Hello ther my name is TUMBLE I'm a four year old lurcher cross originally from a recue centre, so I'm naturally a nervous dog. I've been doing flyball for approximate 2 months. Margaret Gore the boss decided I was good enough for the starters competition on the 17th September at Sutton Fields near Runcorn.
So heres how my day went.
My mum, dad and I got up very early after a good long sleep. The weather was a cold misty morning with dew on the ground burr..... Mum and dad loaded up the car with every but the kitchen sink and off we went. I knew that we were going to flyball so to my mum and dads dismay I barked all the way there with excitment. The journey seemed to take forever.
Once there we had a walk around and there were lots of other dogs large, small tidy and scruffy. I got a bit nervous as there were too many dogs and people to sniff all at once. Oh look my team have arrived now I'm more relaxed familiar faces and smells. Mum and dad kept saying how nervous they are wondering how I will do as I'm not perfect. I don't know what their worried about I'm the one running. The boss keeps reassuring mum and dad that it dosen't matter as long as we enjoy the day and I am so far. As time ticked by it was getting nearer and nearer to us running. There are four of us running me, Bessie ( my girlfriend) Flynn and Piper there is also Velma as a standby. Well this is it were heading for the ring for our first race what's this ............Flynn got out of his car and has collapsed everyone is making a fuss it must be serious as I hear them mentioning the vet. Oh no my nerves have gone again well no time to worry were lineing up now with Velma ( she happy at getting a chance to run) and were off........... great we won that race there's one for Flynn everyone is now more relaxed still our thoughts are with Flynn.
The first few races we did well and won against the other teams everyone was now hopefull as three of us had never ran a competition before. I did lose my nerve along the way and made a few mistakes but mum gave me lots of cuddles telling me it was ok that made me feel better. The others made some mistakes as well but we hoped no one would notice. Through the day the feelings were up and down as Flynn's mum kept us informed of his progress I think Margaret the boss didn't know if she was coming or going with worry (because she's like that careing for us dogs) but she was there to encourage us along the way even if she had to take time out to answer the phone to Flynns mum. The atmosphere has to be seen and heard to be believed you would never guess how niosey it gets with owners shouting/screaming their dogs and all the dogs barking with excitment it's enough to give anyone a headache but it's all lost in the excitement of the day. On the second to last race Velma had a collision with a dog that took a fancy to her and she hurt her leg oh no my nerves have gone again I want to go home plenty of cuddles and sweet whisperings in my ear and I'm calm again so now down to three dogs what can we do. The boss is now running round like a headless chicken trying to find a replacement and she gets Taffi from our other team......... and yes we ran. That's it no more running just to wait for the results..... the wait is a long time untill the results are ready but now all the tams are gathered here goes ....... Yes we came SECOND in the starters yippee we are so pleased and would you believe it our other team came FIRST in there division. Mum and dad got a badge each as dad had donr the box loading for us starters.
Everyone is so happy that we had done this despite everything. So all in all a good day was had by all and I can't wait for the next competition (bring it on). My nerves won't be as bad next time as im getting more confident. So all I can say now is thankyou to the boss Margaret ( i love you) for giving us dogs a chance of having fun and plenty of execise and to all my new friend's thankyou for being patient with me. Any of you dogs out there interested get your mums /dads to give Margaret a ring it's well worth it.
Bye TUMBLE X
P.S Flynn is on the mend we can not wait to have him back all our love Valley Flyball Team.
Tumble
VALLEY FLYBALL WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR HELP AND SUPPORT DURING WHAT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT DAY ESPECIALY THE STARTERS JUDGE AND VAL CURRIE.
AFTER SEVEREL DIFFERANT DIAGNOSIS WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT FLYNN HAS MENINGITIS AND SHOULD MAKE A FULL RECOVERY AND BE ABLE TO CONTINUE HIS FLYBALL CAREER.
