Bearded Collie Club of Western Washington
Enumclaw, Wa., July 24, 25, 2004
This was an amazing weekend for Grace. She had a breakthrough we think. She had Qualifying scores on 3 of her 4 runs during the weekend, and earned a Title that Heather had thought would be a long time coming.
Notice Mt. Rainier Towering in the Background?
Her first run for the day was a Jumpers course, and it was pretty raggedy. Grace wanted to check the scene out and seemed distracted at times, but Heather and Grace completed the course and Grace was quite pleased with herself, having given the scribes and the Judge lots to do when they were calculating the score for her run.
Later on Saturday in the hottest part of the day Grace had her chance at the Standard course. Grace placed third in her Novice Standard Preferred 12" run. Doing a very obedient sit on a table that had to be hot enough to fry and egg on. The temperature when she ran was 98 degrees F, and the sun was blazing. I wouldn't want to keep my hand on a surface that hot, let alone sit on it with my bare bum, but Grace did it because Heather asked her too!! Yeah Gracie!!
On Sunday, in cooler conditions, Grace ran harder than we have ever seen her run in a competition ring. She ran hard in her JWW course because Heather really ran hard. It made a real difference. Grace did a couple of really nice front crosses, and did perfect weave poles, and earned a 2nd place finish in Open Preferred Jumpers with Weaves 12". This was her first qualifying score towards her OAJP title.
After tearing up the Agility course Grace wanted to play and had some great chases with her buddy Al, then it was back to the encampment to wait for her second run.
Grace didn't let her success of the morning go to her head. When she came up to the line for her second run of the day she attacked the chute at the start line and went on to have a clean run. She had to restart the weave poles, but got them the second time ( Not a fault at the Novice Level). Then did an excellent down on a hot table, and then went on to finish the course with a clean run!! Her time was 4 seconds under course time. Yeah Gracie!! Grace placed first in Novice Standard Preferred 12" and with this qualifying score completed the requirements for the AKC title Novice Standard Preferred.(NAP). She also had her first double Q day in AKC competition!! She had a great day!!!
Gracie now has two Titles. She is Willowmere's Lady Stetson NAP, NAJP.
To view the video clips of these runs follow the links below. I'm sorry that her title run wasn't filmed as I was busy running Al in the opposite ring and when I got out of the ring to celebrate with Al, I was able to watch Gracie have her Title run.
