BG Day 4

Didn't catch too many of the morning runs. Saw Joni run Lew for the last time, bless that old dog's heart. He certainly did respectably for a dog who can't see well. They were hanging on to the Top 20 board for a good part of the day. Robin and Zac had a good run going right up til the last second when he had quite the impressive grip! Bummer. Anet timed out with Dod within mere seconds of closing the pen door :( Peggy Wilkinson and Liz (Rae half-sister) had a really successful trial, managing to get around the course both runs! I'm so excited for her! Chris Chambers had another nice run with Molly, he's holding tight at the bottom of the board tied with Cheryl Jagger-Williams. Scott and Don and Tommy and Sly looked sharp, of course. I liked Chuck Dimit and Luke, also making it through. Alasdair had an extremely tough group but worked them beautifully with Star. Someone said how enjoyable it is to watch a "bad" run of his, you see the amazing handling skills and dog skills that much more clearly.

I ran Rae right before lunch, when the sheep were working well and the temps were decent. She gave me a nice (right-hand) outrun, she managed the top well with only a little input from me, but she wouldn't move off the pressure on the first part of the fetch in order to correct the line. This has always been a major weakness for us. Managed to make the fetch panels, good turn, but then she got really hesitant to walk into her sheep about halfway down the driveaway. I think it was a combo of old dog already with eye, getting more eye as she ages, and getting tired. She didn't listen several times in a row and I couldn't get them settled to set up a good line for the cross drive, so I called it quits. I really, really wanted to get to that shedding ring, but oh well.

This trial was a lot to ask of Rae and she certainly did her best for me. I wish we would've made it further around, but all things considered, it was a very good experience for us. She certainly gave me her all. Heck yesterday we had a decent score going: 19.5, 9.5, 13 before retiring in the vicinty of the driveaway panel.

It is hard to imgaine that one year ago today I went to the post with her for the very first time at Mary Brighoff's fun trial. What a dog to take me from complete beginner to Open at the Bluegrass in a year. I owe so much to her (and Renee!) and am having so much fun trialing that I don't want to think of her getting old on me. We'll get back to work once we get home, and I'm sure things will be just fine at the local trials with non-BG sheep and non-BG-sized fields!

Off to the Double Lift.