Blue Sky Flyball Teams
Introduction
Blue Sky Flyball Teams was founded on 1st October 2021 by a group of 5 seasoned flyballers who wanted to try doing things differently.
Progress has been rapid. Starting with just one team of 5 handlers and their dogs the Club now has grown to over 20 active members and nearly 30 dogs. We have regularly entered 2 Open (fully trained) teams and 2 Foundation (training in progress) teams. The Club is proud to have hosted annual competitions at the Cheshire Polo Club grounds since 2022, and in 2023 this included a Cruft’s flyball qualifier for the chance to compete at the NEC in 2024.
With the help of our sponsors, we have now built a comprehensive inventory of equipment and the means to transport it as required.
For the 2024 season we sourced a new electronic timing system to enhance our training experience and considerably improve our preparation for competitions.
What is Flyball?
Flyball is an exciting and fast paced team sport where two teams of four dogs race side by side down a 51-foot lane. Each dog will race over four jumps, trigger a box to release a tennis ball, retrieve it, and race back to their handler. The next dog in the lineup will be released so that they cross the start lane as closely as possible to each other. The first team to have all four dogs complete their runs without faults wins the leg.
With up to six dogs on a team (four racing at a time), substitutions can happen between legs. Races are monitored with electronic systems that track faults, times, and countdowns, ensuring fair competition. Teams compete in divisions with teams who run at a similar seed time, and the team with the most wins takes 1st Place. Flyball is fast, thrilling, and all about teamwork!
Any dog can do flyball as long as they are fit and healthy, it is a great way for them to blow off some steam, use their brain and bond with their owner/handler.
Training & Competitions
Training takes place at the Cheshire Polo Club grounds on Sunday mornings throughout the year weather permitting. With the excellent drainage it is rare that sessions are cancelled due to ground conditions. When the club are taking part in a competition at the weekend training is usually offered on a Monday evening.
Additionally, we are able to hire an indoor training facility near Lymm. This is mainly during the winter months to keep the teams in good shape and prepare for indoor tournaments.
During 2023 we took part in 14 competitions mostly in the Northwest and Yorkshire. It is normal for competitions to be held over a weekend and many participants camp in their tents, caravans and motorhomes and so make it an enjoyable social occasion too with friends and teammates.
For those preferring not to camp, as we target a good number of events which are relatively near it is possible to ‘day trip’ when required to race.
It is important to note that significant commitment is desirable to enjoy and be successful in the sport. Regular attendance at training and good availability for competitions are therefore encouraged.
Flyball is suitable for virtually any breed of dog, provided he/she are fit and healthy. Different sized breeds can all take part – subject to a formal measuring procedure, smaller dogs are permitted to run over a reduced jump height (the range is 6” to 12”) and so jumps are 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.
Dogs need to be a minimum age of 12 months to take part in Foundation racing and for Open racing its 18 months.
Flyball Associations
Blue Sky Flyball Teams are members of the British Flyball Association (B.F.A.) and the UK Flyball League (U.K.F.L). Both organisations provide a national structure for UK flyball that allows clubs to compete with their teams and dogs throughout the year. Clubs which compete in/host events are required to abide by the respective rules and specifications of the BFA and UKFL depending on which one has sanctioned a specific event.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TRYING FLYBALL OR WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION PLEASE GET IN TOUCH VIA OUR CONTACT PAGE. YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME ALONG TO ONE OF OUR TRAINING SESSIONS TO FIND OUT MORE & HAVE A GO – THERE IS NO CHARGE.
FOR THOSE WISHING TO GET MORE INVOLVED WE OFFER 4 WEEK BLOCKS OF FOUNDATION TRAINING FOR WHICH A FEE IS CHARGED