Time Trials

As is often the case, we set off to Beagle Racing a little late yesterday, yet still arrived well before the whippets had finished, so I took a couple of shots of the speed demons doing their thing:

A youngster just getting the hang of the track, owned – appropriately – by “Scooby”

Sky (aka “Mammie’s Baby”) in action

As the Beagle slot rapidly approached, we learned that Beanie was about to get her first taste of time trials. These start with each Beagle doing a timed solo run down the 120 yard track. Once all dogs have been timed, their performance against the clock is used to calculate handicaps for the subsequent races – the faster dogs starting behind the others. As with the points races, this is one of those situations where it’s best not to shine too brightly early on.

We had no idea how Beanie was going to perform against the clock. She’d never chased the lure on her own before, and we’ve always felt that it’s the thrill of running in a pack that makes her enjoy racing so much. Running solo, there was no guarantee that she would even cross the finish line! What’s more, we had no idea if she’d fully recovered her zest for life after our brief, unsuccessful experiment with a raw food diet.

Still, she was baying very loudly and straining at her lead as she queued up for her turn, so I was cautiously optimistic as I headed down to the finish line to catch her.  When the “go” signal was given, she set off quickly and chased the lure right down the track with total concentration.

I thought she’d done well, and the results backed me up. There wasn’t much in it, and it has to be said that two of the fastest dogs (Murphy and Milo) weren’t present, but our little pup had clocked the fastest time. Fantastic! Of course as the fastest dog she’d also be starting right at the back in every one of her races.

Beanie’s first race put her up against Abbey (winner of the fastest bitch trophy earlier in the year) and Sam, one of the fastest males. She was starting some distance behind both of them, but usually that inspires her to run even faster. As the group passed the half-way point she was actually closing in on Sam..

Abbey in front, Sam in second, and Beanie closing fast!

In the last few yards Beanie made it past Sam – a great achievement in a level race, but even more impressive given that he started ahead of her. Abbey had started in pole position and she finished that way too, but Beanie was through to the next round. She got a big chunk of dried liver, a hug and rest while the other heats got under way..

In the next round, Beanie started 16 yards behind the front dog, and had to finish in the first two to make it through to the final.

As in the first heat, a clear leader quickly emerged and there was a tough battle to decide second and third place..

Well, OK, “battle” is the wrong word because it’s pretty obvious both dogs were loving every second of it! But somehow Beanie got fractionally ahead at the finish and secured her place in the final.

The consolation race was next. Pebel won convincingly…

…despite some very determined competition!

In the final it was Abbey, the two brothers Breac and Tiarnach, and Beanie right at the back.

Beanie caught up with Breac and Tiarnach in the closing stage of the race..

.. and just managed to grab second place at the line, but Abbey held on to her lead for the win!

Abbey, Beanie, Breac, Tiarnach and Pebel

It was a great return to form for our little pup though, and I’m certain it was the return to balanced, dry food that was responsible. We saw a decline when she was on raw for breakfast and kibble for her evening meal. When we switched over to raw completely her energy levels dropped through the floor – to the extent that she lost confidence when playing with other dogs in the park. Now that she’s back on dry food (Burns Active at the moment) she’s completely recovered her lust for life. The full raw diet seems to work well for many dogs, but not for Beanie. However, we do intend to keep giving her occasional raw treats (marrow bones and such) in case there’s anything in raw food that might help keep her gut in good shape and her allergies under control.