Merlin's Magicians Newsletter
Ferryside Newsletter. February 2012
Goodness that month has flown by, even with the extra day – leap year.
Our Sunday sessions have been going very well, attendance is a bit ‘hit and Miss’ not having the same dogs every week does make the training part a bit difficult. With this in mind I am asking that we pick a team and start to train as a team, with non competing dogs training as a separate group.
New dogs Corrie and Toby are doing extremely well, Dave is eager to compete Alistair, due to other commitments isn’t able to think about anything that involves travelling as yet, and, we all know that travelling is something that can’t be avoided as none of the tournaments are even in Wales! Except for the Anglesey ones and they are a 4 hour drive away!! Little Betty has been absent for a few weeks, she has been in season.
The meeting at the Bluebell was, I thought, quite productive, (the meal following it superb!) I am hoping to add the minutes from Georgina at the end of this newsletter, but a brief note here to say. Thank you to Dave who has taken over as the Treasurer.
Brenda is organising the fund raising event at Beulah on 17th/18th March. We will be having a joint training session on the Saturday and setting up for the public ready for the Sunday. We realised, with hindsight that it will be Mothers Day so are hoping it will appeal as a family outing with, fun and food.
Dave volunteered to organise the promotional event at Merlin’s Walk, Carmarthen, the date suggested being 12th May. Debs has shown great talent and put together a slide show, set to music, showing our dogs and members having fun at training etc. This should make an ideal display to promote Flyball as a real fun thing to do.
My health hasn’t been too good so the poor dogs have had to amuse themselves, me being unable to walk them. To their great delight the council have come along to put a pavement through the village. This
resulted in my rather overgrown hedge being grubbed out and 8 foot high council metal fencing being put in, (a temporary measure as they are to put up a 6 foot wooden fence) they spend lots of happy hours watching and barking at the men and various bits of enormous machinery – LOL. Anyway, I am due an MRI scan and actually am already feeling somewhat improved so, fingers crossed it’ll be “Walkies” again very soon.
June
Beulah – Ceredigion
PRACTISE STARTS March 3rd (Saturday) at 2pm at Brenda's. We will be moving to a Friday night when the evenings get lighter
Georgina
Minutes from the meeting on 26th February at The Bluebell.
Apologies from Mike, Christine, Jayne, Sheryl, Del
1) Treasurer - Dave voted in (June) and seconded (Georgina) to take on the role of Treasurer. He has sorted out a chequebook and June will transfer £271 into the account
2) Events
- Merlin’s Walk, Carmarthen. June will supply a TV and speak to the webmaster re footage of flyball. Dwysli will edit some videos of our dogs practising as well. These can be shown on a continual loop. Merlin’s Walk will provide the canopy, a table, and can also arrange an electric supply. Various team members will arrange to take a stint during the day to talk to people about flyball. Date to be confirmed. (Note – Date 12th May has been booked since meeting)
- Beulah. It was agreed that rather than having both days open to the public the Saturday (17th March) will be for us to practise, arrival time around 1.00. BBQ in the evening. Sunday will be open to the public and will be advertised as a Dog Fun Day, gates open at midday. There will be a fun dog show with judging starting at 2.00 - Brenda will source rosettes. CARE will sponsor a Best Rescue class. Entries cost 50p per class. Other events will be a Have a Go Agility course (June to provide the weaves and jumps) and Fastest Recall. Team members to take turns in manning these. Hot dogs etc will be available during the day (Andrew is chief caterer for both days). CARE will provide a microchipper - any dog £10.... the money will go to CARE but hopefully more dogs will have the security of a chip! There will be a raffle. Members asked to provide prizes.
3) New Boxes. June will be collecting the new boxes at the BFA AGM, If she is unable to go due to health problems Dave has offered to go in her stead.
4) £5 entry for Tournaments to be paid by the individual not the club
5) Ferryside Training. June asked for commitment from members wanting to compete as training a team is very difficult without all the dogs involved at training sessions. Also asked that everybody helped with the actual training, team dog owners to help with none team training and visa versa.
AOB - 19th May is St Clears Show. Times to be confirmed.
Bark Britain to raise funds for McMillan and Cancer Research in Dogs - Brenda reminded us this takes place in May and she will need some support. There is a 10 mile sponsored walk.
7th July - Kidwelly Carnival.