Champs 2013 tops...

... if anyone is interested (and a mascot dog !)

http://www.itsaboutsport.co.uk/products.asp?cat_code=100&subcat_code=797

For your item to be delivered to your chosen address before the event, orders must be placed by 6.00pm on Thursday 8th August. We will also be delivering some orders to the event on Thursday 15th August. If you require this option please select “Collection @ Event" from the delivery options when you checkout. Last order date for delivery to champs is by 5:30pm on 12th August. Your order will then be available to collect from Friday 16th at the admin tent, please print your invoice if collecting from admin. If you have any queries or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact It’s About Sport on 01727 822280 or email sales@itsaboutsport.co.uk

This is what the 2013 logo looks like.... (FRONT)

(BACK)

Advanced notice September competitions

Make a note in your diary ready for my email !....

September 7th & 8th (No starters) Hedsor Golf Course, Wooburn Common, Buckinghamshire HP10 0JW
Note, this is the week after Padworth, only go if you are not suffering from Flyball burn out !.

September 14th & 15th (No starters) RSPCA Southridge, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3LZ
Right on the edge of our 1 hour "travel to a competition" limit, not one that we have competed at before.

September 21st & 22nd (There will be starters here)   Acremead Kennels, Drayton, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4EZ
Acremead is one of our core venues; if you are going to race at any venue this month I suggest you make it this one, will be well attended by the team, also a good venue for starter dogs wanting to try 'open' racing.  Muttley and Chewy will be here, so if slower teams mates want to join them in a Rebounds team that would be great.

September 28th & 29th (There will be starters racing here) Anstey Park, Alton, Hampshire GU34 2RL

Blimey!, a whole months racing here for the taking if you want it !

Looking further into 2013...

There are 2 competitions in October
There are 0 competitions in November
There are 0 competitions in December (Unless you want a 1h 45m drive to Kennel Club Building, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LZ)

Cheers,

Andy

Latest movers and shakers....

... points are up from Mapledurham, and despite going best of 3 in the afternoon, some dogs have scored some big points !...

Movers !

Bruiser gets Flyball Dog Graduate !... yay go Bruiser :-)

Future shakers !

Harry - Now 55 points away from Flyball Dog Advanced

Darcy - Now 55 points away from Flyball Dog Graduate (not bad for a dog who was originally labeled as "no good for Flyball" !)

Special mention !

Well done Freya on getting your first Flyball points !... 80 is not a bad start :-)

Great going everyone... keep those awards coming in, your dogs deserve it.

Andy

Photos from Mapledurham

Have a hunt through...

Div 6 = Racers
Div 10 = Raiders
Div 13 = Rebounds

http://www.doggieportraits.co.uk/event-gallery/barkshire-bandits.htm

Some randoms below.

Maya puts so much effort into Flyball :-)

 Chris does the funky chicken...

Andy

Mapledurham racing update

Luckily I don't have time to do a long rambling update !.

The weekend was scorchio hot hot HOT !

On both days we ran best of 5 in the morning, then in the afternoon switched to best of 3, so the dogs did not get over worked or over heated... this is the first time I have ever seen this happen at Flyball (because it is normally freezing cold and chucking it down with rain !)... and it worked a treat, races flew by, dogs kept cool and the pressure to not mess things up made it extra exciting !.

Saturday - Freya, Ruby, Lacey, Muttley and Maya teamed up knowing they had a seed time they could not achieve.  But they produced some great team work.  Muttley was dog 5 and stepped in while Freya was getting into the swing of things, and once Freya was up and running Muttley and Maya shared dog 5 spot so each could have a rest... the result?... we got 4th ! (same as in Basingstoke) and set a new seed time for the Champs of 22:20 (I think !).  Nice team work, and well done Freya on getting your first Flyball points.

Sunday - Was a bit of a mix up as Chris put the wrong racing times on the instructions email :-) 

With minutes to go before the Racers were due on we were a black lab short !... so Alfie stepped in to join Summer, Harry and Milly.

Racers lost their first race against the Bassets as they worked on their cross overs... but once they found their groove, there were some butt clenching close cross overs, and they won all their other races to come in 2nd overall (behind those darn Bassets !).

Raiders - Bruiser, Mist, Darcy and Tosca step up to the closest, and toughest, division of the 3 the Rookys raced in.

Three close nail biting heats later (including the drama of a re-race due to the box not triggering) the Raiders were 3 nil up... their last heat was against the only other team to also be 3 nil up... and it was another Basset team !... so winner takes all !... race 1... Bassets win, race 2... Raiders win .... this is it... last race... tension !... and the Raiders pressure the Bassets into getting an early cross over and cruise to a well earned win !.

And a new seed time for the Raiders at the Champs of 20:02... so all 3 teams can go to the Champs, put their paws flat to the floor, and race like the wind, without fear of breaking out, or, being accused of holding back... a perfect situation !

So 4th, 2nd and 1st... a great venue, the river kept the dogs cool... the tea room and ice cream van kept the humans cool !.... one of my top venues to compete at... if you can make it you should go in 2014.

Ruby watching Shannon and other humans swimming in the Thames:

 Camp Rooky:

 Cool dogs :-)

Stockbridge next :-)

Andy

July & August summary

Will be trying something new from now on.

Each month I will post up what is happening in two months time... will give you a chance to check your diary etc.

This month will cover July and August as these are a busy two months (read to the end for other news):

Training and Comps...

July 12th & 13th - No training, 3 teams competing at Mapledurham (both days) there is space for more dogs on either day.  Pop down on Sunday to watch the racing and join in with the fund raising stuff for DBARC.

July 20th - Training is on, but only Chris will be there, so any help appreciated.

July 27th - No training, this is the day Paws In The Park is on at Lily Hill Park (next to where we train), we need dogs to do a Flyball demo at 11:30am (all ability welcome !), and help to run a "have a go" Flyball lane between 12 and 4pm.  Please let Chris know if you can help / want to do the demo (don't worry, Chris will be doing the PA system lol).  More details to follow.

August 3rd - There should be training, also two teams competing at Fairview Farm.

August 10th - Training is on.

August 17th - No training, we have three teams heading North to compete in the BFA Championships.

August 24th - Will play this by ear, had lots of interest to do another Starters competition, there will be one at Cantley Park in Wokingham, RG40 5QG ; if you want to go to this competition let Andy know sooner rather than later.  Training will be dependent on how many dogs want to do Starters (Open dogs welcome to race here too, again let Andy know).

August 31st - Training will be on, there is also a competition for Open dogs only near Theale.  Let Andy know if you want to race at this one  (Note the community dogs show in Maidenhead probably will not need us to go now, but thanks to those who volunteered... I will let you know if this changes).

Other stuff !....

New car bumper stickers are on order; you can buy these at cost price for £4... we have 10 on the way (but can order more if there is demand)... first come first served, let Andy know !

You have 'till the 21st to get your emails back to Andy for a chance to win one of four Bob & Lush goodies worth between £5 and £20 !.

Anything else?!... just ask !... andy@rookyracers.co.uk

Mapledurham details (update 2 @08:07 11th July)

Update 2... final running orders and ring party (Ring Party Sunday Division 2), racing starts 8:30 both days.

Update 1... I have been told the running orders are all going to change again !... stand by, update due before Saturday.

I will update this post as and when I get new information.

Hot off the press running orders below.

Racers and Rascals Sunday.
Rebounds Saturday (Sorry Debbie, this means Dylan cannot race as the Rebounds are the slower team).

Basically this competition will be massive with two rings, let me know if you want to camp.

Thanks,

Andy (Click to enlarge)

Bob & Lush bumper purple prize pack :-)

Wow, I have to admit, im pretty happy with this awsome looking prize pack donated to the team by the lovely people at Bob & Lush http://www.bobandlush.com/treats.html :

And to top it off I have added a tube of balls, and ball thrower, from Pedigree.

The treats consist of:

Crunchy Tripe Chews, 85g packs, Treat your dog to some quality home time with these crunchy tripe chews. Dried till crispy, they are full of healthy nutrients and cleanse your dog’s teeth and gums.

Ox liver, 50g packs, These small pieces of liver are fantastic for training or just as yummy treats.


Duck Breast, 50g packs, Caution these duck breasts are seriously tasty! Easy to feed while on a walk, these bite size pieces of chewable duck breasts make for a meaty and tasty natural treat.

The treats have a value of £40(!).

To win these you don't need to do any Twitter, or Facebook, stuff (but if you follow Bob & Lush on Facebook they occasionally do free prize draws for food / treats), all you need to do is reply to the email that I am sending out later tonight... if you don't get the email tell me asap !!.

The treats will be divided up into 4 prize packs, so you have a good chance of winning ! :-)

1st = 5 balls, ball thrower, x2 tripe chews, x1 ox liver, x1 duck breast
2nd = 1 ball, x1 tripe chew, x1 ox liver, x1 duck breast
3rd = x1 tripe chew, x1 ox liver
4th = x1 tripe chew

Good luck!... any questions let me know !

Andy (andy@rookyracers.co.uk)