With the agility season now in full swing, there has been a lot happening in Jasmine and Flyte’s sporting world since we returned from our Anglesey break. Like any sport, events are scheduled countrywide and my trusty VW Caddy van has been trundling its way (under the guidance of that wonderful invention, the Sat Nav!) across the counties, taking us to Newark and the Nottingham Championship Show, the jointly run Taming Canines Agility and Canine Hoopers UK shows in the picturesque Vale of Belvoir before heading south to Cambridgeshire for the Godmanchester Spring Show. The days can be long, but definitely worth the effort for the fun and enjoyment we have with our dogs.
Variety has been the name of the game in terms of the classes we have entered over the last few weeks. Team Jasmine has been doing well in Veteran Agility, Jumping and Steeplechase events with clear rounds and top 10 places at Kennel Club shows and a win in the British Agility Association Steeplechase qualifying us for the Grand Finals later in the year.
Flyte too has been busy, making her debut in the Melton Agility Club team for the Crufts qualifier held at the Nottingham Champ Show which is always an exciting event. With each team member wanting to give their best effort and only the winning team out of the 50 entered booking their place in the final at Crufts, nerves definitely play a part on the day and with a sterling effort from all four team members, we narrowly missed out on the prize this time but the future looks bright and Team Melton are already looking forward to our next outing at Rugby keeping the Crufts dream alive.
We also tried our hand at the Low 550 National Jumping Cup qualifier, a fun course where speed was the name of the game with the slightly lower jump heights ensuring the dogs’ pace across the ground was even faster than usual!!! Flyte put in a lovely run finishing in a very respectable 4th place, just a second behind the top two dogs who go on to compete in the final at Cirencester Park in September. As a team, Flyte and I must have been on form that day as we pulled off a lovely winning round in the Graded 6-7 Agility class bringing our Grade 6 wins to three in total, leaving only one more win required to get us to Grade 7.
The winning streak continued with a little help from the super partnership that is Rocket Rio and his owner/handler Dawn. Together we took on the fun challenge of the Jumping Pairs. It was our first outing as a pairing and the partnership complemented each other perfectly, Rio with his awesome power and speed and Flyte with her tight turns and super focus. With Flyte running first putting in a good clear round performance, a faultless baton change (followed by a tumble by me but with the baton still in my hand – phew!) and Rio effortlessly powering his way to the finish line, the first place trophy was ours!
Finally, I mustn’t forget to mention Hoopers! Flyte has taken to this like a duck to water and is now starting to show promise in the competition ring. With Canine Hoopers UK competitions springing up across the country all those Hoopers enthusiasts out there can now start to put all their newly acquired skills into practice. We popped along to the Hoopers show at Hose and had a fabulous day with Flyte bringing home rosettes from all three of her classes, two 1st places and a 2nd – our first ever in a Hoopers competition. Exciting times ahead!