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Flyball
What is Flyball? Flyball was introduced to this country in 1990 at Crufts. It is essentially a spectator sport in the format of a knockout competition.
Flyball is made up of several teams running against each other and is a relay race. Four dogs independently negotiate 4 hurdles, trigger a box by pressing a pedal releasing a tennis ball which the dog must catch and return to the handler, negotiating the 4 hurdles on return. The next dog then takes its turn until the entire team has completed the course The four dogs are timed and the fastest relay team wins
A team can consist of up to six dogs and handlers, but only four compete in each round. There can be up to 3 runs and it is the team that wins the best out of three (2 of 3) that wins the knockout.
The Ball Loader has to load the box with a ball and shouts instructions to the dogs.
A judge will start the race and each side has a linesman to check for illegal changeovers. The sport has now progressed and some shows provide electronic timing and a traffic light system for changeovers.
Equipment There are 4 pieces of equipment required for Flyball.
- Hurdles
- Flyball box
- Backstop Board
- Balls
Crufts Winners In 1993 a team of Groenendaels 'The Dartford All Blacks' all from the same litter bred by
Anne Challis 'Louandi' won the Crufts Flyball competition.