We had an epic trip to Wye Valley for our first Champ Show!
Pepper and I left for our road trip on Friday afternoon and arrived in lovely weather to get set up for the night. Sadly the weather turned on Saturday morning and very quickly the ground turned into a quagmire.
We were 7th to run in the Jumping, but the ground was dreadful and I nearly fell 3 times. The first time was just at the entry to the weaves, and my slipping caused Pepper to go in the wrong side. Further on, I just couldn't get where I needed to to guide her round the back of a jump so we were E'd. But there were lots of positives in the run - she did a nice pull in, and drove on to a tunnel well. Here's a video of our run - no laughing:
Pepper and I left for our road trip on Friday afternoon and arrived in lovely weather to get set up for the night. Sadly the weather turned on Saturday morning and very quickly the ground turned into a quagmire.
We were 7th to run in the Jumping, but the ground was dreadful and I nearly fell 3 times. The first time was just at the entry to the weaves, and my slipping caused Pepper to go in the wrong side. Further on, I just couldn't get where I needed to to guide her round the back of a jump so we were E'd. But there were lots of positives in the run - she did a nice pull in, and drove on to a tunnel well. Here's a video of our run - no laughing:
Following this I was considering going straight home, but I had a look at the Graded 6-7 Jumping, and the course looked nice, and the ground was pretty good, so I decided to give it a go. We did a lovely clear and came 3rd.
We then ran the Graded 6-7 Agility where the ground was awful, but I wanted to use it as an opportunity to do some contact practice. Somehow we were clear - it wasn't pretty - and we were placed 6th.
By now Pepper was caked in mud, and no amount of towel drying was going to get her clean enough to go back into George, so I had to resort to giving her a shower! I started packing to leave while waiting for the prize giving to take place for our other runs.
I didn't see the point in staying for the Champ Agility, but by the time I could leave the course was ready for walking and had been moved to new ground. Seemed silly not to run it seeing as we were there! We had an unfortunate E as Pepper took a jump the wrong way, but I was delighted with how she ran the rest of it - really good contacts, nice weaves, tight turns! So despite the E I was glad we had stayed to run it.
Sadly, leaving turned into a bit of a drama as George became stuck in the mud and I had to be towed off the pitch. This brought about the questions: What is a towing eye? Where are the tools in the motorhome? How do you remove the cover from where the towing eye has to go? All of which I managed to answer with the help of my friend Sharon's husband, Robin. The lady from Wye Valley with the 4x4 was being kept very busy with pretty much everyone in day parking needing to be towed, but we were eventually rescued and on our way.
It was definitely a weekend to remember! What a lovely community we have in the agility world! From the support I received from my friends while there, and those that sent me good luck messages, to all of the people that helped to rescue those that needed it.
We then ran the Graded 6-7 Agility where the ground was awful, but I wanted to use it as an opportunity to do some contact practice. Somehow we were clear - it wasn't pretty - and we were placed 6th.
By now Pepper was caked in mud, and no amount of towel drying was going to get her clean enough to go back into George, so I had to resort to giving her a shower! I started packing to leave while waiting for the prize giving to take place for our other runs.
I didn't see the point in staying for the Champ Agility, but by the time I could leave the course was ready for walking and had been moved to new ground. Seemed silly not to run it seeing as we were there! We had an unfortunate E as Pepper took a jump the wrong way, but I was delighted with how she ran the rest of it - really good contacts, nice weaves, tight turns! So despite the E I was glad we had stayed to run it.
Sadly, leaving turned into a bit of a drama as George became stuck in the mud and I had to be towed off the pitch. This brought about the questions: What is a towing eye? Where are the tools in the motorhome? How do you remove the cover from where the towing eye has to go? All of which I managed to answer with the help of my friend Sharon's husband, Robin. The lady from Wye Valley with the 4x4 was being kept very busy with pretty much everyone in day parking needing to be towed, but we were eventually rescued and on our way.
It was definitely a weekend to remember! What a lovely community we have in the agility world! From the support I received from my friends while there, and those that sent me good luck messages, to all of the people that helped to rescue those that needed it.
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