Merlin's Magicians Newsletter
CARMARTHEN – MARCH NEWSLETTER
Expect you’ve all noticed we aren’t Ferryside any more? Phew, what a month, wouldn’t want to go through it again in a hurry!
First was an absolute bolt from the blue, I received an email from Burns to say that we could no longer use the field at Penlan Isaf, with IMMEDIATE effect!!! We were given until the end of the month to remove our equipment. No mean feat as we had, with John Burns personal approval erected two small sheds to keep said equipment in! No explanation was given, we were at a loss as to what to do.
Anyway, Dave and I set ourselves to find a new venue as quickly as possible, we have a full calendar of events so needed to be training etc.
They say every cloud has a silver lining, well in this case it could well be true, we were featured in an article in the Carmarthen Journal. The picture taken for that was hilarious, only Dave and myself were available, we being the only non working, retired members, we met the photographer at the Carmarthen Showground with Corrie (Dave’s dog) my pack and two new recruits (don’t think they even realised they were recruited) as team members.
Still the resulting article and picture got us a super new venue, actually a much more conveniently sited venue. Karen rang me to offer her place. We now train, same time 10.30 Sunday mornings at, Llwyncleyn, Llanddrog. SA32 8AJ. This is just off the Carmarthen – Crosshands By Pass, nearer for most than Ferryside, especially the Swansea members. We will be putting the Agility equipment there in the near future too.
Here I must give thanks to Mike (our ‘Out of Town’ member from Hereford) who came down with his trailer and was invaluable for the removal/transfer of equipment from one place to the other, and Dave who sorted out the equipment shed and is on track to re build the second one for the Agility jumps.
As if this wasn’t enough, halfway through this we had the pre arranged fund raising event at Beulah! Thanks to all, again including Mike who hauled the equipment up there, this went off quite well, not terribly well attended, it was Mother’s Day (something we had overlooked when deciding upon the date) but good fun (Andrew & Debbie’s Burger bar was brilliant, no one does a burger like you Andrew )
That and the dog show gaining the most attention. The ‘Agility and fastest recall were also popular and, of course, our display was the usual mix of brilliance and chaos!! Result being about £100 added to the ‘New Box’ fund.
Following on from the Newspaper article, we are to have a follow up telling how successful the appeal was (publicity welcomed) and, we have been approached by S4c who are coming to film us next month for Welsh television!!
April promises to be equally busy, though not as traumatic thank goodness, the two above, plus Dave is organising a publicity day in Merlin’s Walk, Carmarthen, when we hope to be telling (and showing via a television set and DVD) the public, what great fun Flyball is and inviting more dog loving loonies : - ) to join us.
We had our first session at Llwyncleyn (I will have to learn to spell it without looking!) Most successful, two new dogs attended, did well and seem set to come back, the weather was glorious and most of the dogs finished off with a swim in the fishing lake!! We have photographs taken by Tegwen Flack who came along with Elaine. I have to get permission and/or digital copies to get them on site. Meanwhile they can be seen on our facebook page.
1st April (Yes sorry I didn’t get this in before, I have a lot of personal ‘things’ going on at the moment health wise) I took myself off, accompanied by 7 dogs!!! To the BFA AGM, a round trip of nearly 400 miles but was worth it. I collected the new (to us) boxes, pictures posted on facebook, enjoyed meeting up with the people I don’t get to see between tournaments, and picking their brains re training. Plus, the AGM was interesting too : - )
Please will everyone whose dogs are not yet included in the ‘Dogs’ PLEASE (yes I’m shouting) get a favourite picture and a brief write up to me. It is well past time this was updated.
We have been asked for another couple of displays, one we have accepted, Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday August 26th & 27th at the Carmarthen Show Ground, the other, being considered is for 14th July as a main ring attraction: - )
At a ‘Horse’ event near Llandrindod Wells. We have had to turn down one very local request as it clashed with our annual trip to Anglesey, but they would like us next year! I have said we will pencil them in and if they don’t clash when the BFA tournament list is out we will be happy to be there in 2013.
I am sure I have loads more to say but, it will have to wait until next month as I am late submitting this already.
Keep smiling, June.