Flyball Racing Team
Flyball is a relay race with four dogs to a team. Each dog has to run down a racing lane, jumping hurdles on the way and when at the end of the course, trigger a flyball box, which releases the ball that they must catch. They then have to run back to their owner without losing the ball, jumping the same hurdles on the way back. The jump heights are dependent on the height of the smallest dog on the team, with the jump height being 4" lower than the height of the smallest dog.
Great Balls of Fire is one of the newer teams – we ran in our first tournament in March 2000. We practice in Frenchtown and Flemington, NJ. Our dogs have done remarkably well considering we knew nothing about the sport when we started several years ago. If you have a ball crazy dog, who is both physically and mentally sound and gets along with other dogs, get in touch with us and try flyball. You’ll be surprised how much fun you’ll both have and how quickly you’ll become addicted to this crazy sport.
CONGRATULATIONS TO SPUNKY AND OSCAR ON ACHIEVING THE FLYBALL MASTER TITLE IN JUNE, 2003. TO DO THIS THEY HAD TO ACCUMULATE OVER 5,000 POINTS. NOT AN EASY FEAT, BUT THESE TWO DOGS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THEM.
The rogue's gallery of our team dogs:
Axle - (5.4 sec) FDCh, U-CD, NAC, R1CL (Ridgeback/Lab) - has to be the lead dog. Should get his FM in 2003.
Spunky - (4.7 sec) FM (Border Collie/German Shepherd – A very valuable member of the team – he can run in any position. Divides his time between Flyball and Frisbee.
Oscar - (5.5 sec) FM, GoToGround (Jack Russell) - one of our height dogs. Completely reliable.
Duke - (5.6 sec) FDCh, WCX (Black Lab) – very fast. He divides his time between pheasant hunting and flyball.
J.R. – FD (Jack Russell) – one of our originals. It took him 4yrs., but he finally got the confidence to run all the way down and back!
C.J. - (6.5 sec) FDCh, GoToGround (Jack Russell) – another height dog and a little girl – she’s so little she’ll probably run under the Newfie!
Tyler - (5.4 sec) CH, FDCh, NA, NAJ, CD, JH, CGC/TDI (Gordon Setter) – Nothing stands in his way when he’s going after a ball!
Chico - (7.0 sec) FDCh, CGC/TDI (Aussie) – On temporary leave after breaking his leg chasing his little sister, Shannon.
Shannon - (4.5 sec) FDCh, (Border Collie) – terrific speed and unbelievable focus on her ball.
Mike - (4.6 sec) FDCh, R1MCL, BBTD (Greyhound/Lab) – Very fast. She has to be the last dog.
Wizard - (6.0 sec) FDCh, CGC (Corgi) – he flies over the jumps with those little legs!
Baron - (5.3 sec) FDCh, CGC (GSD) – made his debut in Maryland in 2002 and was perfect! He can run on either side.
Shadow - (5.1 sec) FDX (Cattle Dog) – a little rescue girl. Debuted in Maryland in 2002 and had a blast. I’m sure her housemate Spunky is coaching her from the sidelines. Has to run on the left and be the last dog.
Java – FDX, CGC/TDI (Golden Retriever) – debuted in Sept. 2002 and got her first title. She was wonderful.
Dottie – (6.0sec) FD, FDX (Jack Russell) – debuted in Md. April 2003 and didn’t chase other dogs – too focused on her squirrel fur toy!
Sammie – (6.2sec) FDX, R1, CGC/TDI (Corgi) – debuted in Md. April 2003 and was possessed with her ball. She can fly!!!
Willow – (5.6) FDX, CGC (GSD/Lab) – also debuted in Md. April 2003 and ran great both days. Can run in any spot.
Lexie – (6.4) FD (Border Collie) – debuted in York, Pa. 6/03 and put all the pieces together. Nice job.
Semi-Retired Dogs:
Mariah - FDCh, CD, NA, CGC/TDI (Black Lab) – our little girl is the one to count on when we need her to help the youngsters.
Deacon – FDCh, U-CD, CDX, WC, NA, NJW, TD, CGC (Flat-Coated Retriever) – is now concentrating on his advanced Agility titles.
Casey - FDX (Choc. Lab) – Casey & Cheese Wiz – perfect together!
Toby - (6.5 sec) CH, FDX, CGC/TDI (Gordon Setter) – he’s coaching his housemate, Tyler, from the sidelines – until he’s needed to help, of course.
Lexie - FDCh, CGC/TDI (Yellow Lab) – a great dog. Her mom is taking time off to raise the 2-legged kids in the house.
Natasha – FDCh, CGC/TDI (Ridgeback) – Tash is getting a little grayer now and is relaxing a little more on the sidelines – unless she’s showing her housemate, Dottie, how to catch a ball!
Dogs in Training:
Kai – R1CL, CGC (Newfoundland) – hope the team doesn’t mind slobbery tennis balls! Debuting 2003.
Captain –(5.6sec) (Jack Russell) – as soon as the consistency is there, he’ll be up and running. Hopefully, 2003.
Cinco (4.9sec) (Yellow Lab – another new dog. Still a puppy, but we finally found a sport that will tire him out!
Ragen (GSD/Corgi/Golden) –a.k.a. Rowdy Ragen - our newest member. Six months old, learning how to get her little ball and come back for a game of tug. Hope her big brother Axle has the patience to teach her the ropes.
Tar (Lab) – Only 5 months old, but already following in Duke’s footsteps – loves bird wings and tennis balls!
Our second team "Spontaneous Combustion" entered their first competition in September 2001 and did very well. Our third team, "Crash & Burn", debuted in Sept. 2002 and took 3rd place in their division.
Cheryl Smagala - twks@hotmail.com Rev. 6/03