AWC 2016

So in May this year, we went to Cape Town for the SA Champs and AWC team try-outs .... and Swish and I made the SA team!

This was my first time ever overseas. We have just come back from the most amazing two weeks ever in Spain. This blog entry outlines the main things that happened:

We flew from Margate to Johannesburg, and then from Johannesburg to Frankfurt on Wedneday 14 September, arriving in Frankfurt on Thursday morning at 5am. Lots of emotions were going through me when we took off from Oliver Thambo, and the tears were flowing.

Margate Airport

Margate Airport

"Chau"

Swish in his "In Cabin Bag" on the seat next to me on CemAir

The flight plan on the TV screen

Swish was a model traveller on his first long flight - he slept right through and never made a sound. It was exciting to watch the flight course on screen, and then to actually land and put foot on a different continent, in a different hemisphere!

                                        About 5.30am, shortly after landing in Frankfurt

We spent the day with Keith and Liesel at their hotel, after hiring a smallish car in which all six of us and our dogs had to travel about 40 minutes to the hotel. Was hilarious how all of us were squashed in the car!

We had lunch at the hotel, and then spent the afternoon going for a lovely walk in a forest. Frankfurt is beautiful. 

In the forest

We even saw a South African restuarant! 

The forest

The evening we flew to Madrid, arriving at our hotel at 2am on Friday morning after collecting our "bus" in the middle of town, obviously deserted at that time of the night.

Swish and I slept well, and only woke up at 8am. Friday was spent walking the dogs in a park, and then picking Julie up from the airport.

Having fun in the park

Happiness

Saturday there were more walks in a park and a visit to a fleamarket.

Madrid in the background

The bricks the building in the background is made from comes from Egypt. 

Nikki, Bright, Zoom, Charm, Swish and Kimberley

About half of the SA team 

Sunday we competed in a local show in an indoor venue. The judge was Zsofi Biro from Hungary - her courses were a very high standard and Swish and had 2 eliminations, but I was happy with how he went. He was full of confidence indoors with lots of noise, different equipment and a different surface.

Indoor Agility Madrid

The SA Team 2016

Monday we had team training in the same venue the show was at, and then three of us had a workshop or training course by Zsofi Biro who had judged at the show the previous day. I battled on the 27 obstacles that were set up for training, and the tears were flowing again from the stress - Taryn came to the rescue and helped. The workshop by Zsofi was great - I learned a lot.

Keegan, me, Zsofi, Gail and Liesel

Then the afternoon we drove through to Zaragoza.

Wind turbines

Tuesday we had team training at a venue with small indoor and a large outdoor arena.

'Weavers"

Cloudy skies

SA Small Team 2016 - me with Swish, Alett and Volt, Gail and Kimberley, and Keegan with Zoom

"Hup"

Tuesday evening we had a team dinner at the Hollywood Place.

Team dinner

Wednesday we spent sight seeing in the city of Zaragoza, at the Basilica.

Zaragoza

Zaragoza

Some of the SA Team 2016 dogs

Some of the SA Team 2016 dogs

The 4 team members from KZN

Huge statue 

Amazing water feature

Pretty flowers

China and Swish, the two KZN dogs

SA Team 2016

Then the afternoon we went to the AWC venue, had vet checks and team training in the venue itself. I must admit to feeling a little starstruck seeing all the top agility handlers I only knew in name from Facebook or internet.

The Time Schedule

Team USA training

Wednesday evening was the welcome cocktail party. On the drive back to the hotel at 10,30 the evening, it was amazing to see how alive the city was that time of night on a week night - people eating at tables outside, jogging, walking their dogs, even rollerblading ....

Thursday morning we had team photo's at yet another park:

Team SA 2016

Swish looking too swish 

 Thursday afternoon was the opening ceremony, then I watched the large team jumping.

Lining up for the Opening Ceremony

Proudly SA (tattoo by Matthew)

Friday was our turn in the ring - team jumping at 10.20 the morning and team agility in the afternoon at 5.20. In the jumping, Swish was going so well and then for a split second I did not call him quickly enough and he dashed through the weavepoles .... eliminated ... I was devastated and felt I let him and the team down. Luckily we had a few hours and I could get my mindset right again. In the agility run, we had a good round ... a  heart-stopping moment almost doing a jump from the wrong side, and a little wide in another place, BUT: a clear round on the course, although with a few time penalties. So proud of him!

The following six photo's were taken by a professional photographer, Yasuhiro Ohori:

Saturday was a boring day for me as I was now finished competing. I spent most of the day at the stalls looking at toys and harnesses and all the other goodies, and taking Swish for walks and playing with him on the grass outside.

Swish got a new Hurta harness and two toys with his "pocket money" from the cake raffle at school:

Swish showing off his new harness and toys

Sunday was exciting as it was all the finals. The small final was won by Tobias Woest and Peanut, a Sheltie, the medium by Martina and her Mudi, Kiki, and the large by Anne Lenz and Chi, a Border Collie. The large agility course was by far the most difficult course I have ever seen - over 70 % of the dogs and handlers eliminated.

 Another big highlight was getting photo's of and with Swagger!! And then with Susan Garrett! And also swopping shirts with Canada's Team Leader and with a Spanish girl.

Meeting Swagger!!!!

Photo with Susan Garrett

My Canadian and Spanish shirts

The closing ceremony took place after prize-giving, and during the speeches (which were in Spanish) everyone was talking, playing with their dogs, taking pics .... even Swish socialised:

With Taryn

Swish liked this Border Collie from Switzerland

Swish being petted by Sascha Grunder 

Making friends with a Swiss Sheltie

And just like that, AWC 2016 was over!!! 

Monday we drove back to Madrid, dropping off Taryn and Margie at the airport. 

Tuesday I was up at 3.30am, We dropped the car off at 5, were taken to the airport in the car hire shuttle, and flew to Frankfurt at 8.40. The clouds were beautiful:

Beautiful clouds

Beautiful clouds

We met up with the rest of the team in a forest near the airport and the dogs had a lovely run. Then the worst part of the trip: leaving Swish at cargo! We left all the dogs there at 5pm.

Tired, well-groomed boy

With China, Volt and Zoe

I walked aroung the airport with Gaby and Liz, and then met up with the rest of the team at a coffee shop. At 7 all those flying SAA left to the boarding gate, while we were still calmly waiting for our flight at 10.15pm. Then suddenly Keegan phones and says they are transferring to SAA and do I want to come with them .... run to the boarding gate and arrive there to hear our luggage may not be on the flight.

Anyway, flight went well, had an isle seat and seats open next to me ... watched "The fault in our stars", slept a bit ....

Taryn and Keegan, and me behing them

Arrived back in Johannesburg at 7am on Wednesday morning. My sister, Gloria,  picked me up there and took me to cargo to get Swish. We waited until 11.30 to get our dogs!!

The dogs offloaded off the plane

                                                                          

Video by Margie - we are all so eager to get our dogs!

We had to rush back home as people from Dogtown were waiting to hand over Glorie's new puppy, Goofy, to her.

Signing the contract from Dogtown for Goofy

Gloria and Goofy

Goofy and Swish

We spent the afternoon going to two petshops for toys and a playpen for Goofy, had lovely supper at a pub, and went to bed early. I had to borrow a nightie etc. from Glorie as my suitcase was still inFrankfurt ....!!

8am on Thursday morniing the shuttle picked me up, and Swish and I flew from Oliver Thambo to Margate with Swish in cabin.

                                             Swish at my feet in his "In Cabin Bag"

                                                Home: KZN and the Indian Ocean

Mom and Tannie Lizzie were at the airport to fetch us - very good to be home!!

There are so many people who made this trip possible and who I need to thank.

First, my mom .... she always encourages and supports me, worked hard making koeksisters and fudge to raise funds, and she looked after my other four-legged kids so well while Swish and I were away.

Then Jenny and Sharon and Hibiscus Kennel Club who were also tremendously supportive in respect of training, and they organised and held a funday to raise funds for us. And to all who attended the funday - thank you!

Then all the KZNDAA members who supported us by buying koeksisters and fudge, sending good luck wishes etc.

Then Kathi and my colleagues and the Governing Body at PSHS who also held  a raffle to raise some pocket money for Swish ...

Know that I appreciate everyone's support more than words can say.

Then also my team mates - thank you for the experience and trip of a lifetime.