Saturday was the final day of the 'Northern Agility Festival', but hosted on this day by Waldridge Fell DTS rather than Hare n Hounds.
I was a wee bit nervous, silly really, but grade 2 felt different! I had a good chat to Freddie in the queue for our first of 2 1-2 graded agility classes. It went along the lines of "Freddie, do good and run clear, but don't win, I'm not sure we're ready for grade 3". Well, Freddie only listened to the first bit. Helen Nicholson's course was just right for him, and he pulled a stunning clear round out of the bag and WON!! One run in grade 2 and grade 3 here we come...
No luck in our jumping classes again, but then in Doc's ring for the second of our agility classes Freddie did it again, another nice clear (although he only just got his A-frame contact). 12 superb weaves and skillful negotiation of the one or two traps in the course, and Freddie had his second win for the day. Well and truely into grade 3!
Over the course of the week we managed 8 rosettes and 5 trophies. Not bad at all!
Freddie also now has 143 points towards his bronze agility warrant. Lets hope he tots up a few more at Stanhope before we start in grade 3 and it all gets a whole lot harder...
Young Master Frederic
Young Master Frederic
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Northern Festival of Agility
Our 'home' for the last week has been a very windy Redcar, at the Hare n Hounds Northern Festival of Agility. And what a week it has been! Our last four days in Grade 1 before moving up to Grade 2 for Waldridge Fell.
First Saturday - after deciding he did know what all this agility business is about at Helmsley over Easter, Freddie settled into some great running again. He managed three clear rounds out of five runs and only one E, our best performance yet. He didn't get placed in the 1-2 combined jumping as he took just too long through the weaves, not missing any but pausing to gaze at the people outside the ring in between ever other pole. But he did pick up two fabulous places, a 3rd and a 4th, both in his graded agility classes.
We were back for more runs on Monday, and had another good day. Our first run was 1-3 graded agility. Freddie picked up 5 faults for a refusal after just nudging his nose past a jump, but that was enough for second place. Our jumping rounds were more scrappy and we ended up with Es, in one because Freddie got spooked by someone watching from the stand! But we finished the day with a wonderful clear round in 1-2 graded agility, and another 1st place.
A couple of days at work, then we were back for the final Friday. We didn't manage any clear rounds that day, but doe to the small classes and less than simple course Freddie finished his grade 1 career with another agility win. And what a beautiful rosette and cup, I know Chris was very proud of the blue and gold combination!
First Saturday - after deciding he did know what all this agility business is about at Helmsley over Easter, Freddie settled into some great running again. He managed three clear rounds out of five runs and only one E, our best performance yet. He didn't get placed in the 1-2 combined jumping as he took just too long through the weaves, not missing any but pausing to gaze at the people outside the ring in between ever other pole. But he did pick up two fabulous places, a 3rd and a 4th, both in his graded agility classes.
We were back for more runs on Monday, and had another good day. Our first run was 1-3 graded agility. Freddie picked up 5 faults for a refusal after just nudging his nose past a jump, but that was enough for second place. Our jumping rounds were more scrappy and we ended up with Es, in one because Freddie got spooked by someone watching from the stand! But we finished the day with a wonderful clear round in 1-2 graded agility, and another 1st place.
A couple of days at work, then we were back for the final Friday. We didn't manage any clear rounds that day, but doe to the small classes and less than simple course Freddie finished his grade 1 career with another agility win. And what a beautiful rosette and cup, I know Chris was very proud of the blue and gold combination!
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
HnH Easter - First camping and first win!
We spent Easter at the beautiful Duncombe Park in Helmsley, the location for the Hare n Hounds Easter Show.
What a fabulous venue, simply stunning surroundings, Helmsley village had all you could wish for, and the brilliant atmosphere that Chris creates at all the HnH shows.
It was our first trip out in the caravan and thankfully we all enjoyed it. The only modification we do need to make is to our fencing, after it became apparent that Jasper can jump much higher than he lets on at agility practice, and can clear the fence to follow me or play with another dog any time he likes!
And of course the agility...
Freddie's first run was a bit of a joke, a run that only a doodle could come up with. He managed one jump correctly before crossing to do the tunnel, then running past me to jump up at the (thankfully lovely) judge. He knocked her rosette off, picked it up and ran off with it. Embarrassed isn't the word! But she was very nice, and let me get control of Fred and bring him back in to do a few jumps.
It could only get better after that, and thankfully it did. We got an unplaced clear round to finish off Friday, managed a 7th place on Saturday, a 3rd place on Sunday then a 5th place and a brilliant 1st place on Monday. All in agility too, so Young Master Frederic won out and hits the heady heights of Grade 2!
Our next show is Northern Agility Week, Freddie will be in Grade 1 for the HnH days, then grade 2 for the Waldridge Fell day on the last Saturday.
What a fabulous venue, simply stunning surroundings, Helmsley village had all you could wish for, and the brilliant atmosphere that Chris creates at all the HnH shows.
It was our first trip out in the caravan and thankfully we all enjoyed it. The only modification we do need to make is to our fencing, after it became apparent that Jasper can jump much higher than he lets on at agility practice, and can clear the fence to follow me or play with another dog any time he likes!
And of course the agility...
Freddie's first run was a bit of a joke, a run that only a doodle could come up with. He managed one jump correctly before crossing to do the tunnel, then running past me to jump up at the (thankfully lovely) judge. He knocked her rosette off, picked it up and ran off with it. Embarrassed isn't the word! But she was very nice, and let me get control of Fred and bring him back in to do a few jumps.
It could only get better after that, and thankfully it did. We got an unplaced clear round to finish off Friday, managed a 7th place on Saturday, a 3rd place on Sunday then a 5th place and a brilliant 1st place on Monday. All in agility too, so Young Master Frederic won out and hits the heady heights of Grade 2!
Our next show is Northern Agility Week, Freddie will be in Grade 1 for the HnH days, then grade 2 for the Waldridge Fell day on the last Saturday.
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