Posted by Beverly
on 10/23/2011, 12:36 am
76.31.227.99
Four of the KTRat Kids (Amber, Hawkeye, Radar, and visiting BJ) and I headed out on a three week excursion, with three weekends planned with a various show activities. We had a great time with "older" friends and new friends and saw some beautiful scenery. I have been so busy since I got home, but wanted to let everyone know how the trip went.
Amber was going to try some weight pull (got her first leg her first time out the last day at Perry, GA Labor Day Weekend) and terrier racing (first time racing would be Hickory). Hawkeye was going to strut around the conformation ring a few times. Radar needed one leg for his Grand Champion and hoped to have an opportunity to try to obtain it. BJ is one of the MASH litter boys but doesn't live at the KTRat Ranch. His momma allowed him to come along to try his hand at conformation, although she decided it best to put him in only one show a day to see how he liked it. She said she wanted the goal to be for him to have a good time, with any ribbons as extra. Thanks Cherie for loving this boy so much!!
Our first stop was Charlotte, North Carolina. We had planned on weight pull (Amber) but I wasn't able to get a harness in time. There wasn't adequate competition in the classes or champion class. Since BJ was already entered once a day, we went ahead and played in the ring. The judges had some very nice things to say about him. Since we hadn't been able to do the things we planned, I decided to try Amber in obedience on the last day, mainly to see where she is and to hopefully embarrass me enough to make me start training at home! LOL SHE QUALIFIED!!!! Her first time in the obedience ring and her first leg.
During the week after the show, I spent one day working on entries for Athens, TN and Gateway. The rest of the week I did some sightseeing around Charlotte, went to the Billy Graham library, and spent some time playing at a dog park.
On to Hickory for the next weekend of showing. BJ finally had competition and earned his Champion title still showing once a day. I showed Amber again in obedience. There were "garage type" doors in the building. As we heeled past one of them, a smell kidnapped her. She finally caught up with me to make the U-turn, but when we passed the door again she said "Mom I'll catch up with you but gotta check this out again" as she trailed the odor. She had a great score other than that big "NQ" on off lead heeling. Afterwards, the judge said she was a great working girl that was just doing her job of rat hunting as he felt there were probably rats or mice that came in through that door at night. He suggested I put her in Rally 2 the next day. My thoughts were that there was a LOT of off lead heeling in Rally 2, but I decided to follow his suggestion ... she took FIRST PLACE out of four!!!! Several people were complaining because the scores were so low. Many already had their titles but were continuing to show for All-star rankings. One guy said he NEVER gets below the high 90's ... he scored in the low 80's. Amber also did VERY good and LOVED LOVED LOVED the terrier racing. By the third day of racing, she had it down pat and flew down the track whether on the flat or steeples. I spent time sightseeing in the mountains the rest of that week ... PERFECT timing for the colors .... BEAUTIFUL!!!!
On to Athens, TN. We finally had a CH class the last three shows. Radar finished his GRCH title ... YEAH widdle boy!!!! BJ took the other two CH wins starting his way to his GRCH. Amber's harness had arrived at the hotel the night before we moved to Athens. It was raining so we didn't get to practice until we got to the show site. It was crushed gravel and she didn't think she could move the cart the first time. Once we helped her and showed her she COULD move it, she qualified on her second pull. She qualified again the second day ... earning her UWP title!!!
Somewhere along the way, Hawkeye also took a Group I against some very stiff competition. Oh, I remember, it was in Charlotte where the National APBT club was hosting it's nationals. I think there were somewhere between 40-60 of the top APBT's in the country in that show. A couple of other judges said they REALLY liked him, but preferred larger ratties. Oh well, I love him just the way he is!!!!
So, a very tiring trip but so worth it. We logged in over 3,000 miles, met lots of great new friends, laughed and visited with many wonderful new and old friends, saw some beautiful scenery, and accomplished some goals as well as other accomplishments that weren't on the original agenda.
Now, it's off toward Gateway tomorrow for some more fun. There are EIGHT terrier races ... Amber will think she is in heaven!!! There is also agility, rally, obedience, lure coursing, and dock diving .... although I doubt we'll do more than the racing, some rally, and hopefully give agility a try (have only been to class twice in 18 months ... WHAT AM I THINKING?!?!?!).
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