Twice the bridesmaid

Hare & Hounds up near Barnard Castle again this weekend. I felt a bit late and rushed setting off on Thursday eve, having just had a towbar fitted on 'the blue car' in the afternoon - wasn't sure how it would tow but in fact it pulled the mousehouse beautifully, good. Drove through a huge downpour on the A1 but arrived in the dry and calm, though dark, late evening. Our home went up without problems - managed it on my own with no swearing. Norrrty Tim stole and scoffed an entire loaf of bread, thankfully with no bad effects later. After a nice cup of tea and a bit of faffing it was bedtime. Snuggled into the luxury of the proper bed, read for a bit and then went to sleep. Half an hour later it sounded like all hell was breaking loose!!!!.. A strong wind had suddenly got up and the mousehouse was not coping well! I won't go though all the ups and down of the night - the trip outdoors in shorts and bare feet with bits of string in a force nine gale at 4am, the lying in bed worrying about whether the dogs would be safer in the car, the gusts so strong that the mousehouse felt like it was flapping its wings preparing for flight ... Think I managed less than an hour's sleep all night. Finally got things into better shape and drifted off about 5.30am, then at 6am other people started getting up and hammering down their surroundings too! Oh well, no sleep. Hindsight is great and I now know how to make it all secure - I sort of did anyway but the evening had been so still and calm when setting up I hadn't thought about how things might change in the wee small hours.
Anyway, I was working on a ring all day so had to be up and about and bright and breezy. The weather was really bloody awful! Cold, wet, windy, dismal. The cheerful spirit of those shows though is incredible and there were smiling - though somewhat blue and dripping! - faces all day. Maisie & Tim were entered in 2 classes each. Fisrt up was a 1-4 gr agility - decided it was too tricky for Tim so didn't run him, but perfect for the Mouse - she came second!!! Later ran them both in a 1-4 Jumping class - Maisie went clear and fastish, though it was too fast a course for her to be placed, but this time it was perfect for young Tim who did a really lovely run - going forward but also listening well. He just ducked under 2 jumps on a turn before the weaves - probably coz I was stressing slightly about the weaves - thanks to Suzanne for noticing that :) Really super pleased with him though. We managed to get our ring finished quite early so I took all three dogs for a long walk and ball session over the fields. It really is a nice venue. Steaming casserole for dinner, couple of beers with Billy (& some humans! haha) in the real ale marquee, and in bed for 9pm - big ZZZZZZZZZZZZs all night, ah bliss.
Saturday morning dawned cold but sunny. sadly Jules and the gang couldn't make it and we so missed them :(
First class was an Agility - ran Tim first and - Oh no! He'd gone into lala land!! Did some OK bits though and he did stay in the ring with me which is about the best I can say! Maisie ran clear and came third!! Had no more runs then till late aft so after getting everyone walked and fed we chilled in the mousehouse - I drank several gallons of coffee and did some reading, really nice to just kick back for once. Maisie had another Agility run in the aft - she wasn't very up for it (dunno why!). Almost got round but there was a bit where you had to do a sharp left after the weaves so I crossed to her left and she missed the entry - really need to do some work on that, though she can weave both sides really! lol. Typical - I popped her back through the weaves now on my left and she pushed out beautifully to make the turn after. Oh well! Another hour or so till Tim's Jumping class. It was a fab course for him but I was a bit unsure about running him after the morning's wayward run. After sitting in the sun and being inspired by G6-7 Jumping and supping vino with Louise & wannabee-collie-Saff ;o) I did run him and he did ever so well - just fluffing the weave entry and then I think I pulled him past one jump. Not sure if I was slightly pissed or it was the low sun, but on leaving the ring I thanked the Photographer rather than the Judge, lol!!! Saturday evening brought more beer (cannot get over the perfectness of agility and superb real ale in one location!!) and we had v funny chocolate quiz confusion!!... And so to bed.
Sunday was cold but sunny again. Worked on a ring again. Maisie came second again!! Can't even remember running the course but I'm sure it was lovely?! Tim did two runs again - first one was a bit iffy - he lost his focus a bit, but then late in the day he ran in another Jumping class and worked soooo well - at a stage in the w/e when his brain has normally exploded. He even got a fast weave entry and did some totally amazing distance work, I'm in awe of my little ginger man at times. Got a couple of ace encouraging comments about him too :o) Best run of the w/e was then Maisie in another Jumping class - screeched up to the ring at the last minute (had been busy on our ring), bowled her over the first jump and she knocked the pole on number 4 so I called it a day - no time for 5 faults!! lol! BUT it was the best run coz of the bonkers way she set off - in fact knocking the pole as she bombed round the outside of a box toooo fast!!
The friendly feel of these shows is brill. This one had six rings so really quite big, but still easily maintained that fluffy feeling. As ring party spirits were flagging mid-aft Chris tannoyed for everyone to get themselves a hot choc from the caterers - not just any hot choc but huuuuge frothy ones with cream and a flake.
Ah what a great show :) And v v pleased with Maisie cleverly managing to just about stay in G2 - but two 2nds and a 3rd - a bit too close for comfort, little Mouse! x