Home!
It’s been a few days now since I arrived home. Unfortunately real life takes over and similar to last year I had to go straight into our Q3 reviews which meant other priorities to finishing this story, anyway………….
Everyone arrived home safe. Again compared to last year the journey was quite short and pleasant. We left the hotel at 13:30 local time and I was home by 21:30 that night. Probably the longest and most disappointing time wait is at LHR collecting the dogs. Now I have travelled quite a lot with the dogs including ferry, tunnel, hovercraft and flying into Brussels. These are relatively straight forward and simple, but getting the clearance from LHR is another story. In true British style this is a monopoly and a scam. It is like Britain circa 1978, when state control meant poor service, high prices and men sucking back through teeth telling you ‘its going to cost’. A little bird tells me that the Pets passport scheme will be brought into line with the rest of EU in the next few years. Perhaps an end to this monopoly and money making scam?
So, I have completed two tours of duty on team GB. How did the experiences compare?
Well, the primary thing is the difference in travel and hotels. Last year I felt as though I needed to force being awake through tiredness. The long journey, long days and hour long trip to and from hotel were not conducive to being fresh. This year the journey was quite short, the hotel ‘next door’ and the competition days shorter. However, 2007 was a better year for results. That blows a cause and effect argument wide open for freshness = better performances. In reality agility is not about simple equations, there are too many variables. What I do know is that I run better when I am fresh and awake. Let’s hope the organisers agree in the coming years. Hotel by the venue = Nice.
From my perspective, I thought both sets of team mates were great. I think only 4 of us made both 2007 / 2008 trips. I cannot say one year was better than the other. I enjoyed both in the same way, including the camaraderie. So, to all team mates, I’d like to say thanks.
This actually raises one interesting point. This year we were only one of a few teams to have changing rooms. Looking back, one of the highlights of the trips is the dressing room banter. Think about it. You travel a silly amount of KM’s for a maximum of 60 – 70 seconds in the ring per day (if doing 2 runs) and 8 minutes to walk the course. Considering one is there from 08:00 to 18:00 what happens the other 9 ½ hours? Well most of it is spent laying on a hockey players changing bench talking about agility and life. You get to know people so much better. I love that experience! If like most of the other teams we only had a taped area in the walkways, I am pretty sure that the experience would not have been as good.
Finishing an event like this is always difficult (theoretically it is known as group adjournment). You look forward to it for so long, live together, share similar experiences, laugh together (and sometimes cry together) and before you know it your packing to come home. There is a hole in the place where expectation lay only a few days before.
Personally I am already plotting Austria 2009. Might be a little premature and arrogant to expect to be ‘on the team’, but it is my goal. Without doubt I have learnt 2 things from this trip, 1st is about revisiting some agility training, the 2nd is that events happen and it is important to seize the opportunity. Nicola said to me during WC practice in 2007 ‘no regrets’ (meaning don’t come away thinking what you should have done), at this stage I don’t have any.
Friday 3 October 2008
Monday 29 September 2008
Last Day of Competition
28th September – Last day competition
Agility can be a cruel sport, I guess in a way that is it most attractive feature! No matter how hard you train, how good your dog is or even how good your round is, it still comes down to the small moment for success or glory.
Today Team GB began with a real chance of gold in the individual medium and small categories and an outside chance in the large. Mediums were up first, and after yesterday’s run, Natasha was last to go. The course, again, was difficult tight and testing. But Dizzy put in another fantastic round and had everyone thinking to almost the last second that Natasha had done it. However, the judge saw it a little differently and marked another very harsh 5R almost 2 jumps after the deviation had taken place. The stadium collectively gave an unbelievable ahh. Clearly if the 5 stood the best medium was not going to win the WC. Now I don’t want to take anything from the eventually winner (Suisse dog Wytch, which I believe won last year as well). We cannot afford to be bad losers, so well done to them. But Natasha (or another GB member) will never get closer without actually winning. The atmosphere in the dressing room immediately after was collectively one of disappointment. But Natasha being Natasha (supported by Matt) took it very well. Soon the dressing room was back to its usual between run banter.
If I thought I was nervous watching Natasha run, I knew I would be almost unable to watch as my Beacon team mate and WC training partner Nicola ran second from last in the small event. I know that Nicola had trained for such a moment since she had Indi. Now was the opportunity. I personally went upstairs with the supporters and didn’t watch from the collecting ring as normal. After all I didn’t want to shout out the wrong thing at the wrong moment in my support in the pressure moment. Nicola like Tasha handled the pressure round fantastically and had the right time on the clock to be WC. Unfortunately a rolled pole said not this year. Nicola was exceptionally philosophical and had a big smile straight after.
The amount of bad luck messages that were received from international supporters and fellow competitors showed that we are good at agility, and good sports as well. I think that our reputation was enhanced further today. As for Nicola, Natasha, Angela and myself, our dogs are still very young (Jude oldest at 4). I believe that dogs peak between 5 – 8, so watch out rest of world the medium and small teams will be back but with more experienced and just as hungry.
Finally for the large individual. The judge set an exceptionally hard course followed up by some very hard (and a little questionable in my interpretation) judging. To a small extent this took a little gloss off the event. Though the USA dog, Juice, was the best dog and deserved to win. From our perspective, Dave and Spice can feel a little unluckily to be faulted on the see-saw.
So like I wrote yesterday, one still needs a good wind and some luck, particularly when competing at the highest level.
So what can we take from this years event. Well, on the whole GB team / agility is as good as anyone in the world at a given time. But we do have to remember the subtle differences in rules and course design mean we don’t compete identically week in
Agility can be a cruel sport, I guess in a way that is it most attractive feature! No matter how hard you train, how good your dog is or even how good your round is, it still comes down to the small moment for success or glory.
Today Team GB began with a real chance of gold in the individual medium and small categories and an outside chance in the large. Mediums were up first, and after yesterday’s run, Natasha was last to go. The course, again, was difficult tight and testing. But Dizzy put in another fantastic round and had everyone thinking to almost the last second that Natasha had done it. However, the judge saw it a little differently and marked another very harsh 5R almost 2 jumps after the deviation had taken place. The stadium collectively gave an unbelievable ahh. Clearly if the 5 stood the best medium was not going to win the WC. Now I don’t want to take anything from the eventually winner (Suisse dog Wytch, which I believe won last year as well). We cannot afford to be bad losers, so well done to them. But Natasha (or another GB member) will never get closer without actually winning. The atmosphere in the dressing room immediately after was collectively one of disappointment. But Natasha being Natasha (supported by Matt) took it very well. Soon the dressing room was back to its usual between run banter.
If I thought I was nervous watching Natasha run, I knew I would be almost unable to watch as my Beacon team mate and WC training partner Nicola ran second from last in the small event. I know that Nicola had trained for such a moment since she had Indi. Now was the opportunity. I personally went upstairs with the supporters and didn’t watch from the collecting ring as normal. After all I didn’t want to shout out the wrong thing at the wrong moment in my support in the pressure moment. Nicola like Tasha handled the pressure round fantastically and had the right time on the clock to be WC. Unfortunately a rolled pole said not this year. Nicola was exceptionally philosophical and had a big smile straight after.
The amount of bad luck messages that were received from international supporters and fellow competitors showed that we are good at agility, and good sports as well. I think that our reputation was enhanced further today. As for Nicola, Natasha, Angela and myself, our dogs are still very young (Jude oldest at 4). I believe that dogs peak between 5 – 8, so watch out rest of world the medium and small teams will be back but with more experienced and just as hungry.
Finally for the large individual. The judge set an exceptionally hard course followed up by some very hard (and a little questionable in my interpretation) judging. To a small extent this took a little gloss off the event. Though the USA dog, Juice, was the best dog and deserved to win. From our perspective, Dave and Spice can feel a little unluckily to be faulted on the see-saw.
So like I wrote yesterday, one still needs a good wind and some luck, particularly when competing at the highest level.
So what can we take from this years event. Well, on the whole GB team / agility is as good as anyone in the world at a given time. But we do have to remember the subtle differences in rules and course design mean we don’t compete identically week in
Saturday 27 September 2008
Day 6
27th September – Middle day competition
What a day of great agility! Team GB have also contributed to the day by some awesome performances. I think that Steve said last year was the best GB performance to date. Well, maybe with the right wind and some help from lady luck, 2008 may be better. It could be that what is happening now is that handlers with previous experience of FCI WC are training newer dogs to compete over the different types of courses one finds in continental competition (and they are different) and the running contacts they tend to do.
At the close of play today we have had the following results:
· Small team – 3rd (first ever podium finish for this group I understand)
· Small individual – All clear and in with a chance tomorrow. Nicky and Indie best placed with 2nd
· Medium individual – Tasha and Dizzy, phenomenal round and leading after the jumping, Angela and Ten nice clear round and in the top half of results
· Large individual – Dave and Spice with clear round and high place
The middle day is traditionally the longest and so proved as well today. It started with individual small (results above) then to medium individual. I was first to go for GB in this. I had long ago decided that in the jumping, no matter where I was drawn or the course, Jude and myself would give it 100% from the first jump. I was actually looking forward to this even in the collecting ring and really wanted to get out there. The course was nice (if a little tight) and up to #15 we were absolutely spot on. Then we took a wrong jump, so need to put my champagne back on ice for another year. It is easy in these circumstances to be wise after the event, but even as we came out of the ring I was pleased. I stuck to my game plan (after all it’s how we do every weekend of the year) and our clear round rate (>75% and trophy cabinet say we must be doing something OK.
The large individual jumping was next; Karen again had a great fast round, but with a jump down. Lesley was very unfortunate and had a harsh 5R (deviations are marked like this in FCI), before Dave (who is fast becoming know as clear round Dave) and Spice finished up with an excellent round and an outside chance of something in tomorrows finale.
Then onto the culmination of small and medium teams. The small team ran 7th from the end and put in 3 fantastic clears which held them in first place for a few more teams before finishing an excellent 3rd.
After yesterday, the mediums were ‘playing for pride’. We went out as professional and determined as if we were playing for places. Unfortunately apart from another sensational round from Tasha and Dizzy, we only had that clear round. Like yesterday myself and Jude had another harsh 5R. Am I disappointed as yet I have not had the magical ‘C’? Yes of course, I wouldn’t be here otherwise. Am I despondent? No, the learning I take from this weekend is smoother entries into tunnels and flat jumps. If we can manage to get back next year we will be even better off with that in our armoury.
Finally, 2 things. I attach a picture of Nicola and Rachel with their ears to the wall. What are they doing? Well next door is the doping room which came on line today. They were pressing their ears to the wall to try and hear who was in there being tested and what was happening. Oh well, girls will be girls!
And lastly, maybe, just maybe, Team GB could have an individual World Champion. Keep an eye on your texts and the net. Oh and keep everything crossed. Mediums run first. First dog will be off around 08.30 local time.
What a day of great agility! Team GB have also contributed to the day by some awesome performances. I think that Steve said last year was the best GB performance to date. Well, maybe with the right wind and some help from lady luck, 2008 may be better. It could be that what is happening now is that handlers with previous experience of FCI WC are training newer dogs to compete over the different types of courses one finds in continental competition (and they are different) and the running contacts they tend to do.
At the close of play today we have had the following results:
· Small team – 3rd (first ever podium finish for this group I understand)
· Small individual – All clear and in with a chance tomorrow. Nicky and Indie best placed with 2nd
· Medium individual – Tasha and Dizzy, phenomenal round and leading after the jumping, Angela and Ten nice clear round and in the top half of results
· Large individual – Dave and Spice with clear round and high place
The middle day is traditionally the longest and so proved as well today. It started with individual small (results above) then to medium individual. I was first to go for GB in this. I had long ago decided that in the jumping, no matter where I was drawn or the course, Jude and myself would give it 100% from the first jump. I was actually looking forward to this even in the collecting ring and really wanted to get out there. The course was nice (if a little tight) and up to #15 we were absolutely spot on. Then we took a wrong jump, so need to put my champagne back on ice for another year. It is easy in these circumstances to be wise after the event, but even as we came out of the ring I was pleased. I stuck to my game plan (after all it’s how we do every weekend of the year) and our clear round rate (>75% and trophy cabinet say we must be doing something OK.
The large individual jumping was next; Karen again had a great fast round, but with a jump down. Lesley was very unfortunate and had a harsh 5R (deviations are marked like this in FCI), before Dave (who is fast becoming know as clear round Dave) and Spice finished up with an excellent round and an outside chance of something in tomorrows finale.
Then onto the culmination of small and medium teams. The small team ran 7th from the end and put in 3 fantastic clears which held them in first place for a few more teams before finishing an excellent 3rd.
After yesterday, the mediums were ‘playing for pride’. We went out as professional and determined as if we were playing for places. Unfortunately apart from another sensational round from Tasha and Dizzy, we only had that clear round. Like yesterday myself and Jude had another harsh 5R. Am I disappointed as yet I have not had the magical ‘C’? Yes of course, I wouldn’t be here otherwise. Am I despondent? No, the learning I take from this weekend is smoother entries into tunnels and flat jumps. If we can manage to get back next year we will be even better off with that in our armoury.
Finally, 2 things. I attach a picture of Nicola and Rachel with their ears to the wall. What are they doing? Well next door is the doping room which came on line today. They were pressing their ears to the wall to try and hear who was in there being tested and what was happening. Oh well, girls will be girls!
And lastly, maybe, just maybe, Team GB could have an individual World Champion. Keep an eye on your texts and the net. Oh and keep everything crossed. Mediums run first. First dog will be off around 08.30 local time.
Some Photo at Last
Hotel
I promised some photos from my earlier blogs of the hotel and the view. Well, are a couple plus a few other shots.
I promised some photos from my earlier blogs of the hotel and the view. Well, are a couple plus a few other shots.
For a competitor needing access to venue, dog walking and shops, the hotel this year is almost perfect, so thanks must go to Kate Howard for this.
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