthday weekend. What better way to spend it? Agility wise we had some nice runs, with a few 'nearly' classes!! A lovely surprise was our result in the Small pairs, which we won with the Andy and Kizzy! Woo hoo! Unfortunately we never did get around to taking a photo of the winning pair!



It was then on to one of the major events of the year and the KC International Festival. I really do enjoy this show every year, despite the sheer travelling distance required to get to and from the rings!! We were quite lucky this year and had a relatively close spot. Certainly better than I have had in previous years at the old venue anyway. We also had great company all weekend which I think can really make a show! The new venue was lovely and I am looking forward to going back there next year. As Paul didn't come to KC I was in a tent and it was freeeezzzing! So much so that I bought Smudge a snug new bed to keep him toasty warm!



So KC started really well. I took advantage of the practice ring to do some work on my contacts and this seemed to really pay off as Smudges contacts were pretty good for the whole show. Woo hoo!!!! That made my weekend! It also meant our results on the first day were looking pretty promising......2nd in the KC Novice Cup Jumping and 1st in the KC Novice Cup Agility. This meant we were the top placed dog going into the Novice Cup Final. Go Smudgey Go!!


Sat was the final, and unfortunately disaster struck!!!!!!! I really hate those moments when something so completely unexpected comes and smacks you right around the head, and that is exactly what happened. I worried about his contacts......would they be as good? I worried about the weave entry....it was tough. I worried about his start line wait.......would he break (although why I was worrying about that I have no idea as he has never broken in his life - random concern I guess!) However the one thing that I did not even consider, and in fact would have put money on him NOT doing was running off mid course for a spot of air scenting!!!!!!! Never in the entire time I have been running Smudge has he ever stopped and sniffed at anything on the course. He is normally so switched on to both me and the course. But of course when it did happen, it had to be in one of the major finals of the year. To say I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me right there and then would be an understatement. I really wasn't sure what was going on, and I just couldn't get him back!! So sadly no placing for us in the final this year. I would be lying if I said I wasn't really disappointed, not with the result, as I honestly believe winning isn't everything, but mainly with the fact that we didn't show off just how great our partnership can be and how much fun we have running together. I really wanted our run in the final to be the best that we could make it, and sadly it wasn't even close. Still I am so proud that he got there, and that he was the top dog going into that final. It was just one of those things!


The final day was the Nations Cup and we were selected to run in a team for the Rest of The World, along with two spanish shelties. The jumping run went fairly well, but the agility run was in the main ring again. Oh no! The scene of the disastrous final from the day before!! Walking the course I felt fairly confident and everyone was very kind and tried to reassure me that they were sure it wouldn't happen again. Nancy very kindly came and walked the course with me, which was greatly appreciated. Thanks Nancy! I really felt that this could be a great course for us. It was my second chance in that main ring to show off what we could do, and I was feeling positive. Oh dear, if only that were the case. Nope, it happened again!!!!!!!!!!!! Complete mental shutdown from Smudge. Arrrggghhhhhh!!!!! Getting around it was PAINFUL!!!! Nose in the air, sniff sniff sniff, in exactly the same direction as the day before. Detailed analyisis of the problem threw up many reasons....flags, people, food, etc etc. none of which seemed entirely likely, knowing Smudge as I do. And it was so frustrating that in every other ring he was truly on fire, and getting placing after placing, but in the main ring he was a different dog! It had to be something about that specific ring. Hmmmmmm. Later on in the week I discovered that there was actually a bitch in season camped right at the spot that Smudge was sniffing towards, so I am pretty sure that was the reason. I guess his natural instincts were pretty overwhelming!!


Here is our Novice Cup Jumping - 2nd.

And our Novice Cup Agility - 1st (although slightly messy I will admit!)

From KC I went straight down to DIN. I have really mixed feelings about this show. We had some great results in the agility, with four 1st places and qualifying for the G4-5 finals. This also meant we had won into Grade 5, very pleasing! Our finals curse seemed to follow us down there though, with a less that perfect performance in the final. It wasn't quite as disastrous as KC, but I just knew it wasn't our best. He hesitated a lot on his contacts, took a pole, and finally had the big E!!! The elimination I wasn't really bothered about, that is just one of those things, but the rest of it just wasn't as smooth and controlled as I would have hoped. I think my nerves get to both of us, and they had been made worse by my experience at the KC finals. Something I really must work on for next season!

I also ran the crazy Scooby at DIN and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! No clears, but most runs only had one pole down......that is most definetely progress!!


The one thing I really don't like about DIN is that there is just so much waiting around!! There were times when I had done all of my runs before 9.30am, so had the rest of the day just hanging around doing pretty much nothing. I do like the fact that it gives you time to spend with your other dogs, but mine weren't with me so I guess that affected me slightly. Also the show isn't in the nicest of areas, so when you have the whole day free there isn't really anywhere else to go, or anything else to see! God I am so damn hard to please aren't I?? :0) The excercise area at DIN is fantastic though, so we spent a lot of time walking and playing up there and through the woods. By the end of the time we were all absolutely exhausted and greatly appreciated arriving home! I had really missed Maisie and Mannix and was pleased to get back to them. Judging by the wall of death performance they gave when I walked in they were pleased to see me too!



Since we have been back I have pretty much confirmed my suspicions re Smudges air scenting. He has suddenly started to show a lot more interest in the girls. In fact he isn't all that fussy....our poor cat seems to be the main object of his affections at the moment! So guess what Smudge is probably getting for xmas?? Is that the faint sound of scissors I hear?? Snip snip snip :)) We will see how it goes.