Photo Source: Bryning Border Collies
Zipping and wooshing, whirring and swishing, we’re so excited to be able to introduce yet another brand new feature to this year’s event in the shape of a Flyball Activity ring, as we give the Shetland Ponies a year off this year.
What is Flyball?
According to the British FLyball Association, “A flyball race sees two teams of four dogs each, racing side-by-side over a 51 foot long course. There are different tournament formats but each format involves racing between two teams at a time. Within a team, each dog must run over the jumps, trigger a Flyball box releasing a ball, retrieve the ball and then return over the jumps. The next dog is released, in relay fashion, to run the course but can’t cross the start line until the previous dog has returned over the finish line. The first team to have all 4 dogs finish the course without error wins. Each race comprises up to five legs, and the team that wins the most legs wins the race. Each flyball team consists of four dogs, plus up to two reserves that can be interchanged after each leg. An electronic judging system that uses lights and timing sensors is used on the start / finish line to determine accurate times, and the winner when both teams complete the course in quick succession. Tournaments are run in divisions based on the fastest speed of the team in a previous competition or a time declared by the team captain. Arranging divisions based on speed enables the racing to always be competitive.”
Can Any dog play Flyball?
Flyball is suitable for virtually any breed of dog, as long as he or she is fit and healthy. Different sized breeds can all take part, as all dogs compete over the same course with a concession made for smaller dogs - the jump height is lowered to the appropriate height for the smallest dog in the team. A small, fast dog can therefore be a huge asset to a team as it enables the larger dogs to run over lower jumps. The most important thing is to have fun with your dog.
So make sure you come along and take part! You’re not going to want to miss out on the action! For more details on entry, please download our Dog Schedule here.