We had a full compliment of dogs competing this week-end, which meant we had 6 dogs in each team.
Dave & Vicki were the only ones who weren't intending to camp, and Rachel & Katy decided not to stay overnight. The rest of us stuck it out on the near concrete surface, with only paving slabs to hold the tents down, and the occasional tent peg which only got as far as an inch into the ground! But at least it was dry!!
Saturday saw Allsorts in Div 2. Although they still had their seed time from the Bath & West show (19.49), they still would have been there on the now current seed time of 20.17. So Ollie, Meg, Merlin, Beau & Alfie were joined by Molly (Border Terrier), at her first open competition.
Bearing in mind all the problems we have had recently, and who likes passing with who, I thought the dogs actually ran well. They started off well (Ollie, Meg, Merlin & Alfie), although losing the race 3-1, with a best time of 21.38. Meg was happy passing with the Ollie & Merlin, although they were late passes, even after a loose dog had run out near her in the warm up (I think it was 'Jo Public', as they asked me how did they get it out of the ring!!).
As they were running well, we put Molly into the team in the second race. Unfortunately, Molly had a near flyer with Meg, who then ran round the jumps on the way back, so Ollie was brought in. Again it was another loss, but they did achieve a best time of 21.61.
In the third race, we gave Marilyn a bit of a shock, when it was decided Alfie was going to run 2nd! (After Beau, who he's practiced with). This was so Meg didn't have to worry about running towards another dog. Molly ran first, and once we had sorted the lights out, we had some good starts. Again we lost 3-1, and best time 22.99, but we had a tiring Molly & late passes.
After the break we didn't find any extra speed, so not quite sure how we managed such a difference between am & pm racing. So we lost both races 3-0 and 3-1, best times 23.13 & 23.18. But I think the achievement for today was that Molly ran well & happily. And Meg ran and completed all her races but 2, despite all her recent catastrophes!
And while all this was going on, Kevin & Beano had taken the opportunity to go and do some cleverdogs, and he came 1st in Div 1.
Sunday turned out to be a busy day for us. For me, it was like the 'good old days of Living Heritage shows'. Most of us were up early to go and get recorded times for cleverdogs, and the 60 weave challenge. That done, we then helped out in Div 3.
We then made our debut into Div 1 after 2 years out of it! Spencer is the only dog we have, who made it there before & is still racing!! So we had the 'usual' four, Katie, Tosh, Molly & Spencer, who were joined by Tess & Beano.
With the top 4 seeds racing in the low 17secs and Bristol the low 18's, we didn't think we stood a chance! And to prove the point we lost 3-0 to the Barkshire Bandits in the first race!! But we did achieve our best time for the day 18.70. (Katie, Tosh, Beano & Molly).
Katie, Tosh, Tess & Spencer, had some good racing against Bad Dog's, we were 2-0 up, when Tess started running around the jumps on the way back, which brought us back to 2-2. So in came Beano, and we managed to win. Amazing!!!!!!!!!
Katie, Tess, Beano & Spencer, then had a 'settling' Tess back into racing, race, with late passes, as there was no way we could ever beat Maple Leafs. The one race we did manage to win, was quite spectacular……….Not quite sure what Dave had intended to do, but he ended up face first on the ground (no hands!). He managed to let Spencer go (who was oblivious to his Dad's antics!), Spencer completed the run, and allowed Dave to catch him first time (maybe he had known what had happened, and decided to help his dad out!) Lost 3-1, best time 20.22, but Tess ran well, and Dave gave us all a laugh (No, not only me!!).
After the break, we decided we were going to 'go for it'. Tosh, Beano, Molly & Tess had some good close racing, so when we were 2-1 down, we decided to bring Katie in, to try to gain those inches we required. Unfortunately, Katie thought a twiddle at the box was in order, and we couldn't then make up that necessary time. Lost 3-1, best time 19.30
So onto the finale against Bristol. Katie, Tosh, Beano & Molly. The first 2 races Molly fumbled and returned around the jumps. 2-0 down. In came Spencer, and we claimed 2 back. Then…………I got a little carried away, and tried to squeeze an already tight pass to nothing, and got a light for my troubles!! Lost 3-2, best time 19.18.
So we actually had quite a good days racing, even though it was Div one. And yes, despite our one win, we managed to come 6th!
And amongst all this Elaine & Katie had managed to qualify for starters cleverdogs. And she came 4th.
Meg & Angel qualified for Div 2 cleverdogs. Both got the hang of it, and ran well, despite Angel's best efforts to have a quick rest on the flyball bit! And Meg came 1st and Angel 2nd.
Beano, Tosh & Beau qualified for Div 1 cleverdogs. Beau had cut his stopper pad (which we didn't know about until after he had run), so that could've been what had put him off running as well as he had in the morning. Beano & Tosh both got through the first round, only to then have to race each other (shame it wasn't the final race). Tosh came 1st, Beano 3rd and Beau 7th.
Tosh was also entered in the weave challenge, and qualified for the main ring event. Bailey was a reserve, and ended up running against Tosh in the first round. Tosh went through, and was the eventual winner. We also, unexpectedly, won the fastest 60 weaves (17.83 secs - had to put it in writing!).
So my 'clockwork' collie was ticking this w/e!