Friday when we arrived in San Jose the temperature was well over 100 degrees. We got our camp set up at Evergreen College. A couple team members that arrived in SJ later in the evening set their things up in the morning. 

Saturday morning was very warm. Barbara Darrow was captain for Screaming Eagles, Bob Ekin was captain for Airborne. Both teams agreed that because of the extreme heat that was forecast that day that if anyone felt they couldn't continue to race, or were concerned about the safety and health of their dog we would simply forfeit that race, or races for the rest of the day if need be.

Racing did go well, and probably mid-afternoon before the full heat of the day hit we experienced a thunderstorm and lightning strikes nearby. We had a brief downpour, and lightning touched off a fire maybe 300 yards away from just behind a building on campus. The FD put it out fairly quick, and racing continued with cooler weather and a bit of a breeze. So we didn't need to sacrifice any races.

Saturday Screaming Eagles placed 2nd in Division 4, and Airborne placed 1st in Division 2.

Sunday was cooler, temps around mid-80's and breezy. Much nicer! The Screaming Eagles were working with a seed time of 22.75 with a break out time of 21.00. We did break out twice towards the end of the day. We ended up in a tie for second place in Division 3 (we were division 4 on Saturday, Division 3 on Sunday). So a tie breaking race was scheduled for the last race of the day, and we won 3 out of 5 to place second. As we were departing the field we were advised that just before our tie breaking race, Marin Running Riot had won their race, and tied also for second place. We had to
race another tie breaker! We were given five minutes to cool down the dogs, walk around a bit, then head back to the ring.We had already broken out twice in an earlier race. So had Marin Running Riot. No more break outs allowed! The break out rule is any team that breaks out three times in a tournament is ineligible for any tournament placement.
We needed to win 3 out of 5 again!  Ralph and I think MRR won the first heat (we are trying to reconstruct this), and they won the 2nd heat. But Wait! They ran too fast and broke out again. That was it, they were no longer eligible for tournament placement.  It was an exciting finish!

So, placement on Sunday was Screaming Eagles placed 2nd in Division 3, Airborne placed second in Division 2.

Thanks to everyone who went, it was a tough tournament in many ways - two rings, hot weather, lightning strikes and fires. But we were successful, placing very nicely both days, and overcoming many obstacles.

Now we can look forward to Truckee!

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