Agility Fun

In June 2016 Hilda had her first go in an agility competition, we entered the All Sorts class which is for dogs who are still learning (we had not mastered the seesaw or weaves at that point) and is sometimes combined with veterans which is for dogs who are retired from competing but still love to take part.

The rules of agility are similar to that of showjumping. You go round a set course and get points for knocked over poles, refusals or being outside the course time. If you go round the course in the wrong order then you are eliminated.

We got eliminated in all our runs at that first competition in June 2016 but we still had a great day out.

By the autumn we had mastered the seesaw and also the weaves so, with some encouragement from the trainers, we entered a competition in December. It seemed a good idea in the warmth of the late September sunshine. It didn't seem like such a good idea when the alarm went off at 5am on a cold wet December morning. We were entered into four classes and again managed to get eliminated from all 4, but for our first ever 'proper' agility competition we had a great time especially as it was an indoor arena so a new experience for us both.

Fast forward to the late spring and more encouragement to enter competitions. The next competition was in early April and again it was 4 eliminations out of 4 classes, but we really enjoyed ourselves and the eliminations were handler error. A few weeks later and we were off again 4 more classes entered but this time only 3 eliminations! We managed to get round one of the courses without getting eliminated and only picking up 5 points for a refusal. We ended up fourth in the class but no rosette, I was so very proud of Hilda.

In June this year we were back at the same show, one year after our first ever visit to an agility competition. We were there for two days and a total of 6 runs. I was hoping that we might get one or two runs without getting eliminated, we managed three. I was even more surprised when we finished one of the runs and got a round of applause from the judge and ring party. Clapping from the judge at the end of a run only happens when you get a clear round. We had just got our first ever clear round, I was grinning from ear to ear. When the results were posted I thought we had come second and was thrilled with that result. When they announced the results over the tanoy for the presentation of rosettes I was a little confused when the second place was awarded to someone else. I decided that I had read the results wrong and we hadn't been placed but I was still thrilled with a clear round. The thrill turned to absolute amazement and joy when Hilda and I were announced as the winners. When I had read the results I had only looked at the times, I had not looked at the penalties, there was one dog who went round faster than Hilda but had picked up points. A win with a clear round within the course time meant we progressed from Grade 1 to Grade 2.

We managed a second win in June, two more in July and two more in September. One of the ones in September was clear but not within the course time so we remain at grade 2 for now.

Hilda and her June Rosettes & Tumblers

Hilda and her July Rosettes

The equipment shaped trophy's for her July win

Hilda and her September Rosettes

What I did in my Holidays

I am just starting to put the finishing touches to the plan for this years main camping trip and have realised I never wrote about last years trip. I wrote about some off days out and about but not our week on a slightly remote island.

Last year I booked a couple of weeks off work at the beginning of May with the idea that we would go camping. I have always wanted to visit the Giant Causeway but the Scottish end appealed to me more than the Irish one did. So after some research I decided on Mull as our destination. Ferries and campsites got booked, the car got packed and on a slightly grey morning we set off.

We took things nice and steady and stopped off at Sallochy Campsite on the shores of Loch Lomand on the way up for an overnight stop (after successfully navigating round the Glasgow by-pass roadworks & diversions). Then the next day it was on to Oban to catch a ferry over to Mull then a drive across the island to Fidden and the campsite that is part of the farm.

The next 5 days were lovely and relaxing and spent walking and exploring and we did fit in an excursion to Fingals Cave on the tiny island of Staffa. Sadly the stay came to an end far too quickly and once more we made our way across the island to catch the ferry to the mainland. This time we avoided Glasgow and it's roadworks and made our way over towards Edinburgh and Linwater Campsite where we had an overnight stop on our way home.

We both had a fabulous time, from the tent we were about 25 paces from a lovely white sand beach which looked out towards Iona where we could watch the sun set every evening. Lots of photos were taken, mostly of the huge variety of wildlife that surrounded us. The only two things that we saw that I didn't manage to get photos of were a cuckoo and a nightjar.

If you are interested in seeing any of the photos click here Hannah & Hilda's May 2016 Scotland Camping Trip Photos

wiggle wiggle wiggle

When Hilda turned one we started doing agility. I had wanted to go to the fun agility classes but they were on at a time when I am at work so we ended up going to the competitive classes.

I enjoy going to agility but compared to Hilda my enthusiasm is just a passing interest, she loves it. We have advanced to the point where, after a year's worth of classes, she could do all the pieces of equipment including the weaves!

Hilda practising weaving in the local park

So in December last year we were talked into entering a competition, we had a great time but were eliminated in all four of our runs, the same happened at a competition at the start of April this year. But I don't care it's great fun and a certain hairy little girl thoroughly enjoys herself and that is the most important thing.

But having said that it would be nice to get round without getting eliminated.

At the end of April we achieved this! We got 3 eliminations but one run where we made it round and just picked up 5 faults.

Next challenge get round without getting eliminated and without picking up any faults.

Pink?

I don't really wear pink, it's not me. If I have to wear pink then I usually go for a bright fuchsia knock your eyes out shade.

I don't really run either. Last time I did any serious running I tripped over my own feet and broke my leg.

So how exactly I have ended up being part of the Pretty Muddy Leiborschy Ladies and doing one of the Cancer Research Race For Life Pretty Muddy events is still a bit of a mystery to me.

But I am taking part with a bunch of other equally crazy ladies, should you have a few pennies free then Click Here to Sponsor me (please)

Most Improved

I was asked and asked and pestered and nattered at to go to the dog training AGM the other evening.

So in the end I gave in and went, it was worth it.

Hilda and I were awarded Most Improved Handler/Dog in Agility. We get to keep the trophy for a whole year.

Silver and Gold

Just realised I have not been keeping the blog up with the progress of Hilda's training.

In April 2016 Hilda passed her Silver Kennel Club Good Citizen Test

In June 2016 Hilda passed her Gold Kennel Club Good Citizen Test.

The June tests are always a little more tricky than the others.

They are held outside on the Field rather than indoors.

Next up Platinum, hopefully in the Autumn.

Wild Camp Expedition

The time for the DofE Diamond Challenge finally arrived. I had watched the long range weather forecast turn into this weeks forecast and change on a regular basis. The forecast changed from damp to wet to very soggy and occasionally dry and sunny. As it turned out it was dry and mostly sunny.

Wednesday

The rucksacks were packed and loaded into the car so Hilda and I got in too and set off North. It was a 250 mile trip and it felt like most of it was roadworks. But we finally landed in the car park by Loch Trool and Bruces Stone at about 18:30 to see the last of the rain cast a gorgeous rainbow over the hills in the direction we were going to go. I was amazed to see 3 other vehicles in the car park but not a soul was in sight.

Boots were donned and last minute adjustments to straps for rucksacks were made before we set off in search of Loch Dee and the White Laggan Bothy. Several of the trails around the north end of Loch Trool were temporarily closed but fortunately ours was still open so no detours were required. The further we walked from the car the more I started to wonder why we were doing this and if it was a good idea.

First Stream & Waterfall of the Walk

The first sighting of wildlife was made, something brown and slinky with a pale undercarriage undulated across the path ahead of us. It was moving fast so identification was not made but I suspect it was a Stoat or a Weasel, the other two options being Pine Marten or Ferret but those are highly unlikely. It was also about this time that I realised that the tub of midge repellent was still sitting on the kitchen worktop waiting for me to pick it up rather than being in the rucksack and easily accessible for application. Drat!

Hilda finds a Stick

Loch Dee is somewhere over thataway

Look Mum a Puddle!

Lovely Woods to walk through

Lots of water in the streams today

I hope there is a path through rather than over those hills

The walk along was pleasant and we saw the only two other people we would see out and about that day. They were walking back towards the cars and we exchanged good evening's as we passed.

Lots of open spaces and Trees, sometimes at the same time

A Half Moon was just peeping over the top of one of the hills

Looking back, the clouds are following us - but not bringing any rain

First glimpse of Loch Dee

Shortly after our first glimpse of Loch Dee we discovered some Scottish Style Graffiti, I think the translation will have to wait for a rainy evening.

Graffiti - Scottish Style

Even more on the end of the stone

Getting closer to Loch Dee

From google earth and photos of the area I had come up with three or four potential places to pitch a tent, in the end none of them were suitable. It had rained quite heavily in the days before so the ground was quite soggy and the first few places we checked out we started to sink into the ground when we stood still so rejected them. We checked out the other places and a couple more potential spots but discovered that there is very little flat and level ground or if it was then it was full of sharp rocks.

I was starting to think we would be using the backup plan of staying in the Bothy but this didn't appeal to me as there was smoke coming from the chimney and a car on the track close to the footpath up to it and for once I didn't really feel like sharing a space with anyone other than Hilda. But with boots full of water after sinking rather rapidly in one place (note for future, send the dog in first) I was about to give in and head up to the bothy when I spotted what looked like a lovely flat spot next to a stream. We checked it out and it did appear to be mostly flat, mostly level and lacking in rocks. We stood around for a bit but no sinking or squeltching underfoot occurred so we decided to pitch the tent there.

White Laggan Bothy

Tent up it was time to feed Hilda and then myself before turning in for the night. A late night for us, 22:30 according to my watch when I turn off my headtorch and we listen to the stream and the owls calling to one another ahead of their evening hunting.

Thursday

Usually when I go camping I wake in the middle of the night so I did not set an alarm assuming I would wake naturally and could look out to see if there were any dark skies and stars to be seen. When I did wake up it was 5am and sunny so I have no idea if the sky was clear or not. We will have to return after the clocks have gone back and we won't have to stay up too late to see the stars. We both turned over and went back to sleep for a few more hours.

View out of the tent at about 07:00

It was a very good nights sleep (the gadget that monitors steps and sleep reported higher than average deep sleep that night). The plan had been for a leisurly cup of tea whilst admiring the view and waiting for the dew on the tent to dry. On the Wednesday evening there had been a few midges around but nothing too irritating. Thursday morning however and they were out in force. As soon as I stepped out of the tent I was attacked from all sides by swarms of them. I really regretted not having the repellant with me.

A quick decamp was called for and we were back on the trail heading back to the car shortly after 8am. The car from the night before had gone but we didn't call up to the bothy just in case there were people still sleeping there.

Our little tent ready to be taken down

Early Morning View of Loch Dee

Signpost

Looking down on Loch Dee from the post

Which way shall we go?

It was a beautifull and peacefull morning, you could hear the birds wings moving through the air for those first few frantic flaps to get them airborne. There is the usual assortment of small brown birds flitting about and twittering but not staying still long enough for identification. There were also dragonflies, great big yellow ones a good 6 to 8 inches in length zooming up and down the streams that ran alongside the path.

Watching something while waiting for the gate to be opened

A Random Little Brown Bird

Paddling in the Puddles

Hilda Woz Ere and so was a bird!

We got back to the car at about 11am and this time there were quite a few other cars there. We dropped the rucksacks off at the car and had a short stroll down to look at Bruces Stone and Loch Trool before setting off back to negotiate our way through far too many miles of roadworks.

Hilda at Bruce's Stone

The Stone

Attempted Panorama of Loch Trool

It was a fun expedition and I am glad we did it. Would I do it again? Probably. But it would have to be a coastal location or out of the hayfeaver season - and I will not be forgetting the repellent in the future!

If anyone hasn't but fancies adding a bit of sponsorship you can find our fundraising page at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/HannahAndHildas-DOE-Adventure2016