Weight Pulling
On the road a little after 5:30 with dark skies. No hint of a sunrise the entire trip, fall is definitely here. I was looking forward to the day, my last pull "up north" as I head to Tennessee later in the week.
Got the boys pottied and setup, then started getting folks weighed in. Sebastian weighed in at 138 and Cinnabar at 102. Sebastian whined all the way through the weigh in, then wanted to love on Dave as soon as the torture was over. Goof ball. We had a visitor from Region 6 with her two Sammies, Robin Clark. Steve & Joan Albro came down from NY. Kari was there with Booth (as well as the pups). Weigh in was hectic, as always. Both Shawn and George assisted, thank you.
The novice class had 10. They started promptly at 8:15, with Missy judging that class. We had our pro handlers meeting promptly at 9:45 and we got started at 10:00.
Fortunately it stayed cloudy and it cooled down from earlier in the morning. The bad news were the gnats. Oh my goodness they were out in force. I've never seen that there. Our old friend the train made a comeback appearance across the river. The train was really busy during the novice class and was blowing his whistle. Tiffany said Abby shut down during novice because of the train, so she didn't pull pro. More exposure for fraidy cat, Abby, who will overcome that. During either the 40 or 60 lb class, the fire station alarm went off. We had all the noises for the dogs with which to get accustomed. My boys slept through most of it.
We had one in the 20 lb class, a little sheltie, who also pulled last month. We had about 9 in the 40 lb class, pulling in 90 lb increments. We missed Odin in this class last month and it was good to see him here this month. Robin assisted me with the paperwork while I judged, what a luxury.
The 60 lb class of 15 pulled in 180 lb increments. Really good class. Steve's Lil Show took the class, with Paris and Electra both pulling the same increment with time determining the winner. Paris took Most Weight Pulled Per Pound at 84 point something percent! Jon, our junior handler in this class pulled Bindi, a dog he started training this summer with vast improvement from last month and Panhead who did well as always. Tori was our other junior in this class with Dragonbutt. She did an outstanding job. Kari assisted me with paperwork for this class and was rather surprised at how much there is to do. Figuring out placements as you go along, as well as percentages. Then moving the names of dogs still in to page 2 and getting the weight increments in there, in addition to calling out the new weight and dogs up. A luxury to have assistance, indeed.
I judged the above classes, and Robin judged the big dogs.
We pulled the 80/100/125/150/Unlimited together, with 225lb increments. There were about 10 in the 80 lb class, about 8 in the 100 lb class, 1 in 125, and 2 in 150.
Macha took the 80lb class. My goodness was she on! Ryan did a great job pulling her.
Beowulf took the 100 lb class, with Takaani right in there. He was awesome! He just continues to improve.
I started both of my boys at 925 lbs. I double passed Cinnabar up to 3225. He successfully pulled 3675 with just a little talking. On his 3900 attempt, there was lots of talking. He made an attempt here and there. They were pretend tries. When he made an attempt with 15 seconds, I said push it and motioned to the cart help. Bad move because he immediately pulled it when I said push it, but the cart help had their hands on the cart so it didn't count. He did well and had some fun. He also got lots of loving through out the class, so he was really in his glory. He was solo in his class, so a blue ribbon.
Cinnabar getting his pep talk
Photo by Di
Cinnabar digging in
Photo by Di
Cinnabar working it
Photo by Di
The following photos show how important my hands are to Cinnabar when the weights get higher. He wants to get to my hands
Cinnabar working towards my hands
Photo by Tiffany
Cinnabar working towards my hands
Photo by Tiffany
Cinnabar working towards my hands
Photo by Tiffany
Cinnabar working towards my hands
Photo by Tiffany
I double passed Sebastian up until around 3675, then single passed. I made sure the cart was in the middle for him every time so that we didn't have happen what happened last month, where it was over to his left and he tried to go right. He successfully pulled 4575, very nicely. On his 4800 attempt, again I had the cart in the middle and he pulled it, but started slowing down near the end. I'm not sure if I messed him up by being too close, or if he was measuring. He left it about an inch or two short. He tried every single time I asked him to pull it, but I could see the wheels settling back in a rut, so I motioned to the cart help to push. Wow, who would've thought that Sebastian would try every single time asked. Good boy!
Sebastian pep talk, trying to rev him up
Photo by Di
A little scratching helps rev him up more
Photo by Di
Wide view of Sebastian working
Photo by Di
Sebastian leaning into it
Photo by Tiffany
Sebastian working it
Photo by Tiffany
Sebastian certified ham while working
Photo by Tiffany
Sebastian working
Photo by Tiffany
Sebastian working
Photo by Tiffany
Sebastian working
Photo by Tiffany
Sebastian working
Photo by Tiffany
Truffle the big young Swissy took that class (150) pulling 5700lbs looking like a beast doing it. He edged Beowulf (also a beast in the chute) on time for Most Weight Pulled. Same results as last month, except that they pulled 900 lbs more. This set a new record for this cart, edging the record by a few hundred pounds previously held by Dave's Saint Bernard, Harley. Wow! I told Truffle's mom, Karen, he's still young, he's going to get even better. He's sweet, mellow and just driven to please and obviously talented. He's also having fun!
We called for help unloading the cart and Tana got started on the ribbons for the big dogs. Then we did the 50/50 Championship raffle. Karen won and put it back in the pot, except for gas money. (Same as last month) Thank you, Karen! Thank you to Tiffany for taking photos, can't wait to see them. Then we had the awards. Along with rosettes, there was a bag of treats for the dogs. I also signed forms for Truffle who earned another leg for his Swissie title. I also signed forms for Robin for legs for her Sammies, and for Alicia & Mike for a leg for Indy (who's also looking good).
During the handlers' meeting I thanked Susan G in absentia for getting me to the Port for my first weight pull, Dave and Missy for being supportive and always answering my questions over the years. I also thanked those handlers I watched over the years and incorporated some of their techniques into my pulling. I also thanked the group for being a good group. I meant it, I'm going to miss all my good dog people friends. Tana is doing a great job organizing, and while I'm going to miss everyone "up north", I know they're going to keep things going and growing.
We had an easy drive home of an hour and both of the boys conked out after dinner. That's a good day!
All Cinnabar & Sebastian photos by Di
All Cinnabar & Sebastian photos by Tiffany
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all images © Sheryl Franklin unless elsewise attributed
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