Pembroke County Show

It's been a while since I've written anything here, my nice new, superfast computer's been playing up so now I'm back on the old one which hasn't even got enough space left to defrag itself. And even that's been having a sulk!

Anyway, since I last wrote we have had our last show of the season, there are a couple more but I haven't entered as I didn't want to do too much in our first season. Pembrokeshire agricultural county show is our local show and for the last 10 years Cantreff Gwaelodd (our dog club) has organised it so we are all expected to be there for the full 3 days, arriving on the afternoon prior to the show in order to help set up. In return for 3 days hard labour we receive free camping (ringside so we have no excuse not to be there on time) and lunch vouchers to be redeemed at various catering outlets onsite. From my house to the show ground usually takes about 40 minutes. The weather was absolutely abysmal but I set out at 2.55 on Monday afternoon and as it had stopped raining momentarily I decided to break the journey at Rosebush to give Finn a run at one of our favorite walks.

Finn had a great time splashing in the puddles He is nothing if not generous and believes in sharing the water with everyone present! When we got back to the car I found I had left my lights on and the battery was as dead as a Dodo! After waiting 3 hours for the A.A. to come and rescue me I arrived at the show in a howling gale and pouring rain just as it was getting dark.

I've never put my tent up in the dark before.

Every time I got a tent peg in the wind ripped it out again, but with many curses I finally managed it all by myself, (everyone else was snug in their tents and caravans, even Finn who usually demands to get out of the car as soon as we arrive was happy to sit in the dry and watch). But my faithful little tent withstood 3 days of wind and rain without letting in a drop of water, and boy do I feel guilty about all the disloyal thoughts I've been having this summer about caravans.

The next day was WET. We kept the show going with copious supplies of straw and sawdust. Finn ran well but overenthusiastically resulting in our usual elimination. The next day was WET. The ground was WET and slippery. In the morning we had 2 runs, Finn was OTT and I was at my wits end trying to calm him down, overlunch we went for a walk around the flooded car parking field, (the cars were all parked on the runway instead) and in the afternoon we got round the circular jumping with 1 pole down and 1 refusal, we were over the moon. The next day was dry and sunny and we managed 3 runs without getting eliminated! I was so proud of him, and really pleased we finished the season on a good note.

Finn looking after the car.

Finn in action on his very own mug. Picture taken at Wirral.

And last but not least

Gillian's little Pappillion getting her first clear round in the small dog class, Well done.

Brecon Show

Sorry I haven't written anything for a while. We went to Brecon show 2 weeks ago and out of 4 runs we only got eliminated 3 times! We're really pleased about the other one, it's the first time we've managed to get round. It was actually caught on video, but for some reason I can't get it to download I'm going to try again now but if it doesn't work I'm afraid that's it, you've missed it!
It was a lovely day, hot in the sun, but a bit chilly otherwise. The agility show was part of the agricultural show so there was lots going on. Finn was quite interested in the falconry display, especially when the Eagle started walking towards him! Birds aren't meant to be that BIG! We managed to see the final of the interhunt challenge where local hunt teams race against each other over humungous jumps and round obstacles testing both horse and riders skill and courage.

Well it looks like you're out of luck with the video of Finns moment of glory,but I've managed to do the one of the pairs we did with Tansy the Australian Shepherd. We were both eliminated but what the hell we enjoyed ourselves.

Our next, and last show this year is at Haverfordwest at the Pembrokeshire agricultural show. It's our home event, our club run the agility so we're all there for the full 3 days, Finn has a total of 10 runs so he will be one tired bunny by the end of the week.

Another thing we are really excited about, we've found somewhere to go to train for Working Trials, it's only 130 miles away (yes thats right I can't find anywhere nearer). The idea is to have a lesson once a month a month to get us going. The first one is on the 20th September so watch this space.

Wirral

We had another show last weekend at Eastham Country Park at Bromborough on the Wirral peninsular. I had spent the whole week before worrying about how much fuel I would need and whether I could actually afford to go. As it turned out I needn't have worried as it wasn't as far as Worcester. There was a gale blowing when we arrived, but I managed to snuggle the tent between the hedge and the car and later another club member parked their caravan alongside as well so we were quite snug. There are lovely walks through the woods alongside the Mersey and we were actually camped at the edge of the cricket pitch so at free moments on both Saturday and Sunday we could watch the cricket. The wind continued all through Saturday with the occasional shower in the morning, but Sunday was much better. On Saturday evening we had my birthday celebrations in the aforementioned caravan, many thanks to Sue Shaw who despite feeling quite poorly entertained us with liberal supplies of homemade wine, ( I prefer the quince to the strawberry Sue).

Finn had 3 runs on both days and I actually managed to find someone who could use the camera so we have some action shots. We got the big E as usual, but we are improving. The judge in one class came up to me after our run and said 'What a cracking dog!' Which meant a lot to us. unfortunately it was all a bit much and Finns mind was completely blown on Sunday! We had 1 good run in which we were eliminated because I pushed him out too far on the corner so he missed the next jump and just had to go in the tunnel instead. It usually is the handlers fault when things go pear shaped although the in next 2 runs Finn had lost all concentration and I felt really dis heartened, but the poor little man was really tired and is only just getting back to normal now.

Afterlunch and a last walk in the woods we made a leisurely journey home, stopping for dinner at a picnic site near Corris where we were going to have another walk, but met 3 bikers 1 of whom had just had rather a nasty spill and was a bit shaken up but thankfully otherwise unhurt. We shared a flask of tea and chatted until he felt able to continue on his way and then went our seperate ways and we arrived home about 9.30, totally exhausted.

Golden Valley Show

We were back at Top Barn Farm at worcester for the Golden Valley show this weekend. We had runs on both Saturday and Sunday this time and I was a bit worried it might be too much for Finn,but he coped really well. We left home at 3.30 on Friday afternoon and after stopping for a walk in the forestry at Halfway again we arrived about eight o'clock. After putting the tent up we had a run round the exercise field with Tansy, (the Australian Shepherd in the picture below). Then we had dinner and settled down for the night.
At 6.30 the next morning we were on the exercise field again making lots of new friends before breakfast of egg, bacon and sausage. Then it was course walking time. We had 3 classes on both days. The first 2 were a bit mad, but something clicked into place on the last run of the day and we ran as a team and only got the big E because the tunnel was just too much of a temptation after the weaving poles! The weather was brilliant if a bit hot for the dogs, but Finn kept cool by soaking his new bandanna in water. After dinner of rabbit stew, ( I've found the best way to ensure good weather is to take stew, it always rains when I take salad!), we went for a walk along the Severn Way and got back in time for the frog racing and bingo. I was a bit disappointed with the frogs, they were made of wood and attached to string!
The next day started with 2 billiant runs (for us) although we were still E'd. There is a really special feeling when you and your dog work as a team which makes all the hard wok worth it. The judge in the second class said 'What a lovely dog' when we finished! The last run didn't go quite as well although we did finish on a good note. WE should have had a video of one of the runs but the photographer couldn't work my camera!

Finn really earned his icecream! Our next show isn't for another month so we've got lots of time to practice those weaves.

Finn's Second Show

We made it to Worcester for Finn's second show at the weekend, after lots of panicking about fuel prices and the state of personal finances. Incidentally I filled up at our local petrol station at £1.22 a litre, prices enroute ranged upto £1.32 a litre. How can this variation in price be justified? The round trip was 270 miles and I used just over 1/2 a tank. We went up on Friday night, camping at the venue, with other members of Cantref Gwaelod, the agility club we belong to. (There is a legend attached to the name which I will tell you another time). We had stopped at Halfway, one of our favorite stopping places, on the way and Finn had a good run in the forestry there. After putting the tent up we had a walk with Beryl and Tansy, a red merle australian shepherd, and then had dinner.

Finn was really good in the tent overnight. I took his new favorite toy, a fairly lifelike mallard whose quack mercifully didn't last too long! When I woke up in the morning he was washing it. After breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon and homemade bread there were courses to walk, for those people who had entered all the classes they could. Somehow I missed entering one, so I didn't have anything to do for most of the morning, except watch. Finn found this very frustrating as he thought he could do it much better than anyone else!!! Eventually my first course was ready to walk. Oh my God, what had I let myself into I thought on the first walking,but after going round and round several times I thought Hey this is a nice course and was really looking forward to running it. About 1/2 an hour into it, long before our turn came (our running order was 194) the class had to be stopped as the judges wife had fallen in another ring and had to go to hospital, naturally the judge went with her. Another judge was found,the course altered and re walked and the class restarted. It was well after lunch when we finally got to run. Of course we were eliminated but he tried his best which is all I ask of him (apart from expecting him to enjoy himself of course). He fell off the dog walk because he didn't steady himself properly, but it didn't phase him and he went back and did it properly, even getting the contact at the end! Then went on to fly the see saw! The second class was a lot simpler and after totally demolishing the first jump and getting E'd for backjumping he did a lovely round.

The rain which had been threatening allday finally came down just as we were having a final run round the exercise field before coming home, so the tent was WET. We left the field at 5.30 and arrived home without stopping at 8.45. Apparently it had been wet all day at home!

I've just been back to the garage I filled up aat on Friday and diesel is now £1.26 thjat's 4 pence in 4 days.

Here are some early morning pictures around the showground, taken at the same venue 4 years ago when I was competing with my 2 previous dogs, Jax and Kelly.