Our first big agility championship event - Day 4

On the last day of our first big agility event, Mint and I entered three classes each; Jumpers C1, Jumpers C2, and Jumpers C3. Jumpers C1 and Jumpers C2 were held in the morning and Jumpers C3 in the afternoon.

We got up a little earlier than the previous two days, as we had to pack up all our belongings before departing the motel and arrive at the agility venue early enough to get ready for our first runs in the morning.

Fortunately it was not raining and the ground was not too wet when we arrived. After we had a morning walk in the exercise area, Mum went to walk the first two courses. It seems that Mum wanted to choose only one of the two for me to run, thinking that three runs in one day would be too much for me. But, each course had something I was not good at, so she decided to do both courses with me.

The first one, Jumpers C2, had three tunnels in parallel. As Mum knew that I don't like tunnels, she was a bit worried about them.

First Mint got a clear round, and about ten dogs after him it was my turn. I made a good start, waiting patiently until Mum said 'Ok, come!' But, just before the second tunnel I was distracted by something and started sniffing the ground. I knew Mum was calling me, but I didn't want to go that way, as the next obstacle was a tunnel!! Because Mum kept calling me, I gave in and started walking toward Mum, but at the next moment I got confused and went through a tunnel in a wrong way, for which I got disqualified...

In the second one, Jumpers C1, one tunnel was placed far out in a corner. If I had been good at tunnels, Mum would have been able to send me away to let me go through the tunnel. But, I don't like tunnels, Mum had to run with me up close to the tunnel to ensure that I would enter it without going around it.

This time my running order was before Mint's. My run started very nicely until at one point Mum said "Come!" But, it was too late to follow her command, so I jumped over a hurdle that I saw in front of me. What do you think Mum said then? She said "You did the right thing!!" Yes, it was Mum who got the course wrong, and what I did was correct!! After that, I kept running without any mistakes and finally made a clear round!! Well done, me!!

Mint? Yes, he got another clear round (^^)

Yay! I finally managed a clear round!

After these runs in two classes in the morning, we had a looooong wait. So, Mum took me to a mobile Bowen therapy clinic at the site for a short session of treatment. It was so comfortable and relaxing!!

I like her massage. She must be a very good therapist.

In our finals runs, while Mint got another clear round, I got a big time fault although I didn't make any mistakes in terms of jumps and tunnels, because I just couldn't help checking some smells I found in the middle of the course. What would you expect Beagles to do when they are free in the field after all? I think that Mint is an unusual Beagle and I am just a typical one!!

Mint flaying high.

Mint making a nice and sharp turn.

After Mum collected our clear round certificates and gave cheers for our friend Bella the Beagle getting a 2nd place ribbon at the prizegiving, we left the venue and headed home.

We were flat-out when we arrived home, but it was a wonderful experience!!

Mint tired after a big trip.