There it was, Sunday morning at another agility trial. Our truck was all
packed in preparation for who knows what kind of weather that Illinois can
bring. We got up extra early that morning because I had to work the scoring
table at this trial. Of course, everybody knows that the only way to guarantee
entry is to volunteer to work at the trial.
Of course, The Windy City unpredictable weather didn't disappoint us. It started
raining early. I knew that I would have to run in the rain. They were running
workers first. It had been disappointing for us lately. Since I am working
towards our MACH, I need an elusive double Q. It has been several months
of a dry spell. It has always been something stupid that Bamm Bamm or I would do
wrong. And of course we would qualify in standard but not in jumpers. Then the
reverse would happen the next day.
I was to be the second worker in the ring this morning. I got Bamm Bamm all
ready to go and went to wait under the gate steward's tent. They called me into
the ring and before I knew it, Bamm Bamm was off and running. He just forgot to
tell me. By the second jump I caught up and started calling obstacles. I was
really happy at the end when my friends told me that no hands went up and that I
made it in time.
My friend asked me if I would do her a favor and run her dog, which was next up.
Of course I said yes. He is a Pom that thinks he is a Border Collie. Half way
through the course, on a very slick spot, I went flying 2 feet in the air. I
came down on my ankle and couldn't get up. The first person that ran out to help
was someone that I recognized at many shows. She helped me to the sidelines and
told me what I should be doing. She sounded like she knew what she was doing.
She said she did because she was a podiatrist. I sat with my leg up for hours
putting ice on and off for hours. She told me that I had
torn a ligament in my foot. Oh boy!
Now the problem was how I was going to run the standard run. I wanted that
double Q in the worst way. I was determined to run, pain or no pain. They
finally set the course and called my number. I was hurting, but it didn't seem
as bad as in the morning. I went out on the course and just went for it. Bamm
Bamm was great. He made up for all my bad handling. What a great dog. We
finished the course with no hands and in time. We finally got our 8th double Q.
It had been so long. Everybody came up to congratulate us. It felt great! Bamm
Bamm deserves all the credit for this one.
Kim DeBenedictis
Bamm Bamm (8" division-Papillon)
CH Loteki Don Juan DiMarco CD MX MXJ
Bloomingdale, IL.
