We're at a trial in Lake Elmo, MN. It's at the Washington County Fairgrounds out in a huge grass field. It's a two ring trial with each ring marked by flagging tape. Results are put in one of two notebooks and there is a five drawer plastic tower for holding ribbons. Workers are supposedly given coupons per class worth $5.00 off your next trial entry or for a class. But we didn't see them - no big deal since we doubt we'll be back - but not because we don't like the club or people. Mostly because it is becoming winter here very quickly. It's supposed to snow on Wednesday. SNOW.....that's like our cryponite.
But back to the trial. Wazzu was so slow - it was like she had lead in her veins. She didn't even want to walk around. We don't know if she got too tired from hiking all week long or if she's just having one of the bad days they told us to expect. Or maybe she has decided that she only runs in stadiums where there are scores of people to root for her like at the Championships.
The first runs of the day were Regular (2 rounds) and Weavers. We were 2.68, 7.64, and 2.67 over time. Doesn't help to be clean if you don't actually run! So we had Mike run her in Jumpers to see if she would speed up. She ran a little faster and did make time. But she was never ahead of Mike. So I ran her in Touch N Go. With as much experience as Wazzu has she should know to do the last obstacle - in this case a tunnel. But she ran right by the entrance. so I had to call her back and that was enough for her to once again be over time.
The last run of the day was Chances. Mike had been telling me all day that Wazzu wouldn't be able to do this as the last four jumps were really far away and in between you and those jumps were another layer of jumps. That usually spells trouble for us - especially when she is slow. When she is moving slow she always comes toward me. So we started the run and Wazzu did the tunnel/teeter discrimmination just fine (you had to take the teeter and it was the near obstacle.) I had a brain fade moment and took my attention off agility - I'm not exactly sure where I went. When I "came back" Wazzu was walking toward the dogwalk - NOT the place to go. I called her back and she did a series of jumps and a nice (but slow) switch to some more jumps. Then she slowly went into the tunnel. I took off as fast as I could hoping she'd do the far set of four jumps and not come into me to do the closer jumps. She came out of the tunnel like she'd been shot out of a rocket. She did the final four jumps as fast as any dog. YEAH!!! It was NATCH-6!!! I celebrated a little too vigorously and pulled a muscle in my hip. Oh brother. But I don't think it's too bad and hopefully will be fine by morning. They were very nice and gave us a NATCH ribbon, a squeeky toy octopus, and a Chuck-it frisbee. How nice was that!
Sparkie had a very nice day. She Q'd in every run except the two Regular runs. They were the first two runs of the day and she was a little excited. She did a teeter fly off in Round 1 and jumped the dogwalk contact in Round 2 - it was the last obstacle before the final jump of both the course and the distance challenge. But they were pretty runs other than that.
It sure seems weird to be doing these courses where the obstacles are so close together. They aren't much closer than any other normal weekend but after the Championships where the obstacles are easily 20 - 30 feet apart they seem so smashed together. Sparkie really prefers the Championship courses where she can go full out and really use her speed.
Well, time to check the stakes. The wind has been very strong here ever since we arrived yesterday. I guess that's what's bringing in the scheduled snow storm! Brrr.
Debbie & NATCH+6 Wazzu
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