27 May 2006 - Eggborough
What Power Station at Eggborough!
The balls are marked with a giant FC in red to match our team colours, the car is loaded with the camping attire and the dogs are last to board. The early morning meet up at the Blue Anchor is here again. What happens to the 7 short days in-between to unpack the car and wash the stuff from the previous week. Is it me, or is the week getting shorter? The mind boggles!
We arrive at Eggborough to join up with Jo and Sam who have acquired a lovely spot in the middle of both the flyball lanes and the exercise area and near the clubhouse. The campervan parked and the tents and gazebo are up quicker than you can say you can't put it there, too late there up and pegged to the ground. There are several people missing from our usual crew, there's Sandra and Muriel who are joining us later that day, Caroline and Ashley along with Kathryn are joining us Sunday but Colin and Bev have gone on there 20 odd year annual holiday to ??? wait a minute while I think of where they've gone ?. That's it, it's a place that makes great pasties? Cornwall!
Today for a change was a very leisurely one with only the Coasters running in division 4. We've not had this much time in a long time to watch other divisions racing without being in them our selves or trying to grab something to eat between races and divisions. First race and the Coasters decided to do all their days errors in one race, what with lights, too tighter and too late passing, problems catching the ball and wide turns are to name but a few. As you would have guessed we lost the first race! Pull our selves together, team talk and a change of box to the trusty one whole. Back on form and we win the next two but can't beat the Blaxton Blades who where extremely quick and won us 3 straight. Our 3rd rosette did us proud with our fastest time this season of 20.35.
Now your thinking that we could just sit back and relax! Well your wrong as Tia own by Sam for only 3 weeks managed to get head hunted by the West Riding Wizards who were lacking a starter dog. Now not knowing whether Tia would perform or not, trusty Pepsi was on stand by just in case. Sam needn't have worried, as Tia must have been a flyball dog in a previous life! Tia took to it like a duck to water. Wouldn't it be great if every dog you picked up from the rescue could do flyball as easy as Tia has? The team got a great time of 20.94 and Tia gained her first, first rosette and had a great time. Sam was ecstatic and couldn't believe her look, neither could the Wizards who said it was a shame she didn't live nearer them! Now its one thing borrowing a starter dog but another thing to poach them! Tia is defiantly a Fylde Coaster as Sam?s just spent a fortune on her new team uniform.
It was back to the Coasters village and time to watch our own master chief at work. The bolognaise sauce bubbling away and the pasta done to perfection. I chose the Al a Carte version of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes mmmmmmm they tasted great with the smell of GARLIC bread oozing around the gazebo.
We sat back to relax and enjoy the banter in our very comfy extra padded chairs! I hear you asking WHAT extra padded comfy chairs! Arrrrh well Kathy had found a new use for Doreen's fleece dog beds; they make super chair cushions and really keep those delicate? small? areas warm! Practically most of the team purchased this new invention and you can't really miss them, so if you see an array of fleece dog beds in chairs you know it's the Coasters.
So there we were quietly minding our own business when we hear screams of HELP needed in the flyball ring! Quicker than you could say WHAT, Pete was sprinting! Yes he was sprinting, it was a shock for us all and especially Jo who didn't realise Pete could move so quick. There he was followed by the rest of us gasping for air and hobbling, along with Sandra with her jumper on back to front trying to rescue one of the large gazebos that had blown from the ring into OH NO don't go on the football pitch Betty will have you area! It worked out well really as we totally dismantled the whole of the flyball ring before returning to the comfort of our gazebo.
Sunday came along far too quick and I could hear the team mulling around outside and the smell of bacon butties. Up and out with in a matter of seconds, well nearly! Dogs up out of there nice warm beds and harnessed before you could say WHAT race are we in? Its ok we have time for a brew or two before we start to race. Today was the turn of the Surfers and the Rollercoasters with the Coasters putting up their paws and watching the day unfold. We had a new recruit joining in the fun of her first time sanctioned flyball competition with Leo the standard Poodle, who I might add would give any collie a run for the money! Lucky for us we have a couple of multibreed teams who are lacking in a poodle or two, but I'll save that for later. Did I mention I was writing a dissertation on Eggborough or is that Sam?
First in were the Rollercoasters, Megan as start dog with Sandra griping on for dear life, followed by unfazed Maddy who just wants the ball and is glad she's not fourth dog as you have to wait ages for a go, at least as second dog I get to see the lights go and can get ready to rock and roll. Next is either of the two reprobates those mad Labs TJ who like to splatter the box judge with slaver every time he ejects the ball or commando Emerys who thinks its hilarious to wind up who ever is running him by rolling on the floor or head butting them just when they think its safe to bend down and stroke him, NOT! Finally in our line up is ladylike Tilly run by Ashleigh who does some great passes. Now with any team you have to get a good running order and this is not easy when you have 5 easily matched dogs, but with 5 races it seems only fair to have 1 dog out per race, which luckily for me worked out great. We race really well and gained a steady consistent time of 22.63 and a well earned rosette for 2nd place.
Our rest was well earned; we had time for a quick cuppa and application of sun cream. Yes you read it right sun cream; the weather men got it wrong for Eggborough who gave us great racing weather unlike other parts of the country who had more than enough rain.
It was now the Surfers turn and we were all raring to go including our new lad Leo. He was going to be shown the ropes by old hands Jed as steady as they come, Harvey get in my way and I'll wipe you out, Pepsi side winder and bad boy Moses who thinks his version of flyball is much more fun! I?ll get to that bit soon. As you can see there are 5 dogs in this team as well, my job made easy as 5 races indicate 1 dog out per race, no problems.
First race in and all is looking well a few hiccups but we managed to get there in the end. Second race and Moses decided that the other lane looked sooooo much better and decided to join their team in the run back area. One more chance but that bad boy had to live up to his name and could not resist it; out he came and in went the dog that was supposed to be out. So much for an easy running order! Next race in and Moses in again doing run backs and run downs, nobody really wanted a practice any way, you carry on Moses, who thought it was great haring around the ring and up and down both lanes. Out he came to sit on the subs bench, now speed he has plenty of but someone needs to tell him that he can only play on one lane at a time! Luckily we had new lad Leo who couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. You just line up and hop skip and jump down to the box and race back easy Pease, What netting! I don't need netting.
Thank goodness for the end of the division!
Tactics before they race again, Jo thought it a good idea to get the steam out of Moses by a few fetches of the ball on the exercise area. Great in theory if there is a great big field, not when there is a landing strip of grass available! But they managed and tactics were set in place. This time we would have human netting in the middle of the runback area. All hands on deck! Well most of them. Over my dead body was Moses going over the other lane. Team set and Moses in as last dog, easy no problems all ran well then in went Moses and on the return from the box spy's the other runback area but were ready, NOT missed him, there were Fylde Coasters all over the floor, next time. Everybody's ready, first three dogs don't put a paw wrong neither does Moses out he comes we all dive in for the catch ooop's who put that peg board in the middle of the race lane? Apart from cracking the leg, nearly breaking my arm and looking a fool, I thought its ok nobody will have notice. I slowly turned round to see the entire spectators laughing along with my teammates who thought it was highly amusing!
My pride slightly dented along with a sore arm and I was back catching Moses. But he didn't get to the other lane and by Jo we won our only race of the day! I knew we could do it and we got some great times with the fastest this season of 23.96. It has got to be one of the most well deserved 5th places; we certainly did try! The usual surfers Jed, Harvey and Pepsi really shone through, they kept us going in our hour of need. Leo was a star and did Kathryn proud; roll on Monday for multibreed.
After a well earned rest Monday was upon us, we had 2 teams in Mulibreed the Fylde Pick ?N? Mix in division 2 with Maddy, TJ, Quincy (standing in for Bonny who was suddenly taken ill on Sunday and taken to the vets. It was her usual stomach bug and after a week of pampering Bonny has returned to full health and is back playing flyball) Megan and new lad Leo who were to make up this team. With the Fylde Go4?s in division 3 made up of Emerys, Jed, Moses, Emma, Harvey and Pepsi. Both teams looking good and ready for action, with myself captaining the Pick 'N' Mix and Carolyn captaining the Go4's we were set to go. First in the Pick 'N' Mix and as usual to make it easy 5 dogs, 5 races 1 dog out per race as long as nothing happens. I couldn't have asked for more all the dogs performed great; Quincy was in his element as this was an added bonus for him stepping in for Bonny who was recuperating in the campervan and Phil pulling the short straw and running TJ. Megan and Maddy taking it in turns to be start dog and Leo the white lightening bringing up the rear. We won all our races that day and got our fastest time of the season yet again with 20.85 and a 1st place rosette.
Yet the Go4's weren't for missing out either, they got another fastest time of 23.46 and a 3rd place rosette in division 3. With Harvey and Pepsi sharing the Cocker Spaniel space and the others dogs slotted in around them to make up a cracking little team, Moses decided to toe the line and play the BFA rules with the help of a few Fylde fielders as the middle netting.
All in all we had a great weekends racing with lost of rosettes, laughs, banter, kind weather and excellent hosts who could ask for more? Not Me.
The balls are marked with a giant FC in red to match our team colours, the car is loaded with the camping attire and the dogs are last to board. The early morning meet up at the Blue Anchor is here again. What happens to the 7 short days in-between to unpack the car and wash the stuff from the previous week. Is it me, or is the week getting shorter? The mind boggles!
We arrive at Eggborough to join up with Jo and Sam who have acquired a lovely spot in the middle of both the flyball lanes and the exercise area and near the clubhouse. The campervan parked and the tents and gazebo are up quicker than you can say you can't put it there, too late there up and pegged to the ground. There are several people missing from our usual crew, there's Sandra and Muriel who are joining us later that day, Caroline and Ashley along with Kathryn are joining us Sunday but Colin and Bev have gone on there 20 odd year annual holiday to ??? wait a minute while I think of where they've gone ?. That's it, it's a place that makes great pasties? Cornwall!
Today for a change was a very leisurely one with only the Coasters running in division 4. We've not had this much time in a long time to watch other divisions racing without being in them our selves or trying to grab something to eat between races and divisions. First race and the Coasters decided to do all their days errors in one race, what with lights, too tighter and too late passing, problems catching the ball and wide turns are to name but a few. As you would have guessed we lost the first race! Pull our selves together, team talk and a change of box to the trusty one whole. Back on form and we win the next two but can't beat the Blaxton Blades who where extremely quick and won us 3 straight. Our 3rd rosette did us proud with our fastest time this season of 20.35.
Now your thinking that we could just sit back and relax! Well your wrong as Tia own by Sam for only 3 weeks managed to get head hunted by the West Riding Wizards who were lacking a starter dog. Now not knowing whether Tia would perform or not, trusty Pepsi was on stand by just in case. Sam needn't have worried, as Tia must have been a flyball dog in a previous life! Tia took to it like a duck to water. Wouldn't it be great if every dog you picked up from the rescue could do flyball as easy as Tia has? The team got a great time of 20.94 and Tia gained her first, first rosette and had a great time. Sam was ecstatic and couldn't believe her look, neither could the Wizards who said it was a shame she didn't live nearer them! Now its one thing borrowing a starter dog but another thing to poach them! Tia is defiantly a Fylde Coaster as Sam?s just spent a fortune on her new team uniform.
It was back to the Coasters village and time to watch our own master chief at work. The bolognaise sauce bubbling away and the pasta done to perfection. I chose the Al a Carte version of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes mmmmmmm they tasted great with the smell of GARLIC bread oozing around the gazebo.
We sat back to relax and enjoy the banter in our very comfy extra padded chairs! I hear you asking WHAT extra padded comfy chairs! Arrrrh well Kathy had found a new use for Doreen's fleece dog beds; they make super chair cushions and really keep those delicate? small? areas warm! Practically most of the team purchased this new invention and you can't really miss them, so if you see an array of fleece dog beds in chairs you know it's the Coasters.
So there we were quietly minding our own business when we hear screams of HELP needed in the flyball ring! Quicker than you could say WHAT, Pete was sprinting! Yes he was sprinting, it was a shock for us all and especially Jo who didn't realise Pete could move so quick. There he was followed by the rest of us gasping for air and hobbling, along with Sandra with her jumper on back to front trying to rescue one of the large gazebos that had blown from the ring into OH NO don't go on the football pitch Betty will have you area! It worked out well really as we totally dismantled the whole of the flyball ring before returning to the comfort of our gazebo.
Sunday came along far too quick and I could hear the team mulling around outside and the smell of bacon butties. Up and out with in a matter of seconds, well nearly! Dogs up out of there nice warm beds and harnessed before you could say WHAT race are we in? Its ok we have time for a brew or two before we start to race. Today was the turn of the Surfers and the Rollercoasters with the Coasters putting up their paws and watching the day unfold. We had a new recruit joining in the fun of her first time sanctioned flyball competition with Leo the standard Poodle, who I might add would give any collie a run for the money! Lucky for us we have a couple of multibreed teams who are lacking in a poodle or two, but I'll save that for later. Did I mention I was writing a dissertation on Eggborough or is that Sam?
First in were the Rollercoasters, Megan as start dog with Sandra griping on for dear life, followed by unfazed Maddy who just wants the ball and is glad she's not fourth dog as you have to wait ages for a go, at least as second dog I get to see the lights go and can get ready to rock and roll. Next is either of the two reprobates those mad Labs TJ who like to splatter the box judge with slaver every time he ejects the ball or commando Emerys who thinks its hilarious to wind up who ever is running him by rolling on the floor or head butting them just when they think its safe to bend down and stroke him, NOT! Finally in our line up is ladylike Tilly run by Ashleigh who does some great passes. Now with any team you have to get a good running order and this is not easy when you have 5 easily matched dogs, but with 5 races it seems only fair to have 1 dog out per race, which luckily for me worked out great. We race really well and gained a steady consistent time of 22.63 and a well earned rosette for 2nd place.
Our rest was well earned; we had time for a quick cuppa and application of sun cream. Yes you read it right sun cream; the weather men got it wrong for Eggborough who gave us great racing weather unlike other parts of the country who had more than enough rain.
It was now the Surfers turn and we were all raring to go including our new lad Leo. He was going to be shown the ropes by old hands Jed as steady as they come, Harvey get in my way and I'll wipe you out, Pepsi side winder and bad boy Moses who thinks his version of flyball is much more fun! I?ll get to that bit soon. As you can see there are 5 dogs in this team as well, my job made easy as 5 races indicate 1 dog out per race, no problems.
First race in and all is looking well a few hiccups but we managed to get there in the end. Second race and Moses decided that the other lane looked sooooo much better and decided to join their team in the run back area. One more chance but that bad boy had to live up to his name and could not resist it; out he came and in went the dog that was supposed to be out. So much for an easy running order! Next race in and Moses in again doing run backs and run downs, nobody really wanted a practice any way, you carry on Moses, who thought it was great haring around the ring and up and down both lanes. Out he came to sit on the subs bench, now speed he has plenty of but someone needs to tell him that he can only play on one lane at a time! Luckily we had new lad Leo who couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. You just line up and hop skip and jump down to the box and race back easy Pease, What netting! I don't need netting.
Thank goodness for the end of the division!
Tactics before they race again, Jo thought it a good idea to get the steam out of Moses by a few fetches of the ball on the exercise area. Great in theory if there is a great big field, not when there is a landing strip of grass available! But they managed and tactics were set in place. This time we would have human netting in the middle of the runback area. All hands on deck! Well most of them. Over my dead body was Moses going over the other lane. Team set and Moses in as last dog, easy no problems all ran well then in went Moses and on the return from the box spy's the other runback area but were ready, NOT missed him, there were Fylde Coasters all over the floor, next time. Everybody's ready, first three dogs don't put a paw wrong neither does Moses out he comes we all dive in for the catch ooop's who put that peg board in the middle of the race lane? Apart from cracking the leg, nearly breaking my arm and looking a fool, I thought its ok nobody will have notice. I slowly turned round to see the entire spectators laughing along with my teammates who thought it was highly amusing!
My pride slightly dented along with a sore arm and I was back catching Moses. But he didn't get to the other lane and by Jo we won our only race of the day! I knew we could do it and we got some great times with the fastest this season of 23.96. It has got to be one of the most well deserved 5th places; we certainly did try! The usual surfers Jed, Harvey and Pepsi really shone through, they kept us going in our hour of need. Leo was a star and did Kathryn proud; roll on Monday for multibreed.
After a well earned rest Monday was upon us, we had 2 teams in Mulibreed the Fylde Pick ?N? Mix in division 2 with Maddy, TJ, Quincy (standing in for Bonny who was suddenly taken ill on Sunday and taken to the vets. It was her usual stomach bug and after a week of pampering Bonny has returned to full health and is back playing flyball) Megan and new lad Leo who were to make up this team. With the Fylde Go4?s in division 3 made up of Emerys, Jed, Moses, Emma, Harvey and Pepsi. Both teams looking good and ready for action, with myself captaining the Pick 'N' Mix and Carolyn captaining the Go4's we were set to go. First in the Pick 'N' Mix and as usual to make it easy 5 dogs, 5 races 1 dog out per race as long as nothing happens. I couldn't have asked for more all the dogs performed great; Quincy was in his element as this was an added bonus for him stepping in for Bonny who was recuperating in the campervan and Phil pulling the short straw and running TJ. Megan and Maddy taking it in turns to be start dog and Leo the white lightening bringing up the rear. We won all our races that day and got our fastest time of the season yet again with 20.85 and a 1st place rosette.
Yet the Go4's weren't for missing out either, they got another fastest time of 23.46 and a 3rd place rosette in division 3. With Harvey and Pepsi sharing the Cocker Spaniel space and the others dogs slotted in around them to make up a cracking little team, Moses decided to toe the line and play the BFA rules with the help of a few Fylde fielders as the middle netting.
All in all we had a great weekends racing with lost of rosettes, laughs, banter, kind weather and excellent hosts who could ask for more? Not Me.