The Euro dog frisbee ch 2016 - Part 1 - the start with the wrong footI had waited for it like... for long time.. not forever, but long time. The European Dog frisbee Championships (under USDDN rules, including Long distance throws under The Quadrupped rules) in Czech.
Preparations had started also long time ago. Probably I got a real sense what SuperPro Toss&Fetch on a real competition level is after Russian championships in 2014. Since then all our effort has been on SPTF, only a little bit on Distance. Ansuz (my 5 year old Australian Shepherd male) has won pretty much every SPTF event in Latvia (with the small exceptions). Together we have won the last and only two national championships. Wunjo (2,5y old Aussie female) is a great runner, but is still in development as a catcher. She is also a little shy of new place, that we have managed to correct (still work in progress) with the help of fellow frisbee friend and dog trained Vladislava Akimova. I also (with my family) own Ure (9.5y female) and Hagl (8 year olf male Aussie). But this time its not the story about them, but my families and friends trip to the Euro CH.
Some sort of plan to visit Czech was made all ready when it was announced they will host the 2016 event.Then it was to be decided who is going... Kārlis and Zane with Jete (our closest competition, that also beat us on national level) were interested in SPTF and Vladislava Akimova decided to finally do a freestyle (and compete in Division II). She actually put together the program in 2 months, when she knew for sure she will be approved to compete. We all had paid our hotel reservations, entry fees... all was set.
Just for long tome we did not know - we will go with one car (bus) or with 2...
I had arranged a bus, but was warned that is its not in mint condition to say the least. But since it had passed the technical check - it should be reliable, right? RIGHT?
So, we were set to drive out on Wednesday evening. We covered the carpet of the bus with cardboard, so that dog fur would be easily removed. My family (me, wife Sandra, 6y old son Gustavs, and 1 year old Ulla +Ansuz + Wunjo) drove out to pick up Karlis, Zane and Jete. When we reached the Riga (its about 50km from us), car was quit warm, so we finally decided to turn on the AC. First thing Zane asks, when she sees the bus - whats that noise? Bus was quit loud, so I had not noticed... started to look, opened the bonnet... it was making a horrible screeching sound... like a belt has snapped. But... after examination the motor, we found nothing... turned the car down, turned it up... still the same. Then we remembered the AC. turned it of... sound stopped... then we found a leak under right rear wheel... some pipe was steaming... it could not be fixed... so... by mutual agreement, we decided to go with out the AC to our trip, that was promised to be +28c... pretty much all the way. Then we picked up Vladislava and Lyutik and Rozh. Bus is 1+8 seats. Jete was sitting in front, Rozh in cage, Ansuz on ground in back by Sandra and Ulla, wunjo as a cork between him and Lyutik. Even so no one was fighting, there was a little tension between them. I asked Vlada, is the car ok, is not it to tight? She said, hell no, they have driven a sedan with 5 dogs, 5 humans and tents to Finland... so this is comfy
So, we set out, armed with energy drinks for drivers. We left Riga at 22.15... the night went by quit ok, me and Karlis switching to sit by the wheel. Ulla was relatively calm. The morning came with rising temperature... and the fan of the car was no help with out the AC. Soon it was hot... tried to open windows, but that also is not a solution as its easy to catch cold.... tried to open small windows... and when tried to close one... it just would not go back... luck us - we had duct tape... problem solved in best MacGyver style. Then for the trip not to be to boring, we started to lose 3rd gear at first..., then 5th... then 4th... its not that we lost it, but it was extremely hard to shift to it. Karlis remembered a solution - maybe not the correct translation but something like "shift-gas".. you push the gas pedal, than release it , then clutch and then put in the gear you need... its an extra roar, but... at least you get the gear you need... if lucky. Many times by the time you managed to get the 5th gear in, you all ready had dropped speed to 4th at best... and we are driving on a highway...
Then the car heated up a bit more... we all were using water as much as we could... but at one point, some 2h before the finish Ulla said enough is enough... she vomited back all the juice and peach smoothie she had just eaten... all over me... all over... and by all over, I mean all over. Including also Ansuz who was sitting in his cooling vest. Sandra also had overheated. But... at some 18.00+ we reached our destination...
Settled in the hotel - us with Vlada and Karlis and Zane got lucky as they had the room to themselfs only. Set up the doggy cages (ours being from fabric), that Wunjo destroyed the front door quit quickly... Repairs - yes, of course, done by Duct tape! Went to registration... asked a ton of questions to organizers... got to knew our start times, got elected as Team leader... went for a beer... and to sleep... to find that the room is hot and sleeping is hard...