Pride and joy and..... mowers….

What do you know? Well now you know me and the Rivioli, are just not born posers, unlike Zev who really does photograph handsomely and easily. Do you know how hard it is to get a photo with both Rivi and I having our eyes open at the same time, let alone looking in the same direction?!!!!.. Then there is the botheration of shadows and all manner of things. The photo was originally be taken to show some of their rosettes from the 2010 season (as they had over 30 wins between them). But we we did not get them all in. But heck the most important thing in the photos is the guys and from the way I am looking I am guessing it is pretty damm obvious that they are my pride and joy :-)



The first time on the mower - Oct 10


Then the other busyness of the weekend the girl’s toy arrived a whizzy mower, Marc managed to get one second hand. Initially I was quite nervous, riding it, but the time it saved was amazing as was the ease of collection of cut grass and as a bonus it collected the fallen leaves too. Grass cutting time reduced from a day and half to 2 hours and I am not even proficient in it yet. Happy days….more time to do what I really want…and saved from the relentless grind of time consuming grass cutting, which after having a astro turf garden has been a bit of a surprise.

And the Mister Big,  is great at posing too...

Mister Big - Oct 10

 

End of the Season

I am so chuff with how our guys have progress over the season, both as individual characters and as agility partners. Zev,  is just impossibly perfect for me and so knows how to press my buttons. Rivi is as I say is my 'one and only'.

I think Zev and I have had to grow far more in the ‘public’ spotlight so to speak. This video I really enjoy as it is a good example of how much more he is ready to work ahead of me and is getting more experience and determined about the agility game.

Inspired.....and lots of thoughts....

Having watched the FCI World Agility Championships - courtesy of Agility Vision I am feeling so inspired. I have a couple of new moves I want to train over the winter, as demonstrated by Jenny Dam and a few other competitors. The only way I can describe it is a flick forward and turn. I will video my practice over the winter and post it. It does seem to save time and put your partner on a nice flowing arc. Congratulations to all at the event and the winners, there was some totally awesome handling and partnerships on display. I was clapping and cheering and occassionally tutting at the screen, bizzare really, but at that level its impossible to watch it unmoved.

This winter will see us having to keep a programme of winter training more structured due to Bigs going to Olympia. The video is of one of Marc's and Big's last agility runs of the 2010 season. What a great season it has been for them.


I think agility is in danger of becoming a 12 month cyle!!!!!!!!!!! Marc has ordered a new a-f, which I desperately as Rivi has now spooked at the Green and Yellow, narrow a-fs too many times for it to be co-incidental! It is useful keeping a journal as that is how I worked out what was happening.  Hopefully by doing it once a week and banging in a big reward this 'blip' will vanished for next year.  I hope it arrives soon...as we have not had one since last year!

Then daydreaming: I wished we were like America and could work towards titles like the ADCH and MACH.  I wish we were like the FCI Agility World Championships and did our Championship Tests over two rounds too. But these are 'icing on the cake' wishes.

Hows Agility Make You Feel?......

Well I know how it makes me feel. Whislt all my guys have songs I associate with them. This song sums up the feelings of running Zev and Rivi, whether day dreaming about a great run or heading to the start line.



Especially the words, the first three lines. Its totally infectious and feel good.

So as the OBay thing of seven things - mine is seven things I love about agility. Not analysed just what I thought right here - right now.
1. The buzz of training
2. The sheer fun that we have as a team
3. Rapport, bonding what ever you call it, it is a great bonus to walking and chillin with them
4. Watching some awesome partnerships
5. The indulgence and forgiveness of my guys if I send them off course ;-)
6. Doing a great sport and striving to improve and the satisfaction of improving
7. The highs
8. opps there is eight on my list of seven. Its the feel good factor

With the weekend just gone special mention to Zev, who won his first C1-7 class.  I was so proud of his performance, he sheer effort and increase in speed over this season is both exciting and humbling at the same time. And thank you to Bromgrove, who were so generous with the trophies, it was nice to get something for another part of our agility journey.

Weeheeee...Bigs and Marc off to Olympia

Well, weeehhheeeeeeeeeeee indeedy!!! Mister Big's first agility season  has showed no signs of letting up. On Friday just gone him and Marc went and qualified for Olympia.  Last weekend at Northern Week Big qualified for his first champ final,  it was also his first champ class. We went just for the weekend and very nice it was too. This is Big's and Marc Agility Champ run. And for me it was great to see Marc back in Champ after having to retire Raz from agility.

It was good to watch the olympia semis, finally at last I was excited about it and getting why people were excited. The revamped organisation of qualifying dates and how it is run is now so much better. It gives a specific dedicated weekend for the semi qualifiers so diary planning is so much easier.  It is tough even watching, as people so wanna do it. I was willing everyone round. I do make a good cheerleader, even if i say so myself ;-) So I was the perfect wife and gave up a day of agility to go and support Marc and Big's and what a great result.

But with a weekend at home, I am conflicted -  luv being at home, got loads done in the garden but heck I wanna be doing agility.

Dixie and Rivi. Still Rivi looking the Seriousoli.The DixieLicks needs to grow some more we hope!

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