Jumping win : see video below - Duncan missed the beginning where I got a fab wait to be ahead of Dylan for the hard turns & Yes he bit me after the second to last fence because I didn't tell him where to go next. In fact I changed the way I ran that bit having watched a few other dogs - got away with it and won with over a second to spare.

We also had a team run on Saturday, which was good but we got 10 faults, not helped by Dylan's DW, although I did think Lily got hers even though she received 5 faults from the judge (check out the video below)

Saturday had an Olympia run with a course I really liked. Unfortunately Dylan jumped off the DW so I put him back on. Loved the rest of the run - great weave entry and good A frame running contact. (see video below).

Enjoyed Mandy's company at the show & it was lovely having Duncan and Luke cheering me on (well Duncan as Luke was playing with friends)

I drove two hours to get to Lincolnshire Showground today and after my first three runs I was beginning to wonder why I had bothered. We had had two relatively easy courses which I should have nailed easily, but failed because I didn't work every fence (laziness on my part). Then a hard Olympia Qualifier which I just did not get right.
The final graded 6, 7 agility round was by the same judge as the Olympia Q and just as hard - but I had more time to walk it this time (over lunch). I walked it loads, making sure I had thought of everything including where I wanted to be next. I also knew that I wanted a solid DW contact given that I didn't really get one the previous run and there being a tunnel underneath.
It ran beautifully - everything to plan. I suppose I could have been quicker on the DW, but other than that I felt everything had worked very well and I had got to places I wasn't sure I would, like through the gap between 13 & 14, so I could run down the right hand side of the next three fences to get in a better turn for the last part.
At the end the judge Laura Richardson complemented my run & I grinned a lot!
I took Joe and Dylan for a walk afterwards and rewarded Dylan with some ball play (can't really call it fetch as I have to walk up to him to retrieve the ball!!). Once done I wandered back to the ring to get my time and found that I had won grade 6, but with time faults ... only 0.468s. I was elated and gutted at the same time, but then realised that I had won against all the other grade 6 dogs so I am delighted. We can do it and will do it again when the course time is not so tight. Speaking to Laura I said thank you and she again complemented my run saying it was a shame not to have happened in the course time. Her course time had been set because she had run her grade 7 ten year old dog round in 40 seconds so 45 seconds seemed reasonable.
I went to collect the rosette and plate early as I had a two hour drive home, but not before shaking the hand of the judge at ringside. The plate now has been engraved with Dylan's KC name and I am very proud and feel more confident that if I work every inch I can indeed beat other grade 6 dogs.

Dylan after training at Faldo. It was a warm night, but with the shade in the field, it was comfortable enough to train in. There were five of us in the medium class, which runs alongside the small class run by John. That gives us lots of distractions. Jackie decided that Millie (with Daisy) and I (with Dylan) should do a few courses differently to challenge us. This is good for me as I prefer to work out what I am doing without watching others run, although sometimes it takes a few goes.

Our first run we all did as a warm up run. Jackie had asked us to round the left hand wing of jump 4 so we were asking the dog to run past the tunnel to jump 5. I had no problems with this. In fact it didn't occur to me there was an issue with the tunnel at all! I put in a full 360 degree turn. I wonder if I could have done a blind turn instead?

Next course (2) was set differently for Millie and I. Everyone else got 1, 2, weaves. We had to do 1, 2, 3 and to the other end of the weaves. My issue was that I couldn't work out which side of the weaves Dylan should have gone in until Jackie told me. Otherwise there was no issue and it worked well.

Two exercises along the snake ... one as a snake (Purple Light Circles) and one as two pull ins (Dark Green Squares). As a snake now problems as Dylan does those really well at a fast speed. As pull ins ... the first time was pants as I tried turning my whole body. Then I remembered "grab hands" from Toni Dawkins session, so I used my right hand to grab and draw the line to the next jump. Beautiful tight turns and quick - easy!! Good A frame contacts today as well.

Last run was Dark Red Circles: tunnel, jump, Seesaw and jump, calling away from the A frame. I sent Dylan to the tunnel (as requested by Jackie) and then ran - he followed me to the seesaw. Dylan is still having some issue with the seesaw as although he got the contact he decided to come off the side towards me. The second time I had a treat ready and stopped him as I do for the DW to keep him on the seesaw.

All in all a good session, frying my brain which I like. Good to try some of the new techniques which seemed to work. I wish I had the confidence to try blind turns. I guess that will come. Thank you Jackie for a great session as always.

It was hot hot hot today, which for a black dog is not ideal. However I felt chilled and really enjoyed today.

We had four runs starting with C6-7 Agility designed by Kim Taylor with 76 dogs running. We got an elimination because Dylan pinged the DW contact sideways and I put him back on! The rest of the run was fab though.

I tried layering jump 9 when doing 7 to 8 and again at 12, 13, 14. Dylan gave me a look but I kept my hand out and ran level with him and gave him loads of praise. I haven't tried this before so I was very pleased with him.

Best run was the jumping and we just missed the places with a time of 32.56s, so 16th I think. I tried the "grab hands" technique at 8 and 9 drawing a tighter turn for Dylan which seemed to work. From 10 I put in a turn down to 11 and 12 so I could fit in another turn between 13 and 14 (tight I know, but I managed). I needed to be quicker and more decisive as Dylan twiddled between 14 & 15, but took 16 flicking right (again I needed to be more decisive there too as we had a little twiddle).

Very pleased to have tried a new technique successfully, but it still requires so much brain power!!

Nice course, flowed well. I slipped at jump 2, pulling my bum muscle (ouch!). Dylan was a bit concerned after that and kept looking at me, so I encouraged and praised all the way around, but took the wrong side on 10, keeping Dylan on my left instead of doing a blind turn, so he shot past 11.

Really happy with the run though, except my bottom now hurts!! (Thanks to Samantha for the pain killers later - oh and well down for a great (was it 5th) place in this qualifier ... Jenson could be going to Crufts at this rate!)

Last run of the day for me was the Helter Skelter. I was expecting Dylan to fly round, but the heat had clearly got to him because I had to slow right down! So despite my bum hurting I did encourage Dylan round to a slow time of 29.918s, which actually was 17th out of 118 dogs, so not too bad!

Tried a hand grab from 9 to the tunnel, but it didn't work, just confused Dylan as I suppose my body had turned, an arm out would have been fine!, Lovely exit from the tunnel to 11 and super snake, no time lost there!

All in all a lovely day. Samantha's company was lovely, as was Rachel (several rosettes for her and Obi) and Tania too. Also saw some lovely runs from my club members :-)  I should have some video to load soon as Rachel kindly