There was no trip to the park and only a short, lacklustre walk for our two this morning. They tried to make the best of it by having a frenetic chase session in our garden, but with so little space to play in it soon petered out and they ended up moping around on our bed, thoroughly bored.

Why, on such a bright sunny day, had we given them the most boring morning they could remember? ‘Cos in the afternoon, they were going Beagle Racing, that’s why! Yep, the new racing season started today. We drove up to Inch Farm nice and early, packing two spare leads and a bagful of fatty, smelly cooked lamb. On arrival we registered Beanie and Biggles then headed over to the track to watch the whippets doing their time trials.

As a veteran racer Beanie had seen this before, but it was all new to Biggles. He watched the whippets intently while Beanie concentrated on more important things, like how to pick her Mum’s pockets without getting caught.

As the scheduled start time approached the Beagle squad started to arrive. The core regulars were there, as was Beanie’s friend Sophie, but there were also quite few new faces. At least Biggles wouldn’t be the only newbie this week! The new racing organiser – Jill – soon had the first heats planned out. Beanie had a place in the very first race wearing red, while Biggles was in the second, also in red. We popped their jackets on and headed over to the track. The first race got away smartly, and Beanie won quite comfortably to secure her place in the final.

The first race of 2009 gets under way

Beanie wins convincingly

Despite considerable wind resistance from the ear department

As the lure was taken back to the start line I wondered how Biggles would fare in his first ever race. He’s quite an unpredictable little chap, or Bigglet. He picks some things up quickly, yet you can load a tennis ball with tasty treats right in front of his face and throw it, and while other dogs immediately sprint after it he’ll stand there, sticking his nose into your hand and trying to work out where the food went.

The race got off to a false start when one of last season’s regulars (Pebble?) got a little too excited and started down the track prematurely.

This left just three dogs on the line. When the race got under way properly, three became two as one of the competitors thought better of the whole running idea. This left Biggles and one other, and when he saw his remaining rival set off after the lure he gave chase. He did he best but was rapidly losing ground. Abruptly the lure stalled!

The leader slowed and stopped, but Biggles kept running and soon found himself in the lead. Had he kept going he might just have won his first race! But he didn’t – he stopped and turned to see what was happening, at which point the lure and his opponent started up again, leaving our very confused little boy stranded half way up the track on his own.

I called him a couple of times and once he spotted me he came running. Thanks to all that recall training we’ve been doing lately, Biggles finally crossed the line to complete his first race and got a sizeable chunk of lamb for his trouble. He’d finished last, but with only two finishers he was actually going to join his sister Beanie in the final!

In the next race, Beanie’s pal Sophie also managed to secure a place in the final.

Sophi nearly loses her jacket as she chases her place in the final!

Not unlike Biggles, this little fellow faltered a little as he passed the halfway mark, but a little encouragement got him going again and he also finished his very first race.

Not the biggest, not the fastest

But certainly in the running for being the cutest!

When the time came for the final, six dogs were on the start line, and little Biggles was among them. He started several lanes down from Beanie but almost as soon as the race got under way he ran across to his sister’s lane and followed behind her. He’d really enjoyed that lamb from his earlier race, and if anyone knew how to find more of it, it was Beanie.

Beanie in red, and way behind her, Biggles in black

As the race progressed Beanie and last season’s Derby winner – Murphy – fought for the lead. Incredibly, Beanie pulled ahead and won quite convincingly. Unfortunately, I don’t think we can take that as a sign that Beanie has truly surpassed her bigger, stronger rival, because in the subsequent jacket-free fun runs Murphy regained his customary first place. Still, it was nice to see Beanie being the one to grab the lure and give it a good shaking. As for Biggles, well it was no great surprise that he came in last, but he did so without any hiccups, and confirmed that it was no fluke by completing the fun runs too.

Murphy, Beanie, Sam and last but not least, Biggles!

All in all, it was a great start to the new season. Below are some more shots from the day’s racing, and you can see the whole set by clicking here.