Crufts Part 2. Better late than never :o)

Wednesday night we arrived north of Birmingham. We stayed at Bob & Alison's ( of Littlethorn Border Collies ) - their place is paradise for the dogs!!! Thank you. On the way up we stopped at Birmingham airport and basically stuffed Emmy into the car.

Early up the next morning - we were competing on the Thursday! And I did not sleep a lot that night!!!!

THURSDAY:

We arrived early at the NEC and found our benches. Getting all the dogs, crates and stuff had been quite a logistical adventure. But we made it!!!! We set our benches up and I got my Good Luck cards up on the shelf. Bernadette & Dennis had Good Luck Cakes made for us - YUMMY!!!

Our benching area was behind the main arena - very peaceful and away from the crowds. No queues for toilets or lunches for us!

I walked down to main arena - to the collecting ring. The courses for the day were already posted and I could get an idea of what we were going to be competing on. Spooky and Tazz were up first in a KC International jumping open, then One in his Starters Cup Final. Tazz and Spooky in a weave knockout and at the end of the day Spooky and Tazz in an KC International Agility open.

We went down for the first course walking. Marianne, my chief groom came with and held the dogs while I walked the first course. The fake grass was excellent to walk on and all the equipment was in excellent condition - sparkly and I would say brand new :o) The course had many similaritys to a training course I had set up at Bernadette's - a wrong way tunnel and a broad jump into nothing!!! Spooky clear and a good 4th place and Tazz clear and a 2nd place ( beaten by his son AGCH Obay Truly Driven - Indy ). Tazz was called into the main ring for prizes and we did our lap of honour!!!! Then it was One's turn. His course was quite tricky - but he cleared all the tough stuff and came in 2nd in the final on a reasonably difficult Starters Course!!!! Daniel & Bailey ( Obay Truly Daniels Dream, a Monty/True pup ) won the small Starters Final!!! In the weave knockout I pushed Tazz all the way and got a fault, then an elimination. Spooky came in 3rd - so he was in the main ring for presentations and a lap of honour!!!! In the Open agility I eliminated Tazz and myself - Tazz was brilliant but I sent him over the worng jump after the weaves. :o( Spooky got an E for being a bad dog. No kidding. Will post video at some point...Nicky and Indy won the overall for the smalls - They were flying and won all 3 KC International classes....!

Lisa and Chi ( another Monty/True pup ) won the singles HOORAYYYYY!!!!!

Phew what a day.....It was brilliant and I couldnt believe it was over!!!! No doubt the most fantastic agility experience for me - better than the World Championships with Tazz in 2004!!!!

FRIDAY:

I planned to do some shopping but never really made it past the arena! I watched a lot of the events in the main ring - and especially the Heelwork To Music Finals. The performances were amazing. Friday night I think we ate at Bob's - before an early night. The ESSC shelties came 2nd in the finals - brilliant work from all the team members!!!! I think I video taped them, but not quite sure...

SATURDAY:

Another special day. Emmy was competing in the International Freestyle with Biscuit. And Nancy was competing in the Novice Finals in agility. I was allround groom/filmer for Emmy & Biscuit. They did really well and came in 6th. I groomed for Nancy while Andy was filming - so I only saw Nancy's run from the screen - she came in 2nd. I made it up once to the border collie rings, saw about 3 minutes and then went back.

SUNDAY:

It was my intention to get some shopping done. I actually only bought a pair of wellyboots, a couple of dog beds and worming tablets. Well there wasnt room for much more in the car. Bernadette and Hex had a brilliant first run. But unfortunately an E in the 2nd. Nicky & Indy won the Champ Class & the Agility CC. Unofrtunately we had left at that point for the ferry - we were wandering around on a walk under Birmingham airport runway when we got that message!!!! It is not for the faint of heart to take a walk like that :o)

The trip home was long and uneventful, thank goodness. The dogs were well behaved and Bent my co-driver was great company and drove good portions of the way!!!