World Championships Zaragoza 2016
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I might have won way more podiums on EO as on WC, but after EO, I was about to just quit as Le was slipping badly all the time, was so very sore after and just not her normal speed. So we just rested in between and left to Spain with mixed feelings - actually I would probably just stay home if one of our large team didn't get injured and we didn't have another reserve for large, so I had to go...
Spain experience started with training where Le was completely wild, sooo excited to do agility again - and Bu was slipping terribly 🙁 She got better by the 2nd run, so I thought she might have mastered the surface and tried one more run, but then she was slipping badly again - and I was staring at her and feared something will happen so much that I forgot the course, got a bit lost and fell on my face trying to get to where should be without crashing into the wing! So I finally pulled her - I just wish I've done it earlier... That was definitely her last run on turf, but after a good rest we might try running on grass again - she sure still wants to run!
And Le was just sooo much fun to run again! She did slip some on that turf (NOT a good one at all!!!), but no real falls and listening perfectly despite the wild start. And such fun courses!
We started with a perfect run in team jumping, winning it by 1s. So our medium team actually ended 2nd after jumping. Jumping individual went well too - a bit of slipping and one unfortunate bar, but a really nice run too. Team agility really made me smile - she made that DW exit look like a walk in a park and won with over 2s of advantage over fastest BC and 3s over the rest. I find it just amazing she can set such times against so much bigger dogs - she is one of the smallest mediums out there - but it certainly doesn't stop her! 🙂 If team runs would count as individual, she would have won it by more as 6s!
Because of the bar in jumping individual, we had nothing to lose in agility individual and I just went for another perfect line. However, I messed up on 2nd jump already, got a big bobble there and then just lost my focus and all the rest was a complete chaos, but oh well, I guess 3/4 great runs is good enough to put me in a bit better agility mood again! So maybe we won't just quit afterall 🙂
Super happy with my Super Midget - who cares about winning gold when you go home with 7kg of pure gold, with the cutest face and some super powers on top of it - from reading my mind to running at out of this world speed. The best little Midget for sure!!!
Last call for 
Thank ypu for sharing Sylivia! That had to be hard to watch your pups get hurt while doing what they love. One of my dogs seems to be injured and it only os showing itself as not weaving, so I may pull her out for a while.
Yes, for me missed weave entries or A-frame contacts are always a sure sign that Le’s shoulders are sore. This time, it was different as the only sign was slipping, but it sure always makes me worry so much…
So beautiful runs with Le as ever ! Sorry for slippery -- too common indoor but not acceptable for such world competion …
We don’t see any slippery indoor surfaces anymore (as opposed to 10 years ago when they were all terrible), so this was a real (unpleasant) surprise…
So cool to see your runs again!! Such a pity your AMAZING team runs did not count for individual resaults… Le sure is my favorite dog to watch!! Thank you both for giving me such a good time while watching your splendid performance! 😀
As always it was a pleasure to see your runs- makes me stop my breath every time! Since so many years that I follow you, it never loses any of it’s magic- the runs of you and your dogs! Keep on like that!
So sorry about Bu. That happened to Bode at his first (and only) attempt at World Team Tryouts… the surface was so bad (carpet) and he just couldn’t figure it out… that resulted in his iliopsoas strain that had him out of competition for a very long time. It must be so disappointing to have the surface be an issue at World Competition!!!! Such wonderful runs with Le!!!! I am so glad you are in a “good agility mood” again! Yay!!! Its reassuring to know that even handlers at your very high level can get discouraged and work through it like you did….. thanks so much for sharing!!
Yes, I just hate to run on bad surfaces… -- so dangerous! Many dogs had really ugly falls -- even Small ones that are usually slipping less as Large. I’ve heard this type of turf is for decoration, not for sports at all, so…
What a great recap! I’m sorry about Bu and sure glad Le worked it out and YOU!!! Like Jen says so nice to read that you are not immortal like I thought and truly a real person after all! Le’s team agility run was SPECTACULAR!!!!! What a DW!!!!
Surfaces sure scare me. SPur had so much trouble with those his whole career and he’s not super fast. It affected where he could run and where I could trial. Now I have crazy Bim and I know my worry and watching him will affect our runs until I know he can handle it. So far he has done well on all surfaces, but time will tell as we get trailing. Unlike some who want to get out of the easy novice courses as soon as possible, I’m looking forward to staying in those for a while to have him learn o handle the surfaces we have. We are SO lucky to have great turfs during our summer months.
How is To doing with her toe? What is your next big competition?
We have a check up on To’s toe tomorrow… -- and then we’ll decide what our next trial is based on that! 🙂