Merlin's Magicians September 2010 Newsletter
Newsletter September 2010
Long one this time, lots going on….
Whoopee!!! The display at the Welsh Festival of the Horse went brilliantly, Saturday the weather was lovely but overnight I am sure we had the tail end of the hurricane from America!
Bit of a farce, I had lent my tent to Christine, Mike had lent his to Sue, then, we realised that Mike couldn’t tow both his caravan and the trailer with equipment, so we had borrowed a tent from Sarah (are you still with me?) we, mistakenly thought it would be OK not to bother with the inner tent. Ha ha!! During the night the tent did its very best impression of a wind tunnel determined to take off to pastures new! I was terrified, convinced that if I slept I would wake up in the sea at Port Talbot!! Unfortunately the rain in the morning resulted in a disappointing turnout Sunday. However, we weren’t on until early afternoon and the sun was almost there by then, it was dry thank goodness.
Freddie took home a load of ticks, yeuk! Debbie was not best pleased – understatement! But as the rest of us didn’t have this problem can only assume poor Freddie was just unlucky.
We have some super new dogs at both venues. At Ferryside Llew the Goldie is living up to his early promise, as is George the Black Lab. Nambo, who looks like an extra large black Spaniel cross, hard to believe his Mother was a Ridgeback! Is a real hooligan, loves the ball our main problem with him is getting him to return it after he’s fetched it from the box area. Osi is the most delightful scruffy dog, a Cocker – Terrier cross only eight months old so only doing recalls over 7 inch jumps as yet but, boy…………. Is he fast?
Osi’s brother was looking for a new home due to his owner having a very badly broken leg involving hospitalization. Debbie who has been thinking of getting a second dog is going to have him, so, provided he gets on OK with Freddie etc. we can look forward to two real ‘Scruffies’ in the team!!We are hoping to have Eli back very shortly, if you remember he is a Border Collie who’s owners moved into the area last month. Unfortunately Beth (owner) has been poorly. Plus we have a couple of dogs going to start in October, their owner has just undergone knee surgery so had to delay starting. Liz’s Khoda, Australian Shepherd, is only a puppy but has started doing very good flat recalls.
Newcastle Emlyn have a very quick learning Yellow Lab, Meggie and a Welsh Sheepdog, Sam which will be fun as it gives 3 Sams when Jan starts her Jack Russell Sam!
I am on the lookout for a cheap small trailer in the New Year, packing dogs and equipment into the van is getting to be a bit of a crush, if anyone hears of one going please let me know. Only a small one, I have never towed and, to be honest didn’t want to start but…………….. Needs must, we do need two boxes for practice sometimes now.
Be careful what you wish for ….. My brother in law has just offered me a small trailer
Charlie Brown is booked for his first grooming session, this should be an experience. He is the only dog of mine who likes puddles better than Pretzel, he charges into them, up to his ears, what a mess! I put him under the shower the other day (he resembled Stig of the Dump!!) Tepid water and he hated it, all I did was try and spray the mud off his legs and he bucked and screamed as if he was being murdered! I do not envy the groomer :-)
I have had to stop the Agility at Bryn Iwen for the winter, normally I transfer it to Saturday afternoons once the clocks change and evenings become too dark but, the equipment has been out for over a year and the weather has not been kind. It is badly in need of attention, not just a lick of paint either; the ‘A’ frame surface is actually cracking. So, we (Mike and myself) are getting it all put into my garage to dry out so I can work on it. I hope everyone will come back in the Spring when we start up again.
I feel we should put a bit more effort in to doing some agility at Ferryside, even if only with the easily erected equipment, Jumps and Tunnels. It is unfortunate that we can’t leave a course set up but we can’t have it all ways and the grass being kept cut for us is essential for the Flyball, thank you Mr Burns!
Funds are quite healthy and next year’s insurance will be well covered.
At very short notice, with the help of Mike and his trailer, again! We were able to provide Agility equipment and help out at the “Have a go” Agility at Burns Dogs Day Out. As a result of this, due to the layout of everything I was unable to compete Agility with Rusty; it would have involved a rather long walk from one place to another! Not as well laid out as last year, I do think a good many people were ‘put out’ that the Competition Agility was so far away from the rest of the activities.
Annie did get her turn but, unfortunately, and I’m sure it was my fault, took a wrong turn, however I was so pleased with her as she actually did the entire course without a hic-cup apart from that one error. Having said that, as soon as we went wrong she was disqualified!!! Annie says “what do you expect, I am a Flyball dog?”
It wasn’t actually a good day for me, Poor Charlie Brown was given a quick run when we arrived, true Spaniel he routed through the undergrowth with gay abandon and, within a couple of hours his eyes swelled and closed!! It was frightening how fast it happened. We had the Vet on call, a lovely friend of John Burns, Ian, to see him. Following an antihistamine injection (he had obviously got something in his eyes that they had reacted to) the swelling gradually abated, but not soon enough for him to enjoy any of the day.
Thistle, we think got a ‘bug’ bite on her upper lip, this was just a minor swelling until the following day when it became a solid large pea shaped lump. I was convinced she had a rapidly growing tumor!! Those of you that knew my lovely WSD Bree (she is in Rainbow Bridge) will understand why I panicked. However, before getting her to the Vet it started to reduce slightly so I waited and now it is just a very small lump. Phew! Saved a Vet bill there.
AGM went well, very informal, friendly gathering attended by fifteen members, with apologies from most others. Sarah was voted in as Chair and made an excellent job of it. This is written from memory as I haven’t received Sarah’s notes yet, if I miss or report incorrectly I apologise and will amend next month.
Due to increasing membership, the decision was made to split the two venues, still under the ‘Merlin’s’ umbrella with separate teams and captains. We will still be able to run dogs from either venue together if needed at Tournaments, and can train at either or both, Brenda will be acting captain for Ceredigion. Two new names have been registered for their use. Merlin’s Spell Makers and Merlin’s Spell Binders. We are taking money from the club account for materials and Andrew is to make an extra set of jumps for their use.
I have already given one of our boxes and an old set of jumps. Ceredigion are to change training to Saturday afternoons for the winter months, enabling them to train at Beulah, outside in one of Brenda’s fields. Starlight has been a very useful venue but the decision was that outdoor training is preferable and it will save the club money to change to the outdoor training.
As they are no longer based Newcastle Emlyn we will be calling them Ceredigion in future. Georgina is to be their point of contact as she is available, working from home. There will be a separate Newsletter too.
From November 7th Ferryside are to start their training later. 1pm. This is to accommodate people who go to church/chapel in the mornings. We also discussed doing some Agility before the Flyball and, hope to get this up and running in the Spring of 2011.
I am to continue as Social/Events/publicity person (you still have to suffer my ramblings like this one!) Debbie and Christine are to help with the Swansea/Llanelli area. And, Debbie is to construct and maintain a facebook page for the club.
A vote of thanks was given to Mike for his sterling work, and he was presented with a gift to show our appreciation. I was also given an unexpected vote of thanks and a gift. Thank you all very much.
The Cynwyl Hall was an excellent venue and the meal at the Blue Bell Inn was so enjoyable that we are booked again for our next meeting at both! It was agreed that we shall all meet up again to follow how the separated teams are progressing 12th December.
Just come in from walking the pack. Yeuk!!! Rosie has been in the fox poo again, even worse, so has Charlie Brown! Good job he has been clipped off, easier to wash. Forgot to tell you, I have a new dog!!!! I took a Shaggy mini Afghan lookalike to the groomers and came back with a smooth haired Pointer lookalike………….
Keep smiling,
June