It was to be Mums first time towing the caravan and Dad was a little worried! So out we went for 'towing' lessons ... surprisingly Mum did really well!
The day came to set off to the champs and Auntie Kim arrived with Penny to travel down to Warwickshire with us. Stopping at a services halfway there the journey went without incident and we all arrived in one piece!
What a fantastic weekend we had lazing around in the sunshine, watching the racing and having lots of fun. On the Saturday we got to race and what an atmosphere there was. The humans were all nervous as it was our first time at the champs but we all settled down and managed some fast and furious racing making all the teams we raced work hard. Myself, Penny, Spider and Fynn all ran our socks off with Mollie Malone doing practice runs before each race and keeping warm in case she was needed. At the end of the day we managed a 4th place in our division which the humans were really pleased with.
Dad wasn't with us so there was plenty of room on the bed in the caravan for Mum, Mollie and myself. Even so Mollie and I managed to take up most of it according to Mum! Does she not realise that we need our rest after we have raced!
All too soon it was Sunday and we were on our way home. Mum (and Auntie Kim) managed to pack up the caravan and get it all ready to travel home. Too bad then that the roof vent on the caravan was broken and when we got home Dad asked where it had gone - it must have blown off on the motorway!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Friday, 31 July 2009
Scarborough Flyball tournament
The humans have been talking about our week in Scarborough for a long time, mainly because Mum and Dad have just bought a caravan and so have Auntie Kerry and Uncle Paul. It was to be the first outing in the new caravans so they were very excited!
Our first couple of days there were great as we got to relax and suss out the surrounding area. We also had a lovely walk along the sea front where I was in my element as there were loads of seagulls! Sleeping in the caravan was great too as I have my own bit of bed where I can stretch out, and I can reach Dads head with my paw to get his attention when I want some attention! Dad wasn't too impressed though.
On the Sunday we ran for the first time. With everyone rested and ready we did some pretty speedy racing and managed to get a FIRST place in our division! It was a really enjoyable day, but maybe not for Vik and Bri who had 2 dogs with poorly tummies and a smelly car. Our starter team also ran, with Yani running at her first tournament. Mum said she did really well, although she was smiling that much that she dropped her ball a couple of times bless her. The starters were great though and got a THIRD place in their division.
We then had a week until our next tournament which was spent running on the beach chasing seagulls (and chasing Mollie from time to time!), practicing with the chute and generally chilling out. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed snoozing by the caravan watching everyone walk past.
The following weekend Kim and Penny came to join us camping and brought along Spider for our next tournament. We started the morning off very speedily getting in some good times, and a lot of points. Unfortunately during the break we noticed that Spider was lame so we had to pull him out of the afternoons racing. Bring on Mollie Malone who made a great effort for a change but unfortunately she is no match for Spiders speediness. She had a great time racing though. Again our starters ran amazingly well with Harvey coming across for the day to join us too. They did so well that they managed a SECOND place in their division.
We now have a few weeks free from tournaments before we go to our first British Champs which the humans are all really excited about.
Our first couple of days there were great as we got to relax and suss out the surrounding area. We also had a lovely walk along the sea front where I was in my element as there were loads of seagulls! Sleeping in the caravan was great too as I have my own bit of bed where I can stretch out, and I can reach Dads head with my paw to get his attention when I want some attention! Dad wasn't too impressed though.
On the Sunday we ran for the first time. With everyone rested and ready we did some pretty speedy racing and managed to get a FIRST place in our division! It was a really enjoyable day, but maybe not for Vik and Bri who had 2 dogs with poorly tummies and a smelly car. Our starter team also ran, with Yani running at her first tournament. Mum said she did really well, although she was smiling that much that she dropped her ball a couple of times bless her. The starters were great though and got a THIRD place in their division.
We then had a week until our next tournament which was spent running on the beach chasing seagulls (and chasing Mollie from time to time!), practicing with the chute and generally chilling out. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed snoozing by the caravan watching everyone walk past.
The following weekend Kim and Penny came to join us camping and brought along Spider for our next tournament. We started the morning off very speedily getting in some good times, and a lot of points. Unfortunately during the break we noticed that Spider was lame so we had to pull him out of the afternoons racing. Bring on Mollie Malone who made a great effort for a change but unfortunately she is no match for Spiders speediness. She had a great time racing though. Again our starters ran amazingly well with Harvey coming across for the day to join us too. They did so well that they managed a SECOND place in their division.
We now have a few weeks free from tournaments before we go to our first British Champs which the humans are all really excited about.
GWP Club championship show
It seems I was going to be shown again for the first time in nearly a year! Me, Mollie and Yani were put into the van to travel to Markfield with Mum and Auntie Kerry for what proved to be a lovely day of showing.
Out of the three of us I was to be the first in the ring, so in I trotted with Auntie Kerry while Mum watched from the side. It turns out I was the only one entered in my class and the judge was VERY impressed with me, although confused when he couldn't find my balls, and awarded me the FIRST place! This qualifies me for Crufts 2010 even though I won't be going. Mum and Auntie Kerry kept saying how clever I was and even Maxine my breeder said I was looking fabulous.
Out of the three of us I was to be the first in the ring, so in I trotted with Auntie Kerry while Mum watched from the side. It turns out I was the only one entered in my class and the judge was VERY impressed with me, although confused when he couldn't find my balls, and awarded me the FIRST place! This qualifies me for Crufts 2010 even though I won't be going. Mum and Auntie Kerry kept saying how clever I was and even Maxine my breeder said I was looking fabulous.
I then got to go and have a snooze in the van while Yani and Mollie were shown. this was Yani's first show since she came to live with Auntie Kerry and the humans said she did very well coming away with a 3rd in one class and a 4th in another. Mollie even managed to stand and trot for Mum and made her very proud by getting a 4th place in one of her classes!
I enjoyed my day out showing for a change, but I still prefer flyball!
I enjoyed my day out showing for a change, but I still prefer flyball!
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Cantley Park tournament
Today saw us set off to Cantley Park with a 4 dog division team and 3 of our starter dogs to join the starters from Paws8.
We were running early so no time to rest before racing. The morning didn't go well as Mollie decided she was going to drop her ball every time. As the humans got more and more frustrated, Mollie just pulled her best sad face and had the line judges feeling very sorry for her - nice one!!!!! For the last race we swapped so that Mum was running Mollie and I ran for Auntie Kerry. This worked perfectly (I don't care who I run for as long as I get my Kong tuggy at the end) and Mollie came all the way back with her ball! Bless her she just wanted Mum, obviously I would never be like that! Unfortunately we got no points for a whole mornings running! Tsk tsk Mollie!
In the afternoon we stuck with the new way of running and Mollie brought her ball back for Mum every time. I thought it would be fun to leap around a bit in anticipation of setting off, nearly knocking Auntie Kerry flying a couple of times. I think I got a headbut in at one point too!!! We managed to earn some points in the afternoon, although didn't win any races, but Mollie was definately on a 'go slow' and she couldn't even blame the heat!
Our starter team had much more success. Inca, Harvey and Ollie were joined by other starter dogs from the Crazies and Paws8 to make up a team called Monster Paws. The humans said they were very proud of our babies as they all ran perfectly making their owners very proud. They even managed to come 3rd (based on times rather than wins as on wins they were joint 1st!!).
We now have a few weeks off from the tournaments to practice, improve and prepare for Scarborough where we hope to have the rest of our team back and fully fit again!
We were running early so no time to rest before racing. The morning didn't go well as Mollie decided she was going to drop her ball every time. As the humans got more and more frustrated, Mollie just pulled her best sad face and had the line judges feeling very sorry for her - nice one!!!!! For the last race we swapped so that Mum was running Mollie and I ran for Auntie Kerry. This worked perfectly (I don't care who I run for as long as I get my Kong tuggy at the end) and Mollie came all the way back with her ball! Bless her she just wanted Mum, obviously I would never be like that! Unfortunately we got no points for a whole mornings running! Tsk tsk Mollie!
In the afternoon we stuck with the new way of running and Mollie brought her ball back for Mum every time. I thought it would be fun to leap around a bit in anticipation of setting off, nearly knocking Auntie Kerry flying a couple of times. I think I got a headbut in at one point too!!! We managed to earn some points in the afternoon, although didn't win any races, but Mollie was definately on a 'go slow' and she couldn't even blame the heat!
Our starter team had much more success. Inca, Harvey and Ollie were joined by other starter dogs from the Crazies and Paws8 to make up a team called Monster Paws. The humans said they were very proud of our babies as they all ran perfectly making their owners very proud. They even managed to come 3rd (based on times rather than wins as on wins they were joint 1st!!).
We now have a few weeks off from the tournaments to practice, improve and prepare for Scarborough where we hope to have the rest of our team back and fully fit again!
Phoenix sports & social club tournament
Another trip to Rotherham saw us setting off early again with only 4 dogs.
We had another great days racing with even Mollie speeding up in the afternoon due to the introduction of a rabbit skin tuggy - I was very jealous! Unfortunately she got a bit carried away and decided it was more fun to drop her ball in anticipation of the tuggy! The humans were not impressed!
Mollie isn't the fastest flyballer, unlike myself of course, so unfortunately we weren't in the rosettes today. However the humans were very impressed that we consistently managed times of under 22 seconds with Mollie running! Bless her she tries her best.
Next week we are at Doncaster with yet again only 4 dogs ...
We had another great days racing with even Mollie speeding up in the afternoon due to the introduction of a rabbit skin tuggy - I was very jealous! Unfortunately she got a bit carried away and decided it was more fun to drop her ball in anticipation of the tuggy! The humans were not impressed!
Mollie isn't the fastest flyballer, unlike myself of course, so unfortunately we weren't in the rosettes today. However the humans were very impressed that we consistently managed times of under 22 seconds with Mollie running! Bless her she tries her best.
Next week we are at Doncaster with yet again only 4 dogs ...
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Rotherham tournament
Our first tournament in a few weeks saw us set off in our new van to go to Rotherham. Kim and Penny were travelling with us today but I didn't understand why Mollie and I had to go in a cage while Penny got to stretch out on the back seat (albeit attached to the seatbelt)!!!
The humans set up a day tent to shelter in as the weather was not great, we as always were cosy and dry in the van!!!!! They really have no common sense these humans!
Poor Sol had to sit this tournament out due to kennel cough which left me, Mollie, Fynn, Spider and Penny. Apparantly we've been running really fast recently (tell me about it I'm exhausted) so we were put into a higher division but we didn't let that put us off. Unbelievably we ran several races under 20 seconds with our fastest time ever of 19:46!!!!! The humans were really excitable when they realised!
We had a few mishaps today ... I dropped my ball a few times after a very close changeover with Spider ... but we did manage some very good racing and had a GREAT day coming away with a 3rd place in our division!
We all very much enjoyed our day at Rotherham with a lovely relaxed atmosphere and a lot of fun! Looking forward to our next tournament, again at Rotherham, next weekend.
Eggborough tournament
A few weeks after Middlesborough Mum packed up the car again and we all set off for a weekend camping and flyball at Eggborough! Mum set up the tent with beds for me and Mollie but as usual we preferred to lie on the airbed with Mum! Its much more comfy and its hilarious seeing her trying to find room to stretch her legs out!
On the Saturday we ran as the Minster Monsters and came away with a shocking 5th place in our division!!!!! It was a very warm day and us black dogs do suffer in the heat! Thats my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it! Saturday night Dad joined us for the rest of the weekend. It was great to see him but it meant even less room on the airbed for us all!
On the Sunday we had a day off from racing so the humans took us for walks through the small wooded area behind the arenas. I managed to do some pretty good hunting even on my lead and had a great time. Mollie and Penny got to chase tennis balls but I was more interested in the bunnies and other wildlife that I could smell, although I never actually got to see any.
On the Monday we ran as Monster Mash in multibreed and got a 2nd place in our division! Mollie ran with the Paws8 Go Wild team at the same time but in a different arena so poor Mum was exhausted running between the two and swapping dogs around. It was another hot day and I decided it would be fun to miss out some of the jumps again! Unfortunately this meant the humans pulled me from the racing ... damn! My half brother Otto came along to watch racing along with his humans again and they filmed some of the racing, luckily it was when I was running right!
Another fun weekend spent with my flyball pals and some good racing. Can't wait until the next tournament!
On the Saturday we ran as the Minster Monsters and came away with a shocking 5th place in our division!!!!! It was a very warm day and us black dogs do suffer in the heat! Thats my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it! Saturday night Dad joined us for the rest of the weekend. It was great to see him but it meant even less room on the airbed for us all!
On the Sunday we had a day off from racing so the humans took us for walks through the small wooded area behind the arenas. I managed to do some pretty good hunting even on my lead and had a great time. Mollie and Penny got to chase tennis balls but I was more interested in the bunnies and other wildlife that I could smell, although I never actually got to see any.
On the Monday we ran as Monster Mash in multibreed and got a 2nd place in our division! Mollie ran with the Paws8 Go Wild team at the same time but in a different arena so poor Mum was exhausted running between the two and swapping dogs around. It was another hot day and I decided it would be fun to miss out some of the jumps again! Unfortunately this meant the humans pulled me from the racing ... damn! My half brother Otto came along to watch racing along with his humans again and they filmed some of the racing, luckily it was when I was running right!
Another fun weekend spent with my flyball pals and some good racing. Can't wait until the next tournament!
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