I was intent on improving Scotts clear round percentage this weekend, and after a positive weeks training was in a confident mood that we could get round some courses clear. This proved to be correct and a 50% clear round rate (3 from 6 runs) was a good return.
Scott won grade 3 jumping by 2.4 seconds, and had a 5th place in the open agility. Both runs were technically excellent in my opinion. The second box in the grade 3 jumping class was set so that it really only one chance of working it neatly. As long as I shaped the approached and timed the left and right commands okay, I thought he should do it, and it worked really well. I was very pleased with him and myself for standing still long enough!
The agility class was also pleasing, with two lots of weaves. Watching the video back I am also pleased with the shaping over jump 5 into the second set of weaves. Watching the video (below) back though, I was rather lax working the approach to jump 9, and Scott really recovered well considering. I do need to focus all the way around as we easily lost 0.6 at least there. The grade 3 agility class was nice also. I know for a fact I didn’t give a left weave command, which was defiantly needed. Because he had slightly come off the seesaw, I moved back, and then of course I was moving as he came out of the tunnel, and he looked at me because all I said was ‘go weave’... no directional (big slap for me!) although this was the only missed weave entry all weekend, 6 out of 7 weave pickups is pleasing.
Sunday proved to be more of a reality check, but still had some pleasing elements. We came 5th again in the open jumping class, 0.6 behind the grade 7 winning dog and Scotty also beat Jack, who came 9th 0.8 behind Scott’s time. However what then happened was not quite as pleasing. The grade 3-5 jumping class was technically difficult in two places, Scott worked these as well as any dog, but he knocked three (two consecutive) poles before the weaves. I know his confidence was high, but the manner in which he knocked them proved we still have plenty of work to do.
Our last run in grade 3 ever was in the agility class last thing on Sunday. I admit I did want to win it, and Scott was on course to put in a decent run until he knocked a pole midway round, so I trained the dog-walk and finished the course.
The video is below (thank you to Gina for all your hard work!)
Jack and Che were also running this weekend. Jack had a 9th, 6th and 3rd in grade 7 classes. Che had a 13th in grade 7 agility and a 10th in the open jumping, but also showed some rather poor contacts. Rusty, more like totally memory loss!!
A huge well done to all the LGT crew who had places this weekend: Joyce Lewis, Gina Graham, Wendy Williams, Ceri Jones, David Russel, Lyn Gibson, Christine & Alice all had places and well done :) to you all. If ive missed anyone... apologies again. I struggle to remember my own runs!!All the best, enjoy Scott’s video. Grade 4 up next for Scott at DashinDogs show next weekend!
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