2016 ASCA Nationals

Trialed the prior two weekends, then worked all week, trained a little, threw in a couple of lessons before d-day, packed Mona's Rav4 to the gills, got 5 hours sleep, and hit the road on a pre-dawn Friday morning.  Jemima, Vixen & Lizzie on board.  Pre-dawn hurts, but the no traffic part made it all worthwhile.  ASCA Nationals or bust!

A few stops to let the dogs romp, almost ran out of gas, and 11ish hours later we arrived mid-afternoon and set up.  The rings were set up, the courses built, and canopies were going up all around.  As is my preference - a girl needs her space - I chose a spot far from the madding crowd, beneath a big, shady old tree.  Showtime next morning!

Back yard behind our set up

The event was held at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Willamette Valley.

It was a nice, pretty, spacious place.  Would've been a whole bunch better if they had watered the grounds in the weeks prior to our event.  The ground was not soft ...

Front yard where the action is!

The agility part of the event was a good half mile from the rest - stock, conformation, obedience, rally.

For the first time ever - thanks to my friends - when I had a little downtime I rode to & from the venues in a golf cart.

Our esteemed and dapper Finals judge, Ric Pittman.

Pre-trials were put on by various ASCA host clubs on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday.  So we all got to practice and play, and the dogs got accustomed to the place.  Sandwiched in between - on Monday - was the Finals.

Jemima was her superstar self in 3 out of the 4 classes. I could see that the hard ground was tiring for her (her only day of a full schedule), and when she fizzled on the gamble - the class that was not like the others - I said C'mon let's get outtahere!  

She's 10.  She can do whatever she wants now.  I'm happy to play along.

And yet, she qualified in her 403rd Regular run Thursday morning, earning her ATCH X.  

10 at 10!  403 clean Regulars, 102 clean Jumpers, 102 clean Gamblers.

That's my Huckleberry!!!!!!!!!!

Just got an earful after a fast run.

Vixen wasn't in the Finals - not this time.  She needed one Gamblers Q for her ATCH, and we got that sucker 34 days after the dang cut-off.  And got another one right away for insurance.

We still had a blast running on all the other days. She placed high in a quite few classes in her large division, including a first in Jumpers.  Attagirl!




Another big highlight was toward the end of the week.  We gathered as many Woodstock kids as we could find, and did a fabulous family photo!  It looks like it was easy.  Hah!  They were a bit excited, and there were ducks in the pond behind the photographer ...

Woodstock represents!

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After finally sleeping past 5am for the first time in weeks, we hit the road Saturday morning for home.  With the cutest dogs there.  They did me proud.

Nationals bling is fun.

Next up ... 2016 Cynosports!