Team Dog

We're at the Nottingham Dog Agility Show today which is being held at the Newark Showground for the first time after flirting for a few years with a local farm as its venue.

The main reason for being here is the Crufts Team Qualifier and our club have an impressive six teams running across the three height categories. I am responsible for the four in the large size category which keeps me busy for most of the day.

Either side of that MD has two individual runs, he misses a contact in his first run probably because I rushed him a touch. In his last run, he gets a clear round and a rosette for 7^th.

As for his team run, he runs in Team 2 which the manager (myself) promotes him to when another dog pulls out. He vindicates the decision with a great clear round, unfortunately the rest of the team and the other teams all have faults so we don’t get anywhere in the competition overall.

Our lucky charm, L, watches the two clears but had disappeared into Newark for his first run when he got faults.

(Sunday 24^th May)

Team Manager’s Prerogative

I abandon plans for a run today because I need to take the car in to the garage for new boots. One tyre is almost bald and I have another long drive on Sunday. I replace the runs by entering the Paws 10k, which is tomorrow and so joining L for a few laps of Cotgrave Country Park.

Naturally you ask a garage to check your tyres and they come back with a list of things you haven’t asked them to look at it. I have a broken suspension spring. Pot holes you know... speed bumps you know... blah blah. I did actually suspect this might be the case. Plus three new tyres = not cheap.

They can do things like suspension. It’s just unfasten a few nuts and bolt a new one on. They all look at their hands when I ask them about why my key fob no longer works or why my interior light keeps blowing its fuse. Yes, I’ve changed the battery on the fob and the bulb for the light. They suggest I take it to Vauxhall for such technical jobs. I almost add that I could of course ask Vauxhall to do my tyres and suspension as well but I don't.

The Crufts Team seems to have been resolved. One stray team member is in, one is out. So I promote myself with MD from reserve into the team. This upsets the other reserve. Tough. Team manager’s prerogative. Anyway, how many clear rounds did her dog get last weekend – Zero, how many for 'Ratbag' - Two. I rest my case.

We stay in and prepare for ‘Paws’ tomorrow, although we’re not entirely AF. I cook but get carried away and heavily spice the Mexican Chicken. I might regret that tomorrow.

(Friday 8th April)

They’re Out

They’re out. Although some cyclists have had them out for weeks, months in some cases, in fact some of them have never put them away at all. The students haven’t obviously and even had them out with flip-flops in the snow. The lads that is, well mostly the lads, but a lot of the girls have them out now as well. Which means the black tights have sadly gone away for a bit but that’s ok, the bare legs are ample compensation. Sorry, getting sidetracked, back to cycling. Yep the legs are out. I’m in my cycling shorts today for the first time this year.

Consequently the weather is not as nice as it was yesterday. Clearly I’ve driven the sun back behind the clouds. Sorry. It’ll probably rain later.

I ponder taking my swimming stuff with me, for after work, but now the nights are lighter I could get the dogs on the park for an hour instead. I’ll do that. I just hope they appreciate it.

Talking of the boys, someone asked L this morning ‘how Ratbag was?’ I thought they meant me but no, they meant MD. He has so many friends.

I’m still having problems in my capacity as team manager for our Crufts qualifiers. The organiser of the Nottingham round has been in touch to tell me that two of my team haven’t bothered entering. I text them. ‘Oh bugger forgot to post it’ one of them says. FFS as Daughter would say. The girl's now put it in the post this morning. The closing date was the 2nd... I hope the organiser is understanding. L keeps telling me ‘girls don't do teams’, I’m starting to believe her.

On the plus side, if either of them don’t get in, MD is first reserve. Yay. L fails to see why this is a plus.

As planned I take the boys on the park where L texts me ‘OMG I need chocolate and fast. Although alcohol would be a good substitute.’ Hard day at work Dear?

She meets me off the park and we have a couple of glasses of substitute. During her second one she asks if she can discuss half marathon training with her personal trainer... Oh, I forget, that's me isn't it. I give her some free advice. She can thank me later.

(Thursday 7th April)

The Illness Baton

The illness baton has been passed on to Daughter. So L’s not popular. I am, so far, fine. Germ free and fighting fit, well apart from when it comes to running obviously but that’s another story. I might, though, have to start wearing a surgical mask at home. I'd better not get it. I have squash, a gig, a match and a dog show to get to this weekend. Could be worse I suppose, at least I haven’t entered the Clumber Duathlon on Saturday, I did consider it.

With Daughter laid low, I do the dogs and L does the paper round. I take the dogs out early, walk them round our circuit at a swift pace before returning home and feeding them. Then I throw open the door to our outside storeroom. Oooh what’s this? A bike. It’s been so long.

L’s now saying she’s 100% but I don’t believe her. It’s just a ruse because she’s at Hairspray tonight, sat on a bench at the back, in the cheap seats, which apparently are great for people with very short legs. It’s good to see her going for the cheap seats. She’s on the wagon, credit card wise, and getting the hang of this austerity thing.

Meanwhile I have dog training. Not only am I now on the committee of the dog club I’m also team manager for our Crufts qualifying campaign. That’s for 2012. Crufts 2011 starts next Thursday and for the first time in four years I’m not going. I’ve had two years supporting followed by two years competing. Somehow there didn’t seem any point in going back to just supporting this year.

As for 2012, hopefully Doggo’s got one more year in him or perhaps MD can step up to the plate. All we need a team mates, which it is now my job to find. My persuasive/grovelling email to the potential recruits does not get much of response from the top handlers with the best dogs, the ones who could possibly get us to Crufts in their sleep. Although I think we tried that technique and it didn't work.

However, my appeal that I would be inclusive of anyone who fancies a go, no matter how good or bad they think they are, does get an impressive response from several new members. Which is terrific and very encouraging. One thing we’ve lacked for years is a ‘youth policy’ which is why we can barely raise a team now, as there’s no one coming through to replace those who drop out. So at the moment I have a promising and very keen ‘development squad’ and they even want to have team training session. It would serve the rest right if they went all the way.

(Wednesday 2nd March)