First champ final and almost a ticket...!

Last weekend we made the trek to Wales to do Wye Valley champ show. I had made the promise to Spark that I wouldn't be a fairy and would run her like I do in training! I like the courses the judge sets which really helps in giving me confidence and when we walked the jumping I really liked it.
 We went for it and ended up with a pole down for a late front cross but we would have been 3rd time wise behind two dogs who have phenomenal turns out of straight tunnels!



Brooke and Matt did a lovely run but unfortunately got 10 faults for two tunnels refusals, she was running so well though. Bru had a couple of plays in the ring, he isn't ready for 12 weaves in the ring yet but the lovely judges let him take his own line. Here is one of his runs...the grass was up to his tummy! Brodie wasn't running as he had an anal gland abscess burst the day before and had been sedated at the vets poor Toad!



In champ agility we all groaned when we saw the weave entry! It was hard and trappy but Matt and I decided to try scooping it to block the jump. Matt and Brooke did an awesome run and she found the weave entry and then popped out of the weaves! But the rest was beautiful including the pull thru at the start!



Spark did a cracking run and found the weave entry no problem but missed the dog walk so ended up with 5f in the fastest time! My fault as I haven't really been training turns on her running dog walk recently!

Turns out that Spark and I made it to the champ final!! 🎉🎉🎉 I really liked the course but the dog walk exit was really hard so I decided to use a stop. The bit I was most worried about was the end where you have to pull them off a jump and be there to support a wing wrap. I had made a conscious decision not the front cross the second to last jump as I thought she might take the pole. Well did a stunning stopped dog walk and I made it to support the wing wrap! Simple two last jumps to go and she bypassed the last jump to get her toy out of the box 😆 She would have won the ticket by well over two seconds!! Cue a huge groan from the crowd and the judge!! I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed that I didn't front cross that jump but I was thrilled with how she worked and her times...most of all I was thrilled that we made the final and I didn't throw up with nerves! Here is the video...

A Day in the Life of Bracken (aged 14)

My day starts when my Mum and Dad drag me out of my 'Pigloo' for a walk, I love my bed and don't really like getting up in the morning, especially if I have made them get up in the night so I can have a wee...old dog issues! My kidneys are a bit rubbish so I do need to wee a lot but it also means I get four or five meals a day so I'm not complaining!

We usually go for 20-30 minutes walk in the morning, even if it is raining they make me walk 😒 I am a fair weather walker...have they not realised this yet? I have owned them long enough!

Today was one of my zapping days! My lovely physio Sally zaps my kidneys with a special laser which recharges them, I think I surprise the vets as I was diagnosed with kidney failure two years ago now. This is me trying to get into Sallys van!

After zapping Mum walked my brothers and sisters (otherwise known as the underlings) and then we hung out on the common with some vile thing she drinks called a coffee. I enjoyed all the sniffs but I was glad I had my coat on as it was a bit chilly!

She wanted me to pose for a 'selfie' but conveniently left herself out...good thing I am so beautiful! 

After walking someone elses dog and the underlings, Mum walked me at work up the lane in the sunshine, look at me go! 

When I got home I hung out in the office with my Dad and stinky Rupert...we get to be in the special Daddy pen so no one steals my bad. That stupid collie likes getting in my bed and makes them smelly 😠 Look at where the heater is as well, I love a snooze in a cosy bed!

In the evening I move into my lounge bed, it is very comfortable and I can sleep in here for hours while the underlings all sleep on the sofa. This is a fairly normal day except for my zapping! Sometimes I even do another walk as well but today I was tired from the excitment! Love Bracken x

GT UKA and a Party!

Well we FINALLY did it! Spark is now champ performance at UKA, it seems to have taken a looong time but now we can do Masters competitions! (And yes she is still Beginners in steeplechase but we don't enter them!)

On Saturday I was invited to a Birthday party! A lovely lady I teach was celebrating a big Birthday and had done all her baking for it, afternoon tea was absolutely delicious. The most incredible thing is that she is a Type 1 diabetic and can't have any of her bakes!

And look at the Birthday cake! The detail is incredible.

Bracken had a PJ kind of day on Saturday, she is allowed to be a lady of leisure at her age! 

And this was the others after the show on Sunday...look at Brookes face!

Bru did his first ever competitive UKA run at the show in the beginners steeplechase qualifier! He had an unfortunate refusal on one jump but would have qualified otherwise, he was flying!! 

Also this week Freddy dog turned 11, we went for a Birthday walk along one of my favourite footpaths full of gnarly old trees and ivy

First outdoor show of the year!

I don't normally start a blog post with flowers but this is the first tulip flowering this year and its so pretty! Also my amazing Amaryllis from my Mum in law from Christmas that has had an amazing 7 flowers on it!!

We have had really nice weather over the last week, unfortunately the rain came back today but we made the most of the sunshine!

Spot the Bracken!

Bru falling asleep on his feet! 

We went to a Max Sprinz workshop on Saturday and Bru was awesome! Max is current European Open champion and although Bru was the youngest in the class he did really well! Here is a video of his best bits 😍 Excuse all the screaming, I forgot to mute it! 

On Sunday we went to Lydiard UKA show, first outdoor party of the year! We did the practice ring with Bru to do dog walks, weaves and aframes (only a bit as he was tired from Saturday) Spark won a jumping which meant she only needed 6 points in games to go to champ! She unfortunately had the first red in snooker so we got whistled out! Toad was a dude and came 2nd in his steeplechase which means he is now champ 😎 The less said about Brooke the better!! 

Puppy Reunion, Brooke is 8 and last winter workshop

Last Saturday we went to a Licosateria puppy reunion. It was amazing to see lots of the pups together and go for a walk before playing hoopers and some agility party games! Brooke was also thrilled that there was a litter of 5 week old pups to mother! Here is a video of our day out...it was VERY windy

You can tell by Sparks ears how windy it was!!

Honorary sheltie at lunchtime

Brooke meeting her great nephew!

Brooke and Bru were thrilled with the presents in their party bags from Grandma Lian!!

Poor Toad looks left out bless him!

We were also back to the barn on Monday for the last Nic Garrett workshop for the winter. It has been great to focus on Brooke bean this year and get Bru doing some longer sequences and contacts. Brooke thought it was the best Birthday weekend ever!



 And Birthday girl doing the course 💚💚💚

Crufts!

Had a fun trip to Crufts on the Friday to cheer on Paul and Willow in the Medium teams, there team was four beagles and they did themselves proud! Paul's son had got the day off school and enjoyed sitting with us cheering his Dad on, although he did have to tell me to be quiet haha!! 

Bru was fascinated watching his big brother Sirius compete in the champ class on the sunday, we have told him that he could be there one day if he is a good little boy and learns that you can't weave at running speed!! 😂 I'm sure he will get there but slowing down is not on his agenda at all! 

The boys came with us to do a Hoopers demo at the local sheltie club branch meeting. They were really good and enjoyed demonstrating! It was a challenge doing Hoopers in a hall but we found some mats for grip and set up a little course which lots of people enjoyed trying.

This pic made me laugh as we have such incredibly different sables! Their coat types and colours varying enormously! 

Its a hard life!!

And as for Sparkle...her mad as a Hatter cushion sums her up!!!

In non dog news we have planted some seeds and they are starting to grow! So far we have had some beetroot, sweetcorn, spinach and lettuce appear

Dan workshop and Sheltie AGM

Last week Matt had a rare day off from work and we went up to Lians for a Dan workshop with Spark and Bru. The added bonus was that Brooke got to meet her great nephews and niece who at ten days old were teeny weeny! She just loves babies!! 💕

Here is Bru putting the whole course together, he was amazing doing things he has never done before! 

Spark actually waited pretty well in her crate between goes...despite pulling some great faces!! 

We almost managed to put the whole course together! Just missed one jump but by this point we were both shattered! 

We have had some beautiful warm weather over the last few days, its been about 18 degrees! Bracken approves and has been sunbathing in the garden

The doglets have been overseeing us doing some gardening over the weekend, its nice to be sorting stuff out and planting some seeds.

We had the working section AGM on sunday and Brodie and Brooke did well both getting placed in the rally and agility leagues! Matthew and I have resigned from the committee after ten years (8 years of being treasurer/trophy sec) but will hopefully still be running the sheltie agility show.

Brax standing next to her lovely breeder June, it was lovely to catch up with her!