The entries for the beginners teach in kept arriving & arriving & arriving. We got there Saturday lunchtime to set up for the night rally & the mobile started ringing as everyone heard the weather forecast for the next day...'would the event be on?' 'well, we'll be here anyway, so it's up to you if you want to travel!' I airily told people, convinced as I was that the forecast would be wrong!

Saturday night in the tent was cosy but windy, I rescued us from a potential soaking at first light, and was then up and about in time to see Martin Peat's tent blow away across the carpark. Hmm looks like we are in for some weather then.

The deal at Trentham is that those camping overnight run the trail as a training run first thing in the morning, and are then there to help out with the teach in, which needs many hands to make it the smooth running success that people have come to expect.

The last team out was Guy with two dogs, and while we all had an impromptu breakfast party, he was out struggling over the two trees that had come down at the start of the trail. Word also came in that a tree had fallen by the children's play area..yep, it had, this was some blow we were having.

We quickly rethought where to run, if conditions allowed, and made sure it was OK. People started arriving...rather an amazing number of people I felt considering the conditions they had come through to get there, all had a story to tell of trees and crashes and floods.

Promptly at 11 we started to a very packed house, with Alan Chambers, Steve Taylor and myself doing most of the talking with others chipping in where necessary.

Whilst we were inside the rain was absolutely tipping down but luckily by 12.30 it was drying and having checked the course was still clear and that the weather was considerably calmer, it was full steam ahead for a 1 O'clock start.

Harnesses were fitted to those that needed them...tricky on the Mals with no Mal people there, but thanks to Phil & Babs Dixon who helped out with larger harnesses. Dogs were paired together where possible so that as many as wanted could take part. We had chosen a 3/4 mile course through the woods, with three turns and unfortunately lots of puddles!

Everyone arrived at the start and queued patiently for their go, rigs were borrowed and rushed back for someone else's team. In all 33 or so teams ran, some a touch better than others but all succeeded in completing the course.

My thanks go to everyone who gives up their time to help out, be it snubbing, starting, marshalling, running to help start teams, lending rigs, or being at the finish to ensure everyone is happy. These people give their time both generously and happily and do it for all the people there, not just their special friends, without them we couldn't manage the event.

As the last team finished the rain came back, but by then everyone was bundling themselves back into cars for the long journeys home, well pleased that their dogs had achieved what they were bred for, and another years teach in was over.

Author: Sarah Robinson