Due to a disability and being unable to move my girl myself, I have a friend who handles my Golden Retriever for me at shows, but unfortunately due to her work commitments we don't often get out. Although we had entered SKC well in advance, at the last minute my friend found herself unable to attend, so I took the plunge and went into the ring myself for the very first time. Poor Jade, I was fingers & thumbs, and really self concious, but the Judge was really lovely. Result - 1st in Graduate and Reserve in Post Graduate. It was whilst we were in the ring for Post Grad that the fire alarms went off, but as we were waiting outside it was lovely to be congratulated and encouraged by people who I had never spoken to before. Special thanks to Alisongold for encouraging me to make the trip and her pleasure at our placing - well done on your 1st place with Eve.

Well done! That is impressive on so many counts -not the least being that Goldens are SUCH a hard breed to get placings in due to the big entries.

Way to go! Big well done Lois ;-)

Congratulations.
Being a person who has a mobility issue myself, it was a great confidence boost to get back in the ring.  I havent done it with a faster moving dog yet (though I am working my way up), and have mainly stayed in the toy ring. 
It is such a scary thing, entering the ring when you arent sure if you can handle it.  I hope this win, boosts your confidence up greatly, and you will continue to give showing a go. 
Such huge congratulations!!!!!!!   Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

congratulations! great result.

Well done, sure that took a lot of courage and I hope you are able to continue now you have tried it, am unable to show now because of movement problems but enjoy stewarding, would love to show a dog on a regular basis but as it is only enter under judges I know well who I know will not be angry if I am unable to do the job properly and forgive the fact that the dog is not well trained.

Well done, keep up the good work! :-)

Well done you!

Well done what a great achievement!

But wasn't that fire alarm annoying!  Someone smoking in a toilet. :(  I had to go out while I was in a class which was half way though.

Well done indeed!!

Thanks to everyone for their congratulations. I felt that ill yesterday that I thought never again, but I feel a bit better today and although I still think that I made a big hash of it, I am considering going to ringcraft myself in case there is a next time. It does seem a shame that we only get Jade out occasionally and if I could handle her myself we would have lots more opportunities. It looks easy when you are outside the ring or at home, but it's so different when you are in the ring.

I still can't get over how nice the judge was and am so grateful that that she didn't hold my performance against Jade.

Ice Queen - I too was in the middle of the class when the alarm went off, I could have really done without having to stand outside for 20 mins or so. As someone else said, it was lovely weather so there was really no need to try and sneek a cigarette in the toilet. I just can't understand some people.

I am sure that you can find someone (especially some of the good Juniors) who will run your dog for you while you show her if moving her is a problem for you. 

I too have a disability and fellow exhibitors and judges have been very good, and I just have to remember to tell the Steward that I cannot see much, so that judge doesn't do the regal point thing. 

Other exhibitors forgive me for running up on top of them, and yell warnings at me when I get too close to the ropes.  Few judges get the hump if my line to them is out or I end up practically in their lap on the run back ;)

I would go to ringcraft yourself and perfect your handling and increase the rapport in the Ring with your girl and I am sure you will have more good results when your friend can't help out.

That is just fantastic.  It must have been a wonderful feeling for you.

Louise

Well done Goldiemad! Can I ask a handling question (sorry to jump on your thread!) I have arthritis in a few places (namely hips, knee and neck) and at ringcraft I was advised that I should maybe think of joint handling with my son, who attends ringcraft with me. I would do the stacking and he would do the moving. My question is how would we manage this, would he stand with me in the ring, or come in to move my boy? When would we approach the steward, when our class is going in or before?
Eavie

On a similar theme, I once saw a staffy judge who is a double above knee amputee. he was in a wheelchair for much of it, but when it came to looking at the dog from front he lifted himself swiftly out of his wheelchair and lay down on his belly on the floor. He also went over the dog from the floor. I was REALLY impressed. I bet he got a much better view of the dog than an able bodied judge.