Crufts 10th-13th March, Adults (Coventry Hooligans) racing on 10th,Juniors (Hinckley Racers) racing on 13th

 Ibstock Show  - our first organised tournament together with our training friends and colleagues the Coventry Racers was very relaxed with lots of laughter.  Despite the dreadful weather in the run up to the show, we were awash with mud and campers had to be helped on and off the camping field. A good time was had by all. Saturday was very wet which made racing more difficult than we would have liked. Sunday saw a hot sunny day which produced some fast times for some teams. There were lots of interested visitors watching some great flyball racing and many who wanted to take up flyball with their our dogs having watched all types, sizes and breeds of dogs taking part.  Congratulations and well done to everyone who took part.

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS - held from 13th -15th August saw 244 teams, nearly 1,500 dogs competing in 40 divisions. There was excellent racing throughout the weekend. Congratulations go to Piper, Taf, Flynn, Taz and Daisy-Belle who are the British Champions 2010 of division 21. They were presented with a shield, winners rosettes and presents for the dogs. As you can imagine they were all very, very, excited.          (photo awaited)

HOOLIGAN'S BREAK RECORD - the Hooligans team that ran at Princes Risborough on 6th June broke the 19 second barrier for the first time ever scoring a time of 18.95 seconds. What a brilliant achievement and what fantastic racing. Not only did they break their personal record but also came 1st in Division 2, winning every race. The crowd who had gathered to watch applauded the team as they left the field after their last race and very well deserved too. The winning team are pictured below.

Image by courtesy of Doggie Portraits

CRUFTS 2010 - The Young Ones, Katy, Charlotte and Jack are all taking part in Crufts Young Handlers competition again this year. Piper, Taffy and Maisie will all be there too. Good luck!! Margaret has been asked to judge on all 4 days of the Crufts' competitions. We know she is nervous; she will do a great job and we all wish her well. Come on Margaret!!!!

The Young Nuns at Crufts - Katie, Charlotte, Jack, Keiran, Zoe and Chloe. Chloe was the box loader and cannot been seen in this picture but is a very valuable part of the team. What a great job you all did. Well done for gaining 3rd. place.  Big thanks to Susanne who trained the team.

Image by courtesy of Tony Brealey Productions    

European Championships - two of our teams will be competing this year and we all have our fingers and paws crossed that they will do well. They are training hard and using their experiences from last year to prepare the dogs and handlers from the differences in approach to the sport.                   
Results : Both teams came 4th in each of their divisions. Barbara was very pleased, as this was a huge improvemnet on their first attempt last year.

Ibstock Show 20th & 21st August - We are very pleased and proud to announce that the organisers of this show have asked us to put on a Flyball Competition throughout the duration of their show. This is our 1st attempt at putting on an event of our own so we are very excited and have asked our friends the Coventry Racers Flyball Teams to share the event with us.

 Training Grounds -  RSPCA centre, Scudamore road, Leicester

Doris - Our matriarch of the Hoolies teams hasn't been too good lately. She is beginning to feel her age what with the extremely cold weather and all. Barbara is giving her lots of rest so that come competition time she can still do what she loves best, flyballing!

Keith - participated on the judging and ring party course taking place in March at Markfield, Leicestershire. He enjoyed the course and judged the Starter Competition that took place during the afternoon of the course. He admitted to being nervous but did a great job at keeping the teams in order.

Barbara - At the Woodgreen Animal Shelter competition organised a 'Cake Break' as part of the Multiple Sclerosis Society fund raising efforts. She raised a fantasic £161.20. Many thanks to those who baked, bought and ate in aid of this worthy cause.

Margaret - was pleased on 11th. November to announce the safe arrival of 6 healthy puppies born to Maisy. 3 Girls and 3 boys. 4 black and white and 2 slate merles. Proud parents Maisie and Taz hope that their off spring will grow and develop into great flyball racers just as they both are. Three of the pups have stayed within the team Ella,Diesel and Spud they are all attending puppy classes and are also doing very basic flball and we are  very pleased with their progress.

Barbara & Doris receive their Silver Flyball Award for achieving in excess of 10,000 points during her flyballing career at St. Ledger Horse Park on 24th January 2009. The award was presented at the Woodgreen Animal Centre, Cambridgeshire on 26th. April 2009. Well done Doris & Barbara!!!

Image by courtesy of Tony Brealey Productions

The younger members taking part in the Young Kennel Club event at Crufts 2009

Baby News, (or more correctly Puppy news)

Congratulations to Piper, who with the help of Barbara, safely delivered 6 beautiful puppies on 4th and 5th August. Barbara and Katie have kept the smallest pup of the litter and all the other puppies have found their new homes. Look out for them in a couple of years time when they are racing in Open competitions. They will be fast! 

British Championships 14th August - The team entered came 2nd. in their division this year. Well done! 

Margaret was contacted by Tony Wadsworth from BBC Radio Leicester on 23rd. September to ask if she could explain about the sport of Flyball. This resulted in her giving him a display and commentating at the same time - clever stuff that you know! It was broadcast the following day. Tony said how much he enjoyed learning about the sport and said what a lovely family Margaret, Steve, Charlotte and Jack were. Of course they are Tony!