FLORENCE, S.C. — More than 200 Carolina canine champions will compete this weekend in a tournament that’s nothing like the Puppy Bowl.
The high-powered bundles of fur will compete in the fast-growing, fast-paced human-canine sport of flyball. The two-day “Fast and Furriest” Flyball Tournament will take place Saturday and Sunday beginning at 8 a.m. at the Eastern Carolina Agricultural Fairgrounds in Florence. The tournament will be held indoors, and admission is free.
Tournament Director Linda Damiano described flyball as a sort of steeplechase relay for canines. In this competitive sport, dogs are part of teams and the rules are similar to a human relay race. Races match two teams of four dogs each, running side-by-side over a 51-foot-long lane, jumping four hurdles along the way. At the end of the lane is a spring-loaded box holding a tennis ball. Each dog must in turn pounce on the box, releasing the ball, then race back to their owner, jumping the same four hurdles with the ball in their mouth. The next dog then runs the course, but cannot begin until the team’s previous dog has reached the start/finish line. The first team to have all four of its dogs finish the course without errors wins the heat. Penalties are applied if a dog drops a ball or is released too soon.
“It’s great fun to watch and very exciting,” said Damiano. “It’s not unusual for all four dogs on a team to complete their laps in under 20 seconds total.”
Dogs can earn titles and awards based on points earned by their team in racing. Many canine members of the host Pawmetto Pack Flyball Club hold championship titles. Titles are earned by means of a point system based on the time it takes a dog’s team to complete each heat race. The sport is also now part of the famous Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
“A big part of flyball’s popularity and appeal is that it’s open to pretty much any dog, big or small, rescued mutt or purebred,” said Damiano.
Flyball got its start in the late 1960s and early 1970s. There are now more than 400 clubs and 6,500 competing dogs in Canada and the United States.
‘Fast and Furriest’ Flyball Tournament
Feb. 13, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Feb. 14, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Eastern Carolina Agricultural Fairgrounds
5226 E. Palmetto St., Florence SC 29506
Free Admission
Host Club: The Pawmetto Pack, Florence, SC
http://flyballdogs.com/pawmettopack/fast_and_furriest.html
-This information is from a Press Release.
