NAWS October

Winter may be grim in many ways but at least we have a fab Winter Series of shows to cheer us up. Maisie enjoyed playing last year and now she's joined by Tim! The pre-comp class is just perfect for youngsters - proper competition and atmosphere but courses without weaves and seesaw, and you can carry a toy. I looked at the jumping course and thought it was going to be a non-starter for Tim as the first bit was a straight line of four jumps into another line across the top of the arena. I thought he'd run out after the second jump but actually he amazed me when I recalled him from near the second jump and he did make it to the top of the first line and the jump after the turn before going slightly off-course - no doubt my fault, lol! The rest of the course was a little hit-and miss. but just kept him moving on and he finished thinking he'd won!!

Maisie's jumping was similar, not particularly a Maisie course but she was up for it and went clear and as fast as she could so we didn't do her second run, to save her legs for the agility. Well, in the agility she was ace!!! Ran clear with a good time for her on the first run and then on the second we both just legged it and had a great laugh! She got her contacts more by luck than judgement, but unfortunately just rolled a pole towards the finish - really good time though, not far off the winners, and anyway she got 4th :o) from her first run, albeit 4 secs slower. There are plenty of things I'd like to keep working on improving with Maisie but have to note that one thing she is fab at is the seesaw - loves it and does it very efficiently with no hesitation. I'm not sure why this speedy dog turned up in Maisie's fluffy clothes yesterday but do know the cooler weather suits her much better. She's a star.
& then Tim's agility ... blimey, he was fab!! He spotted the tunnel from a couple of jumps away and really drove towards it. There was a right turn to the dogwalk and he ran past it, but there were other nice bits and the only part that really tripped us up was a long straight run to the finish. Second run was great!! I was quite gobsmacked to realise he was going clear up till the last turn for home - I knew he wouldn't send all the way down there again so I massively cut the corner to try to get ahead but pulled him past the jump before the turn - only just though and it was good to test how far away he's working already. Anyway I stopped him and set him up for the last line and he finished on just 5R which I was delighted with, what a clever baby! I think it'll be a fair while before the clear rounds start to happen, but such a pleasing start - if nothing else I can now stop worrying he's going to bog off and mug the judge/ring party/queue as he was very focused and in his element. He gave plenty of snogs and muddy hugs out of the ring though, bless him.
Helen and big Skip had a superb day - first in the jumping and second in the agility. Their winning jumping run especially was just brilliant and a total joy to watch them both being so confident.