A Well Earned Tinny

Double dogging part two. Our second dog show in two days. This time we're in Redcar. I've been warned that it's a grotty venue, probably the worst show I'll go to all year, but it's not actually that bad. Yes, the parking is awful but the ground is good and they have a clubhouse with good facilities. The organisation isn't the best, there are no ring plans, and three of my courses are 1-7 combined with close on 300 dogs in each. So we have practically nil chance of getting a rosette and we're a grade 5, so what are the hopes of a lowly grade 1. Considerably less than zero. Our other course is a 5-7, so again not much chance of getting something. The main reason we are here is for the Crufts team event.

I am a little concerned when the team decide to do our run early. Our first run yesterday was a complete disaster. We are down to run third of the four dogs. It doesn't go well for the team as our first two dogs get eliminated. So by the time we run the pressure is well and truly off. All the same I make sure Doggo puts in a faultless clear round, just to make sure we justify our place in the team. Our medium height team does better and wins a place at Crufts in March.

In our other runs we again miss the rosettes by one place in one class and we go clear in the other three too, so a good weekend all round.

The weather though is awful, although apparently it's better down the coast at Whitby where L and Daughter have gone for the day. We meet back at the cottage and head for home at around 5.30. It's a good drive home, much better than on the way up. It's a good job because Daughter says she wants to be home for 8.00 for the Rugby, at least I think that's what she said. No shocks today as South Africa beat Fiji and Scotland go out to Argentina.

L cooks up Keema while I relax after the drive with a well earned tinny of Wadsworth, followed by a more sophisticated Bateman's Dark Lord and a glass of red. Only 21 units this week. Wow.

We retire to bed where it's nice to not have to keep the noise down.