STOP PRESS : This is Fun
STOP PRESS : New World Record Flyball Run 14.963 Seconds
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About Flyball
Flyball is a fun sport for you and your favourite pal.
Dogs of almost any age and size can take part, owners of any age and size can also take part!! If your dog is fit enough it can play flyball - you will get a lot fitter too.
Your dog must be at least 18 months old to take part in a sanctioned flyball tournament. This age restriction is purely to safeguard the dog's long term health.
Flyball is basically a team sport.
Each squad can consist of up to 6 dogs and from this 4 are selected to take part in each heat. It is basically a relay race with 4 dogs and their owners/handlers in each team for that heat. The hurdle height is worked ot by measuring the smallest dog in the team at the withers. So if you have a small dog that you think might be good at flyball then get along quickly to a training session, you will be made very welcome.
The 5th member of the team is the box loader and whilst they are not running one of the dogs they are critical to the team's performance and have to make sure the ball is ready and in the right place for each dog.
The dogs race against a team in another lane over 4 hurdles, retrieve the ball from a box and return it to the handler, the next dog does the same and so on until all 4 dogs have run.
The winning Flyball team is the first to get all 4 dogs over the line without any faults.
Flyball is the fastest growing dog sport in the country and it also played world wide, using the same rules, in countries as diverse as USA, Canada, Japan, Australia as well as many European countries including the UK.
It is a very social sport with many teams opting to "camp out" at the various weekend tournaments - resulting in a lively social life for you and your flyball dog.
Flyball is Great Fun!
The History of Flyball
Flyball is the most unique and exciting dog sport invented. It is fast, colourful and noisy. Flyball was first seen in California in the early 70's, where Herbert Wagner first invented a ball launcher for demonstration at his Canine Obedience Graduations.
It was fun for the dogs, owners and onlookers and he was asked to go on the US National TV - Flyball grew from there. In the early 80's the sport took off in Canada and America - the North American Flyball Association (NAFA) was formed.
In the early 90's, a group of enthusiasts in the UK formed the British Flyball Association (BFA). Many of the first in the sport in this country still compete. Once experienced it's hard to stop and the dogs don't want to stop anyway!
Merlin's Magicians Flyball Team
Our flyball team "Merlin's Magicians" operates in the Carmarthenshire area around Newcastle Emlyn and Ferryside. We have many training activities including agility for our canine friends. Why not bring your pet along to one of our training sessions in West Wales.Merlin's Magicians Carmarthenshire Flyball Team welcomes ALL dogs and owners. Come along to our training sessions in West Wales. Flyball - an incredible exciting dog sport for you and your dog.
Don't PAWS for thought - DO IT NOW.
British Flyball Association Membership
Membership of the British flyball Association means that you can keep up to date with what's happening, join in online discussions, find out about upcoming events and most of all, be part of a big, friendly family who help each other to progress their teams and Flyball as a whole.
BFA Flyball Competitions
There are many BFA Flyball Tournaments throughout the year, indoors and outdoors across the UK.
There are Winter and Summer seasons, but flyball competitions run all year round.