Merlin's Magicians July 2010 Newsletter
Kidwelly Carnival. Saturday morning I got up looked out of the window…. A heart stopping moment it was raining!! As the morning passed, it became misty drizzle, worrying, the thought of driving onto wet grass or mud freaks me. I just am not good at slippery surfaces. OK you men out there, I do admit it! Mike was with me and when we set off it had almost stopped, we arrived in Kidwelly to find sunshine and dry ground!! They had lovely weather.
It was disappointing that despite me spending a long time working out a routine and commentary, the commentator introduced us then, took off! Next time, (Gower Show) I have made sure we get the commentary or I do it myself)
Thank you very much everyone who came, it went well, some of the dogs hadn’t done anything in public before and they were wonderful, we had perfect – good - a comedy of errors. The latter much appreciated by the audience who laughed and clapped. Especially when Alfie, refused to leave his Mum to run up. He ran perfectly following this when he realised what was expected of him. Then the Terrier cross Sam saw Pip with a ball in the opposite lane so raced over and they swopped balls!! Sarah got a good laugh too trying to catch Pip who, having got the ball was determined to do laps of honor ‘round the entire course.
We have another new dog at Ferryside, Llew a Golden Retriever on speed!!! Joking, fast, ball mad lovely crazy dog! His first session went well and we look forward to adding him to the team next year.
Freddie, who I introduced last month, didn’t put a paw wrong at the display, and, at training, he leaps from the car, rushes up to the ball bucket and is raring to go. Debbie is really keen to compete with him/us next year.
We are up on Anglesey next, the division team will be as before and, our Apprentices (Starters) will be a hilarious mixed bag. Ishka (Great Dane) Jed (deaf Boxer X) Ollie Collie (just to remind him after running out at the last tournament) and Pip (Terrier crossed with Duracell batteries!!!!) Bo, Georgina’s ‘other dog’ who, when he’s had enough, will lie down in front of the box with the ball in his mouth!! And my Rusty are reserves for this team, the latter in case Ishka’s attention span wonders!!
Just got in from Anglesey, what a load of Stars you are Teams! Division Merlin’s Magicians came second, beaten by point 08 of a second out of first!!! Our seed time is now 23.99. Running were Sadie (Del) Alfie (Sheryl) Trumps (Brenda) Sassy (Sarah) & my Annie.
Our comedy act Starter Team, Merlin’s Apprentices, consisted of Ishka & Brenda (we believe Ishka is the first Great Dane to do BFA Flyball the Judge just loved her, said she was the biggest dog he’d seen in a team) Jed (our deaf dog) & Georgina, Georgina’s Bo also did a few very good runs before his ADHD clicked in!!
My Rusty (Ollie Collie & Liz couldn’t make it so Rusty made up the numbers) and Pip (Sarah), Pip still enjoying her laps of honor!!
The Pipster had her second measuring for height and, she gives us 7 inches!! (Picture that…she was in the team with Ishka!!)We are delighted as we thought she was 9. After her third measure she will be the team height dog.
We had some absolutely fabulous; some hilarious pictures taken by www.equipics.co.uk have a look on their web site, Saturday Division 12 Merlin’s Magicians and Sunday Starters Merlin’s Apprentices.
We have bought a few pictures and as soon as I can borrow them from the proud owners, will scan them for the ‘Picture Gallery’
We had/have, such fun folks……….. Come and join us!!
Next month, August 1st we are at the Gower Show and, 14th taking just the one team to the British Flyball Association Champs Tournament.
This will be our last tournament for a while, we aren’t into winter travelling. As I may have mentioned in the past, tournaments are never less than a three hour journey, more often four.
We have decided to give the Oxford tournament a miss in favor of Burns Dogs Day Out in Pembray Country Park. I have entered both Annie & Rusty in the Agility there. Rusty will be a laugh, typical Flyball dog mows down the high jumps! He is used to 14 inches.
I am hoping to find a venue for us to all get together, something in between Ferryside and Newcastle Emlyn so everyone has like distance to travel. We need to have a good old chinwag about how we’ve done, discuss what we want to do etc. The Indian we met at (remember the fiasco?) is now closed down, surprise, surprise, so that’s out!!
Anyone any suggestions, rooms in my house are too small.
June