USDAA Trials in Fillmore
August 7 & 8, 2004
Contributors to this page were
Mia, Rita and Bob

Filmore in August is HOT.  We were teased with an occasional breeze and there's plenty of shade around the ring, but the courses were in the full sun.  Let's just say, you didn't want to put your dog on the line until the last minute. 

Saturday was a bad day for me.  It started with Max breaking his toe, just as I was leaving the house that morning.  I'd also strained my calf muscle the day before doing the Steve Frick seminar (he's AMAZING!!!), so I wasn't in the best mood.  Finn had a decent Standard, despite me running at 75%, he qualified, but no placement.  The Grand Prix was next for us and after handling the difficult section beautifully, Finn got away from me and took an off-course.  Sigh.  With that I decided to go home, tired, grumpy and bummed about Max's foot. 

Kristi had better runs than me, she and Patches had a great Saturday Qing in both Masters Standard and the Performance Grand Prix!  Unfortunately, Cinder came up lame during the Grand Prix and Kristi also packed up early and headed home (we both had done the seminar the day before and we were a little drained going into the show).

Diane Baley and Gidget picked up their first ever Grand Prix leg on Saturday!  Way to go! 

Sunday started with Standard in the Masters ring.  Finn had a great run.  He was the only dog in 26" to qualify, to earn him a pretty blue ribbon.  Gamblers didn't go our way.  I didn't apply moving pressure where I needed to, so didn't get the "out" I was looking for (with both Patches and Finn, I was running both of Betty's dogs because Kristi decided to skip Sunday after Cinder's injury).  Jumpers was lots of fun!  I ran Patches first, which gave me a chance to preview the course.  Kristi has done a great job training Patches, she was so easy to run and finished with a Q (Betty later told me it was her Jumpers Master title).  Finn did a super job in Jumpers and took 3rd in the class!  Good boy!

It was also very fun being able to watch some of the GVDCers in the Starters ring.  Everyone seemed to improve as the weekend went on.  Here's some from Bob about Kadi's Saturday: Standard- Kadi ran a great run for me, running fast and responding well. We still are having some weave issues, but otherwise I was extremely happy with our performance. Every show she's been getting a little faster and more confident.

We had the privilege of running with Nora & Lilly. We went first, baton safely in hand, and Kadi ran great again. Kadi melts in the heat and I was a bit worried, but her new "cooling jacket" seemed to help a lot. Lilly's course was more difficult than ours, and we just missed a Q by going over time.

And from Rita: Ring 2Pilot and Molly – by Rita Morneault 

Saturday – Pilot’s 4 obstacles in Standard was a great start and he had a great touch at the A frame too, but we got eliminated for him eliminating (marking) outside of the ring on the near by tree. But, he was a happy boy and we happily ran back to camp and played. I think it was the best thing for us. Molly –my little clown, ran out of the ring in her Standard sniffing for food once again, but I was able to get her back and finish clean, but overtime.Pilot’s snooker run was scary since the weaves were by that same big tree he marked earlier. But, with “good boy” and “weave” I got him thru and we finished overtime, but we still placed 3rd. 

Sunday- Pilot’s Standard run was great, it was a nice easy to remember course for me and I used the “come” word for the first time to pull him towards me to enter the correct side of the tunnel and it worked!!  The rest of the course was nice. First place and “Q”!!!!His jumpers did not go as smooth and one reason was he saw a dog eliminating right at the start and he wanted to go re- mark, it I am sure of it. But, with lots of pleading and happy voice, I got him to stay on course and back with me to finish with a 3rd!!!! But, it was a lot of work!!! 

Molly -#$%@$#% - yep out of the ring again!!!! But, she was flying on the obstacles she did do. Time for some training for her. 

It was a great trial and as always Mia was the best – helping out when she can. 

The best show in ring two was our one and only GVDC Border Collie “Star” she truly was a Star In her very first Jumpers venue. Mia took off running with Star and off they went. You could see Star’s golden bright eyes intensely watching Mia for the next direction command and she never once hesitated –she was a happy girly. They were flying around the course – no faults no bobbles!!! What a team!!!

Everyone was at the finish line to greet them both and Star new she did great too. She ran right over to my dogs in the xpen and wiggled and wiggled in front of them as to say, “I was good, ha, ha you were not, ha, ha wiggle, wiggle. Star is going to be a Super Star one-day.  I think I heard Mia say, “I do have a BC” as she wiped away a joyful tear and kissed and hugged her Star.

Okay, I don't remember being quite so dramatic after Star's run, but I was blown away and it does sound like something I'd do.  ;-)  She was a very good girl (she placed 2nd in the class).  Also in the Starters ring, Lily and Nora had some nice runs on Sunday.  They did the gamble in Gamblers (just over time) and did Q in Jumpers placing 3rd!  Woohoo!  All in all a fun show and another to go to next weekend.  I want to thank everyone for their concern about Max and their support before Star's debut.  I was very nervous and the support was a huge help! 

Tell the dogs they're good.  mia