Merlin's Magicians February Flyball & Agility Newsletter
FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER FERRYSIDE
Well what a month we’re having, due to Stirling work by Debbie, advertising in the Swansea and Llanelli areas we have been inundated, yes, actually inundated, with people wanting to come and try Flyball with us! Debbie also gave a great interview on Radio Wales, this has interested even more people, so much so that our first session, 6th February we introduced twelve!!! New people to the best fun you can have with your dog – Flyball. Plus we have started a waiting list and have already six people waiting to start 20th March.
Of course along with the elation at this surge of interest we have now to consider how we run this ever expanding team.
Charlie Brown is fit and raring to go! Not that we had time to do anything with our ‘team dogs’ or newer dogs owned by existing members at the first session. Now we are doing the new dogs first, hoping that the new people will stay and help us with the others.
Christine has sourced us a supply of used tennis balls from Llanelli Lawn Tennis Club, free!! Well done Christine and thank you Llanelli Lawn Tennis ClubJ
Sarah, Mike and I have sorted the Agility equipment and taken some up to Beulah. Andrew has kindly offered to take and repair/renovate some of the equipment from Ferryside. Enabling both venues to offer ‘Fun’ Agility as well as Flyball to our team dogs. We have also taken to and erected a small shed at Ferryside so that the wooden jumps etc can be stored dry between sessions. Mike and I have busied ourselves painting and patching the rest that has overwintered in my garage and will be taking it down very shortly.
We had our meeting 27th February, to discuss the above and other matters. This was followed, of course, by a meal at the Bluebell Inn Cynwyl Elfed! Superb meal as usual. Georgina took the minutes for us, which will be posted here shortly.
Short one this month as we have only just started back. If anyone would like to write anything for the Newsletters, it would be most welcome, save you having to put up with just my verbal diarrhoea!! Keep smiling...............June
Beulah Ceredigion.
Oh dear, really can't think of anything to put for this month!! eeek. ok here goes!
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Nothing to report as we have not started back after the winter yet. Our first practise is March 5th. I bet the dogs are going to go berserk when they get near to Brenda's!
NO PRACTISE MARCH 12th. Normally we would just carry on but as it is only the second one of the season we had a quick discussion and agreed it will be on SUNDAY March 13th at 2pm, usual place.
Suggested fillings for Kongs
1. Peanut butter and banana - smear the inside of the Kong with peanut butter and fill with mashed banana. Can be frozen to make it last longer.
2. Porridge and tuna/sardines - mix the porridge with boiling water and add a tin of tuna or sardines. Mix together well and fill Kong. Either refrigerate or freeze.
3. Packet mashed potato and almost anything! - Mix up the packet mashed potato (most supermarkets have their own value version) to the consistency that you require and then add whatever else you like - ham, corned beef, chicken, tuna, pilchards, cheese, whatever - then fill the Kong. Again, can be frozen.
4. Chappie is quick and easy as a filling.
5. Cheese spread or value sandwich spreads are great for plugging the hole at the bottom and using as an enticement on the top of the filling.
Minutes for Merlin’s Magicians - Meeting held Cynwyl Elfed 27/2/11
Attended by: June, Christine, Brenda, Debbie, Dwysli, Debbie, Sarah, Mike, Megan, Sheryl, Del, Georgina.
- Treasurer for Ferryside. Christine volunteered to take on the role (primarily banking the subs). June will get another paying in book/card for her to use.
- Agility – Some equipment now at Beulah, Andrew repairing other items. It was agreed that members should have priority over visitors for Agility.
- Changes to the rules – really we do not need a committee, we could end up bogged down in red tape. Instead of the previous rules 1 and 2 it was agreed that for any financial matters two members from each venue (so 4 members in total) should discuss and agree any outlay.
- A sign will be erected at Ferryside reminding people to not just clean up after their dogs but to dispose of the waste.
- All members are liable for any vet fees due to incidents with their dogs during training or competition.
- If a dog has any physical disability (excluding deafness) the owner is to provide a covering note from a vet saying it is safe for the dog to train/compete at flyball. The note should cover no more than a year at a time, and a new one submitted each year. It is at the discretion of the Team Captain whether a dog is deemed fit to take part EVEN IF such a note is available (ie dog limping, overweight, panting with only slight exertion etc).
- A display has been requested for the Welsh Dog Whisperer at Margam Park on April 17th. June to arrange a team.
- A display has been requested for Kidwelly Carnival on 9th July. At present we had plans to compete that weekend. June will check for alternative competition dates which would allow us to do both.
- June to arrange the purchase of a set of 12 easily portable weaves for Fly-Agility demonstrations.
- Sarah/Christine to chat up discuss with contacts the possibility of having a fundraiser to buy new equipment. Possible venues Pembrey or Llanelli Fields.
- Ferryside – when the clocks change have Wednesday evening as an alternative practise date when there are competitions at the weekend.
- Flyball Dog certificates should be given out at Anglesey in April.
- BFA Championships will now be held at Arbury Hall, Nuneaton on 19th August... please note the change in date. (postcode CV10 7PT – not far out of Nuneaton town where there is an Asda, Sainsbury, Co-op etc and even closer are some smaller shops)
- Christine was thanked for “persuading” a good looking gent at Llanelli Tennis Club to give her his used balls!
- Debbie was thanked for all her sterling work in the press and on radio to promote the club.