Well, we left Essex at 12.30 (night!!) on Thursday, with Loki Beau & Vinnie, went round to our friends' house, picked them up along with Hunter & Baby Blaze. Loki Beau & Vinnie - who normally give the Aussie howl of welcome when Blaze joins them in the back of the Aussie Posse Wagon - did not give as much as a yelp - much to our relief - didn't wan't Kathie & Pete's neighbours being woken up!!

We got down to Exeter in very good time - after having bacon butties at 5.30 in a layby somewhere on the A30, then coffee & snooze in the carpark at Exeter Services - when it started to rain!!!! At 7.a.m. we were amongst the first into the showground & found benching areas, etc - snoozed again, had muffins & coffee - watched the rain get worse (who was it who said Welcome to Sunny Devon where it rains 7 days out of 7??)

Anyway, eventually we got into the ring and Beau got 2nd in puppy dog, Vinnie got 3rd in puppy bitch, and Loki got 3rd in post grad - so all in all, it was worth the journey.

Mind you, going home was another story - good until Junction 8 on the M25 (at 4.30.pm.) - then 500 yards in 50 mins, diverted off, crawling through the Surrey & Kent lanes, back on at Junction 6, eventually getting home at 9.15.p.m.!

I think we caused some diversion for bored drivers in the nearside lane though - every so often, Hunter would stand up & look out of the side window - "are we nearly there yet?" They seemed a bit shocked at the size of him!!!

We've realised that every champ show we've done this year, we have been in wet weather rings - so it will be wellies out for Chepstow & Peterborough next (I forgot to enter Windsor:(!)

Lots of contrats to all winners - and to everyone who enters these shows - its good fun - and whatever the placing we all take the best home with us!!!

Margot

"We've realised that every champ show we've done this year, we have been in wet weather rings - (I forgot to enter Windsor!)"

It will be safe for us all to take our suntan lotion to Windsor then :D

Well done on the awards :-)

Yup - I positively GUARANTEE good weather for Windsor!!

Good luck to everyone going - and especially to a certain young Aussie by the name of Milo!!

Margot