2010 NAFA CMHOF, RMVP and JOY Nominees

2010 Clyde Moore Memorial Hall of Fame Nominees

2010 Regional MVP Nominees

 

Region 1

Region 2

Region 4

Region 5

Region 6

Region 7

Region 8

Region 9

Region 10

Region 11

Region 13

Region 14

Region 15

Region 18

Region 19

Region 20

2010 Judge of the Year Nominees

 

 

2010 Nominees for the Clyde Moore Memorial Hall of Fame

Nomination for the NAFA Clyde Moore Memorial Hall of Fame

Dog's Call Name:

Bainbridge Savannah

Dog's Breed:

Australian Shepherd

Dog's CRN:

981124

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(299) Omaha Speedracers

Dog's Owner:

Sharon Atkinson

Nominated by:

Lyndsy King
Omaha, NE
United States
(299) Omaha Speedracers

I would like to nominate Bainbride Savannah "Hannah" for the Clyde Moore Hall of Fame. At the age of 13 Hannah is now retired but before her retirement she was a staple on our team. She helped the Omaha Speed Racers achieve the multibreed champions the last 3 years she was racing. She retired 9th overall of all the pointed dogs in NAFA and the number one Australian Shepherd with just over 108,000 points. In her last few years of racing she was close to the top pointed dog of the year. Still to this day she is a dog that is all heart and she deserves to be in the NAFA hall of fame. That is why I believe Hannah deserves to be in the Clyde Moore Hall of fame. Thank you for your consideration!

Nomination for the NAFA Clyde Moore Memorial Hall of Fame

Dog's Call Name:

Rocket

Dog's Breed:

Jack/Parson Russell Terrier

Dog's CRN:

970422

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(508) Fly Ball Insanity

Dog's Owner:

Kathy Austin

Nominated by:

Kathy Austin
Rochester, NY
United States
(404) Buffalo Wings

The Buffalo Wing's Team asked me to nominate The Rocketman for the HOF this year. Rocket started his Flyball career in 1997 as the Buffalo Wing's foundation height dog. In fact, for years Rocket was the only height dog and in his prime often did double duty at tournaments so all his team mates would get a chance to run. Rocket was the first dog on Buffalo Wings,first in New York State, and one of the first 10 dogs to earn the higher titles of Onyx and Flyball Dog Grand Champion in Region 13.

A Prince amoung Jack Russells, Rocket was one of the first of his breed to prove these dogs can pass, the bigger dog the better coming in either direction in the lanes! Rocket traveled all over Ontario, New England, Virginia, Michigan and the Maritimes, never tiring and giving his all.

Rocket finished his Regular racing career being a height dog at ages 11-13 for Flyball Insanity of Ottawa, allowing that team to race when they didn't have a height dog, still pulling in times of under 6 seconds.

At 16 years, Rocket has retired but can still be seen in the lanes cheering on his team!

Nomination for the NAFA Clyde Moore Memorial Hall of Fame

Dog's Call Name:

Shayla

Dog's Breed:

Mix

Dog's CRN:

970726

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(164) Rocket Relay

Dog's Owner:

Kelly Robbins

Nominated by:

Dave Walt
Caledonia, ON
Canada
(627) Positive Pups

Shayla (September 10, 1996 - January 25, 2010) was bought from a farmer in Niagara Falls, ON with no expectations at all other then another possible height dog for the team. Wow did she ever go well beyond expectations. I would love to say she earned tons of points like so many other great dogs already in the Hall Of Fame and being nominated this year but that was not her purpose. She was the height dog on Rocket Relay A and Multi team back in the late 90's and early 2000's when we were setting world records, being the first to break into the 15's, winning NAFA Championships, Great Outdoor Games, Purina Incredible Dog Challenges as well as going undefeated for years. She set the standard for what other height dogs were compared to back then and created the Border/Border craze of that time. We will always be so proud of what she accomplished and can not thank her enough for everything she did for us. We would sincerely appreciate it if you would give us the honor of recognizing her wonderful career. Thanks for your time.

Nomination for the NAFA Clyde Moore Memorial Hall of Fame

Dog's Call Name:

Smack

Dog's Breed:

Mix

Dog's CRN:

020411

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(122) Slammers

Dog's Owner:

Craig Knowles

Nominated by:

Gerry Bradshaw
Ypsilanti, MI
United States
(122) Slammers

Smack, one of flyball’s premier Border/Jacks, began her career in 2002 with Spring Loaded, and ended it in 2010 with Slammers. In that eight year racing career, she compiled quite a record:

She was Spring Loaded’s height dog for six world record setting runs;

She was the height dog on the first multibreed team to run a sub-sixteen-seconds time in a tournament;

She was either the primary height dog, or just as important to her club’s success, the alternate height dog on an amazing six NAFA Regular Class Champions (five with Spring Loaded and one with Slammers) and five NAFA Multibreed Class Champions (all with Spring Loaded);

She ran as a height dog on fifty-nine Division 1 tournament winning teams – in both the Regular and Multibreed classes.

Her competitive record speaks for itself. Just as impressive, though, was how Smack helped to train her many ‘green’ teammates (canine and human) and what a great companion she was to Craig throughout her career. She was truly an amazing dog - a fierce competitor that was there when she was called upon, and one that always gave it her all.

Nomination for the NAFA Clyde Moore Memorial Hall of Fame

Dog's Call Name:

Snap

Dog's Breed:

Mix

Dog's CRN:

000470

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(168) Flying Colors

Dog's Owner:

Tooie Crooks

Nominated by:

Steve Morris & Kris Pickering
Las Vegas, NV
United States
(168) Flying Colors

Snap is an 11 year old Border/Border who runs on Flying Colors in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is owned by Tooie and Ian Crooks. In her prime, Snap was one of a handful of truly exceptional height dogs. She set the jump height at 10 inches for most of her career and at that height consistently ran between 4.0 – 4.2 and occasionally clocked some high 3.9’s. She runs in any position and as the height dog helped Flying Colors to its best times in regular and Multibreed, including two regional championships in Multibreed. Snap still loves to play and gives her all in every heat, every race, every time. Her most noted athletic skill was and is a lightning fast turn.

Snap’s career and performances qualify her for the Hall of Fame. But she has also contributed hugely to the sport through her offspring. The fierce drive, athleticism, and competitive nature of this little dog have been passed on and through her pups and their descendents, who have helped many a team achieve personal best times racing in NAFA both in the USA and Canada.

Snap has had a phenomenal impact on flyball and is truly deserving of this award!

 

2010 Nominees for Regional MVP

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 1

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 1

Dog's Call Name:

Risky

Dog's Breed:

Whippet

Dog's CRN:

990639

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(015) Paws-a-tive Attitude

Dog's Owner:

Rachel Kennedy

Nominated by:

(015) Paws-a-tive Attitude
Fair Haven, MI
United States

Risky was one of the first of the Whippet breed to truly distinguish herself. Risky is a fabulous Flyball dog. Risky is incredible to watch as an anchor dog because she never slows down and always exerts the extra oomph to come from behind to win the race. This dog’s incredible heart has lead to many accomplishments including being ingrained within NAFA’s top pointed dogs and the Awesome Offspring Award from the Ballistics Tournament. Risky is both a tribute to the sport and a pioneer of her breed.

Risky was trained by Rachel Kennedy. Rachel was only ten when Risky joined the family. Nine years later, Rachel has gone away to college and Risky is now handled by her mother, Kathy. Risky gracefully matured into an established Flyball dog. Risky is also a Lure coursing Champion.

Risky has not only paved the path for her breed into the sport, but is helping to pass the torch onto future generations of Flyball Whippets. Risky has taken time off for two litters of puppies. Seven puppies and one Grandpup are now among the Flyball competitors. Risky is 12+ and still performing at the top of her game for her team.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 1

Dog's Call Name:

Thug

Dog's Breed:

Mix

Dog's CRN:

070144

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(555) RPM Dog Sports

Dog's Owner:

Russ Helganz

Nominated by:

(122) Slammers
Monroe, MI
United States

Thug was a member of Slammer's 2008 and 2009 region 1 champions team and 2009 NAFA Regular champion team.

He has won special awards including 'awesome anchor dog', fastest dog award, and the 'won't be beat' award. Thug runs in any position and is currently the start dog on RPM A team.

A tireless competitor that is always ready to play the game and loves to race the dog in the other lane.

His fastest times are 3.63 on grass and 3.65 on mats.

He has performed at half time shows for the Detroit Pistons and Univ. of Michigan women's basketball. Thug has a big heart but is a very serious worker, when in the ring only has eyes on the lane and competition.

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 2

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 2

Dog's Call Name:

Rooter

Dog's Breed:

Jack/Parson Russell Terrier

Dog's CRN:

030325

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(758) Rezidue Dogs

Dog's Owner:

Linda Breton

Nominated by:

(758) Rezidue Dogs
Scarborough, ON
Canada

Great things come in small packages.

Rooter, a Jack Russell Terrior, is one of the most versatile height dogs in Region 2. Besides being a height dog and running as a regular dog for Rezidue Dogs, he has run on many other teams in the open division as their height dog.

Rooter has been handled by many people and has helped train many new and junior handlers to flyball. He can run in any position without any issues. Rooter is a worker who does his job 100% with confidence and reliability. We also use him to help train green dogs to the sport.

Rooter was a rescue and quickly adapted to a sporting live. At nine years old he has just achieved 40,000 points in flyball and is still running strong. He is owned by Linda Breton and is an invaluable member of Rezidue Dogs.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 2

Dog's Call Name:

Tandie

Dog's Breed:

Dachshund -Miniature Long Hair

Dog's CRN:

030456

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(249) TAMSU

Dog's Owner:

Debbie Woods

Nominated by:

(154) DOG-ON-IT
Caledon, ON
Canada

I would like to nominate "Tandie"

Tandie is a very special little height dog in our Region who has been playing flyball for over 7yrs. He is the highest pointed dachshund in North America and the only miniature long-hair dachshund racing in Canada.

What makes him so special is his determination and desire for the game of flyball. Being long in the body and low to the ground has never stopped him from being an exceptional athlete in flyball as well as agility, where he has placed first in his division several times at Ontario Regionals. I have had the pleasure of running him just once and I couldn't believe his enthusiasm. He runs his little heart out each and every heat of a race and has made very few mistakes in his career. As an almost 9 year old dachshund, he is still consistently running times within 1 second of his younger days. He has always been a valued member of any team he has been on. Please consider Tandie as our Region 2 MVP. Elva Bradley Captain DOG-ON-IT Flyball Team (154)

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 4

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 4

Dog's Call Name:

Pepper Jack

Dog's Breed:

Border Collie

Dog's CRN:

010692

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(459) Paw Position

Dog's Owner:

Carl Gavin

Nominated by:

(459) Paw Position
Cottage Grove, WI
United States

The Gavin family of Madison, WI walked into my life 9 years ago with a very energetic border collie that I knew would be something very special. Pepper had such a drive, I couldn’t resist but to ask the family to join the Flyball team. Pepper has competed in tournaments from Michigan to Colorado and was able to run in any position, with any dogs, on any team, and for anyone. Anyone who was at a tournament with Pepper would always comment on the yellow ball, Wilson, which he would pop up in the air when he was finished running like a seal in the circus.

Unfortunately, in February of this year, Pepper Jack passed away. The passing of Pepper was not only hard on the Gavin family, but felt from his Flyball family across the United States. Words cannot describe what a wonderful dog Pepper was during Flyball and outside of Flyball. I know that while our team is racing today, Pepper is watching us from the Rainbow Bridge, barking and cheering the rest of his team members along. For the reasons above, I feel Pepper Jack should be nominated as the Regional MVP.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 4

Dog's Call Name:

Scout

Dog's Breed:

Mix

Dog's CRN:

030786

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(142) BC Boomerangs

Dog's Owner:

Christina Tresch

Nominated by:

(142) BC Boomerangs
Cary, IL
United States

Scout is that go-to dog, the dog you go to when your border collie starts to limp or your Jack Russell has a melt-down. A street urchin, this Sheltie mix was found on a tennis court in Chicago. Scout’s big break came when Chris Tresch of Wisconsin Sheltie Rescue decided to keep him instead of putting him up for adoption.

Scout represents what every rescue dog can be if given a chance. Scout is now ten years old and starting to get a little gray, but he can still run a 5.4. He has earned 50,000 points in his lifetime, but he really doesn’t give a hoot about points, placements, wins, or titles. He loves this game.

When Scout is competing, you can see from his shining eyes and big Sheltie grin the pure enjoyment he gets from running. The BC Boomerangs feel very honored to have such a wonderful, happy, and fun-loving teammate as Scout, and we would like to honor him and Chris with this award.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 4

Dog's Call Name:

Scully

Dog's Breed:

Mini Australian/N American Shepherd

Dog's CRN:

041356

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(327) High Fives

Dog's Owner:

Scott & Tija Mohr

Nominated by:

(327) High Fives
Waterford, WI
United States

High Fives would like to recommend Scully for Region 4 MVP. Scully is owned by Tija and Scott Mohr, but loved by everyone that meets him. Tija received Scully for her birthday in 2003 and a year later, again on her birthday, ran his first tournament. In fact he started a mini Aussie craze in our area, everyone wants a Scully or wants to steal him, but they broke the mold after they made him. Scully has been a solid foundation for our team. He has run on regular, open, mulit teams and in any position from start to anchor. As High Fives has been short on height dogs in the past couple of years, we have had to rely heavily on Scully and he never misses a beat. Whenever or wherever we need him he is there, be it to train new dogs on passing, attending all our tournaments, or participating in demos to promote the sport, you can always count on Scully and Tija. Although he is old enough to run vets, slowing down is not in this dog's vocabulary, he is just as scrappy as ever and challenges all our dogs to do their best.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 4

Dog's Call Name:

Siobhan

Dog's Breed:

Golden Retriever

Dog's CRN:

040416

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(631) Rapids Intens-A-Flyrs

Dog's Owner:

Linda Strub

Nominated by:

(631) Rapids Intens-A-Flyrs
Nekoosa, WI
United States

Linda Strub and golden retriever Siobhan truly deserve this award for many reasons, Siobhan has had 12 perfect starts, runs in any position and has lived for flyball since our team began, she was always the one who tried to have 3 tennis balls in her mouth at once. She ran in a tournament in April and 3 weeks later was diagnosed with PRA and has gone completely blind. She still wants her balls, but now they must squeak or whistle. She still has the heart and soul to do flyball but now is now longer able to. Siobhan was retiring due to her age, but this is still very heartbreaking for our team as she was one of the orginial dogs who started with us. This would mean so much to Linda and our team to win this award as Siobhan has been an asset to our team from day one.

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 5

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 5

Dog's Call Name:

Ginger

Dog's Breed:

Border Collie

Dog's CRN:

000054

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(089) K-9 Kommotion

Dog's Owner:

Chris & Teresa Turner

Nominated by:

(089) K-9 Kommotion
Friendswood, TX
United States

I would like to nominate Ginger for the Region 5 MVP. Ginger came into Teresa's life as an owner surrender at 7 months old. She was a shy and quiet red and white border collie. She was slow to embrace flyball. If a loud sound or a yell was heard she would shut down as if she did something wrong. As Ginger's confidence improved so did her speed. She has grown from a fearful, submissive girl to a bossy queen keeping her teammates in line. She is able to run for anyone and in any position. She will be turning 12 in November of this year and is the fifth dog in our region to earn 50,000 points. Her speed has remained constant, even with age. It truly has been a regional accomplishment that Ginger has earned her 50,000 points as there have been several members from other teams in our region that have run her to help earn these points. Even at 12 years old, she still wants to go out and run her heart out. Her other hobbies include patrolling for squirrels in the yard and being the play police! She is very good at both.

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 6

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 6

Dog's Call Name:

Phantom

Dog's Breed:

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Dog's CRN:

060601

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(471) Heat Wave

Dog's Owner:

Alisa & Chris Romaine

Nominated by:

(471) Heat Wave
Wittmann, AZ
United States

Tempest F4 Fighting "Phantom" is a 6 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier who races on Heat Wave. Phantom is a fighter; having fought off a severe case of Valley Fever that he caught at 6 months of age. He has become a favorite of region 6 racers with his black facial mask, throaty bark, and special "squishy" tennis balls. Phantom is handled by his owner, Alisa, who generally sports bruises from his over-enthusiasm for the sport. Over the past few years he has been a strong height dog for Heat Wave, giving 100% effort every heat of every race. Lately, Phantom has found a new calling, assisting clubs who are short a dog or need a height dog in order to compete. He recently double ran on his own team and an open team on Saturday and then moved to a performance team and the open team on Sunday. Phantom has raced on different styles of boxes, in various positions in lineups, and with numerous dogs that he'd never met before setting foot in the racing lanes with them. With Phantom's assistance, more dogs get to compete and have fun and, truly, isn't that why we all race?

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 7

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 7

Dog's Call Name:

Riot

Dog's Breed:

Mix

Dog's CRN:

020460

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(042) Dogwood Pacesetters

Dog's Owner:

Cheryl Wood

Nominated by:

(042) Dogwood Pacesetters
Abbotsford, BC
Canada

I would like to nominate Riot of the Dogwood Pacesetters for MVP for Region 7. Riot is a 10 year old border jack owned by Cheryl Wood. Since her debut in August 2002, she has been a staple on our Division 1 team as our main height dog. Riot is the definition of consistency. She never wavers on the box and seldom slows down over the course of the day, making her the favorite dog on the team to pass into. Since Cheryl has had multiple dogs on the same team. Riot has been run by numerous different people. It doesn’t matter to her. She will play as hard for anybody as she will for Cheryl, because her love of the game is so strong. She has been used to help train many a new puppy or green dog. Through all the years, Riot has never wavered, and her team has reaped the benefits of running with her. Recently, Riot attained 90,000 NAFA points; a remarkable milestone for a remarkable dog. This makes her the highest pointed dog ever in Region 7 history, and currently number 21 on the all time list. Please cast your vote for Riot

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 8

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 8

Dog's Call Name:

Hudson

Dog's Breed:

German Shorthaired Pointer

Dog's CRN:

001014

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(725) Furry Flash Dogsports

Dog's Owner:

Christine Poley-MacTavish

Nominated by:

(725) Furry Flash Dogsports
Moose Jaw, SK
Canada

Gates Creek Charismatic AKA "Hudson" takes his job seriously. Even at the ripe old age of 11, he can be heard as soon as he enters the building. He gets all the dogs going with his loud bark and cocky attitude.

He has raced for Spectrum Speed, FastAntics and now Furry Flash Dogsports. With a best time of 3.9 from way back in 2001, he was one of the fastest dogs in Region 12 for many years. He showed us that you can be big AND fast. Running his entire career as start dog, he is now approaching 60,000 pts. He has been the #1 German Shorthaired Pointer in NAFA for the last 5 years. He also raced with Northern Power Paws in the Veterans Division and helped post a time of 18.6 at 10 years of age.

Hudson now runs in Region 8 and still draws laughs from spectators and competitors alike. Whether it be watching Ken try to pry the ball out of his mouth or howling a tortuous lament while tugging on his leash, Hudson is a true example of a flyball dog who loves the game and does it with attitude!

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 8

Dog's Call Name:

Ryker

Dog's Breed:

Jack/Parson Russell Terrier

Dog's CRN:

031115

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(258) KAOS

Dog's Owner:

Lisamarie Schultz

Nominated by:

(258) KAOS
Copper Sands, SK
Canada

Flyball didn’t come easily to Ryker. He was uninterested in the tug, frequently distracted and often spit out the ball on recalls but he had attitude. Through patience and dedicated training from handler Lisamarie Schultz, Ryker developed into a consistent, solid height dog running 4.8 to 5 seconds. Such was the turnaround that the only issue for this white terrier was the difficulty in removing the tug from his mouth at the end of each race, much to the amusement of team members. With over 36,000 points and plenty of attitude, Ryker has been a consistent performer on KAOS’ fastest teams and an inspiration for the club’s flyballers.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 8

Dog's Call Name:

Sweep

Dog's Breed:

Border Collie

Dog's CRN:

010079

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(258) KAOS

Dog's Owner:

Carly Rosinski

Nominated by:

(850) Ignited Flyball
Grenfell, SK
Canada

Sweep is a 10 ½ year old blue merle border collie who recently retired from Flyball. During her career, she played with Prairie PDQ Dogsports and KAOS Dogsports Inc. in Regina, Saskatchewan (Region 8). She achieved over 60,000 NAFA points prior to her retirement. Sweep is very intense and takes flyball very seriously!! Sweeps loves to be start dog but will race in any position and she does it all with a smile. Many have commented on her effortless box turn and her ability to rerun with a ball in her mouth, grab the ball from the box and come back with the right ball.

For Sweep, Flyball is a family sport, running with many siblings and her parents. Sweep is owned, loved and handled by Margo and Carly Rosinski.

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 9

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 9

Dog's Call Name:

Scandal

Dog's Breed:

Shetland Sheepdog

Dog's CRN:

001222

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(171) Fur Fun

Dog's Owner:

Julie Jenkins

Nominated by:

(805) New River Rapids
Blacksburg, VA
United States

Scandal has proven her worth over and over again in Regions 9, 13 and 15. A super reliable 9” height dog, this Sheltie is truly in a class of her own. Scandal has helped win regional championships in all 3 regions both on Regular and Multibreed teams. With a personal best time of 4.3 seconds, Scandal also helped her team, Fur Fun, to their first 16 second times. In her 10 years of flyball, Scandal has earned over 70,000 NAFA points and is the #3 ranked Sheltie. Now, at 11 years old she is still a valuable asset to any team regularly posting sub-5 second times. Scandal and her owner, Julie Jenkins, are truly an inspiration for many dog owners and trainers all over the country and I can’t imagine another pair more deserving of the MVP award.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 9

Dog's Call Name:

Sweep

Dog's Breed:

Border Collie

Dog's CRN:

021414

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(233) DogGoneFast

Dog's Owner:

Amanda Brown

Nominated by:

(493) Go Dog Go
Wake Forest, NC
United States

We are honored to nominate Sweep for Regional MVP of 2010. Sweep, with his handler, Amanda Brown, is a common fixture at any Region 9 tournament. Since Sweep's first tournament at Harrier Jump Jets in March 2003, he has competed up and down the east coast and even as far away as Alaska! Almost exactly seven years after beginning his career, Sweep became the first dog in Region 9 to achieve the distinguished HOBBES award in March 2010. Way to go Sweep!

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 9

Dog's Call Name:

Taz

Dog's Breed:

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Dog's CRN:

000267

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(233) DogGoneFast

Dog's Owner:

Joy Gochman

Nominated by:

(233) DogGoneFast
Raleigh, NC
United States



Taz commenced his flyball career over 10 years ago on a club where he was a start dog and height dog. He was the first Toller to reach 60,000 points and continues to be a consistent and versatile member of our flyball club. Taz especially enjoys being raced by Junior Handlers.

But his greatest contribution to flyball is not at a tournament; Taz is simply the best teacher a club could ever ask for, as many racing dogs in region 9 and 15 can attest. He has taught dozens of dogs and their handlers how to play flyball, whether these dogs are being taught to pass, be passed, or even just to build confidence in a less than confident dog. He takes his role very seriously and knows to exhibit the right kind of behavior to help the dog who has been entrusted in his care. He has a rare and instinctive ability to understand just what is needed. With Taz's invaluable training help, our club has been able to break and re-break our fastest times during the current racing year.

During his tenure as a flyball dog, Taz has been a wonderful ambassador for the sport and his breed.

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 10

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 10

Dog's Call Name:

Lewis

Dog's Breed:

Border Collie

Dog's CRN:

010876

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(266) Fast 'n FURious

Dog's Owner:

Shane & Darlene MacDougall

Nominated by:

(266) Fast 'n FURious
Winsloe, PE
Canada

Lewis joined our family in January 2001 at the age 1 1/2. With his goofy, duck-like bark and running with his tail straight up in the air, I loved Lewis at first sight. A bit of a flyball wiz, Lewis did full runs on his first day of flyball classes.

I never thought of Lewis as an MVP, as most of his career he was surrounded by MVP dogs like Static, TKO, and Indy. He’s always been the go-to sub dog for many teams as he could sub in any where with any dog. Many titles and records later, that is still the case.

For years now, Lewis has helped develop our current and upcoming stars of flyball. He is and has been valuable to the training, for club dogs and region dogs, with his easy-going demeanour and love of the game. Whether you need to proof a rookie, have your dog work on confidence, or need a fast dog to run against, Lewis is your man!

Thank you for considering Lewis as this year’s Region 10 MVP. Just being selected has been a huge honour. With the elation of just getting his FG40K title, I couldn’t be more proud of him.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 10

Dog's Call Name:

Niska

Dog's Breed:

American Eskimo

Dog's CRN:

030525

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(073) F.A.M.E.

Dog's Owner:

Lynette Brown

Nominated by:

(073) F.A.M.E.
Moncton, NB
Canada

Niska, an American Eskimo, is a 9 year old height dog running with FAME. Niska's flyball beginning was quite disastrous, she even peed on the floor while Lynette tried to get her to hit that loud sounding box. One day, she put it all together and hasn't stopped since. She has been very consistent throughout her career, never dropping the ball or making mistakes. Her quick box turn is one her teammates would love to copy. Niska has played on many of FAME's teams, either running height dog by herself or willingly sharing with others. She now has the important role of mentoring young height dogs and stepping in partly or wholly when needed. Niska's most successful year came when she was height dog of our multiteam. With her help, the team ran 24 runs for 600 points in one day, 100% performance and the team finished second in Region 10. The American Eskimo is not an easily trained breed, the fact that Niska not only plays, but is so consistent is a tribute to her. It is only fitting that in 2010, Niska became #1 American Eskimo in NAFA with over 33,000 points.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 10

Dog's Call Name:

Raine

Dog's Breed:

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Dog's CRN:

070837

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(717) Prepare for Takeoff

Dog's Owner:

Holly Kirkpatrick

Nominated by:

(717) Prepare for Takeoff
Harvey, NB
Canada

It’s with pride and great joy that I submit this nomination for Prepare for Takeoff’s Raine for Region 10 MVP. Since joining our Aviators team in June 2008 as our Height Dog, we have broken our Best Time Record five times. Raine, a Nova Scotia Duck Toller, owned and loved by Holly and Daniel Kirkpatrick, is an oddity as a flyball Height Dog. However, with her drive, tenacity for the tug and combined with a great box turn, she has a consistent 4.5 second average over 2 days of jumping 10”. Raine is extremely happy to run for anyone, in any position and before or after any dog. In the 2009 NAFA racing year, Raine racked up 10,052 points – the most for any Region 10 dog! In 2010, she has had her second litter of puppies and is back to leading the Aviators team to yet another team record of 17.67 seconds. My hope is that Raine will have a long flyball career and make it to the top of her breed in NAFA. Until then, she will continue to be the rock of our Aviators team! Please join me in voting for Raine as 2010 Region 10 MVP.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 10

Dog's Call Name:

Willow

Dog's Breed:

American Cocker Spaniel

Dog's CRN:

051061

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(533) Maple Leaps

Dog's Owner:

Shawna O'Handley

Nominated by:

(533) Maple Leaps
Hubbards, NS
Canada

Each club has their own reason why one dog is their MVP. That reason can change from year to year. For us this year, Willow is our MVP.

Willow is an American Cocker Spaniel and one of our main height dogs. Willow can run every race, and has been double listed to help other clubs in a pinch. She can run in any position and has helped many of our green dogs become solid flyball dogs. Willow's best time in the lanes is a 4.8, which she has done a number of times, thanks to her great love and passion for flyball.

Shawna and Willow are very similar in the lanes; steadfast, calm, consistent, no matter what, we know we can count on them to pull us through.

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 11

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 11

Dog's Call Name:

Phantom

Dog's Breed:

Border Collie

Dog's CRN:

021198

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(540) Too Hot to Handle

Dog's Owner:

Brenda Carroll & Sean Mathias

Nominated by:

(540) Too Hot to Handle
Obrien, FL
United States

In early 2001, Brenda went to get a goldfish at the local pet shop and came home with Phantom. At that time, who knew that it would be that once in a lifetime partnership you have with your best four legged friend.

In January 2004, Phantom and Brenda came to run with THTH. They have become the quintessential team that everyone wants to run with and THTH's success in large part is due to them. How do you describe an awesome dog? Consistent, can run in any position, always ready to play and is a fierce competitor. Phantom has been solid for many years and racing with THTH's top team for the last 6 years. He rarely makes a mistake, has helped our club set numerous club records and regularly runs a 4.2. Phantom and Brenda are always ready to help the public learn more about the wonderful world of flyball and are great ambassadors of the sport.

It is truly an honor to run with this dynamic duo. We hope that you will help us in making Phantom the MVP of Region 11.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 11

Dog's Call Name:

SWEEP

Dog's Breed:

Mix

Dog's CRN:

050261

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(279) Ketch This

Dog's Owner:

MIKE PAPE

Nominated by:

(279) Ketch This
Tampa, FL
United States

Sweep is the height dog for ketch this one, she has been the height dog for the last 6 years helping the team win the region each of them years, she has also help the team run in the mid 16 second range , sweep who has been nothing but great to the team and the region showing flyballers in region 11 that the height dog can be as fast or faster then the bigger dogs on the team

Sweep is a bojack, who has done everything from start dog to anchor dog, she has race with many different handlers, and many different dogs on the team always being the main dog on the team

Sweep a once in a lifetime height dog

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 13

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 13

Dog's Call Name:

Bailey

Dog's Breed:

Golden Retriever

Dog's CRN:

040266

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(766) Infurno

Dog's Owner:

David & Peggy Hoyt

Nominated by:

(766) Infurno
Poughquag, NY
United States

In early 2004 Dave Hoyt & his Golden Retriever Bailey appeared in the flyball lanes and became a dedicated fixture ever since. Dave and Bailey display the epitome of teamwork and dedication and were always up for a challenge. Bailey’s consistency, power, speed, and enthusiasm for the sport made him an exceptional flyball dog and invaluable team member. A voracious tugger with a powerful box turn, Bailey would have difficulty giving up the tug and he could easily displace any “light-weight” boxloader. Bailey achieved his ONYX in July 2009 and is ranked 31st out of 787 Goldens.

Sadly, Bailey’s final competition would be at NET in May 2010. None of us knew that, mere weeks later, he would leave us; his body giving out well before his time. We will always smile when we think of Bailey & he will always be remembered for his enthusiasm and heart. It has been an honor to run with this outstanding competitor; he is well deserving of the Regional MVP Award.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 13

Dog's Call Name:

Jet

Dog's Breed:

Labrador Retriever

Dog's CRN:

020421

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(658) White Mountain Mayhem

Dog's Owner:

Hollis McGuire

Nominated by:

(658) White Mountain Mayhem
Manchester, NH
United States

In February 2002 Jet made his debut at the Fur Fun Tournament for NET. He was in for warm-ups but he did well, earning his FDX and ran full time after that earning 32,444 points to date.

For his first five years of his career he was a member of New England Trailblazers and has been part of White Mountain Mayhem for the last three. Each year on NET he was a core member of the Region 13 Multi-breed Champion team. Jet’s best time was a 4.112 and, he averaged times of 4.1 & 4.2. NET only won the Multi-breed Regional Championships with Jet as a member.

Jet had many handlers over the years and helped many teammates perfect their starts.. They smiled at his unflagging enthusiasm and were amazed at his strength.

Everyone in Region 13 could always tell when Jet was in the lane or on deck as his bark sounded much like a seal. And Box Loader Beware – spit, drool and soggy tennis balls were always a part of his run. A big strong dog with a nice box turn but you had to be ready or he could knock you off the box with his enthusiasm.

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 14

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 14

Dog's Call Name:

Shea

Dog's Breed:

Golden Retriever

Dog's CRN:

030465

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(578) Music City Road Dogs

Dog's Owner:

Jane Kline

Nominated by:

(578) Music City Road Dogs
Nashville, TN
United States

Shea's story began years ago as a free-roaming Golden, hit by a car. The owners requested she be put down - "It's just cheaper to get a new dog."

Enter Jane Kline. After healing, Shea lived as companion dog to Jane's ailing, widowed mother. Jane credited Shea with giving her mother "reason to keep going."

From therapy dog to flyball dog: With no ball drive, flyball was of NO interest to Shea. At her first tournament, she ran down the lane, passed the box and left the building with Jane in hot pursuit. Since that inauspicious beginning, she went on to become the steady, dependable foundation of MCRD. Almost every 2nd, 3rd and later generation MCRD handler had their hearts beating in their throats as they ran Shea as their first tournament experience. As MCRD grew, and teams were juggled, Shea always ran with green dogs. Instead of chasing points, she helped the "greenies" - dogs and handlers alike - learn the game. Shea made MCRD possible.

Shea always played flyball with passion and seriousness of purpose. She always did her job. Although health problems forced retirement on Shea earlier this season, she will always be the heart of MCRD.

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 15

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 15

Dog's Call Name:

Darby

Dog's Breed:

Mix

Dog's CRN:

060592

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(559) Release The Hounds

Dog's Owner:

Gabrielle Woodward

Nominated by:

(559) Release The Hounds
Glen Moore, PA
United States

The Ultimate Rescue.

Darby is a Lurcher found abandoned as a pup on the streets of Limerick, Ireland. Riddled with mange but already showing a winning personality, he was brought to the Irish SPCA. Through Greyhound Friends he found his way to the US and his obvious athleticism led his foster mother to seek a sports household.

Darby proved to be a natural at Flyball. One of the biggest dogs in the lanes at nearly 60 lbs. he quickly developed a stellar box turn and breathtaking speed. In his first year of racing he clocked a personal best of 3.62 – fastest in Region 15 at that time and probably to date. A bit of a hooligan at first, Darby matured into ultra-consistency, running in any position passing any dog.

In 2009 he led RTH to our first-ever Region Championship in Multi-Breed.

We’re a small club and Darby often backed up our second team, sometimes put in at a moment’s notice to pull out a key victory. He clearly knows it’s a race – the faster the competition, the faster Darby runs.

He’s gorgeous, athletic, intelligent, playful and affectionate. Once a homeless throw-away now RTH’s star performer, Darby is the Ultimate MVP.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 15

Dog's Call Name:

Foster

Dog's Breed:

Australian Cattle Dog

Dog's CRN:

000170

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(297) FBI

Dog's Owner:

Kim Shepherd

Nominated by:

(297) FBI
Springfield, VA
United States

Foster is a compact, focused, ball crazy Australian Cattle Dog. Born to work, Foster has been doing just that. Running in her first tournament in December 1999 and making herself the heart and soul of FBI. Whatever you ask of Foster, she delivers, with determination. After running for 11 years, with a few sidelines, including about 2 years of sitting out due to surgeries, Foster made the 40K mark. She would have done so much sooner but, rock that she is, she was always there, steady and available, to train the new dogs, run with the green teams, and provide the stability that allowed other dogs to achieve their potential while sacrificing her own points. Not only has she run tirelessly on FBI, but Foster oftentimes lends the steadiness and speed that other teams in our region need to make sure they get the chance to play. Even when her knees gave out, Foster didn’t let that (or her mom, Kim) slow her down. After two surgeries and months of rehab, Foster was demanding to be back on the lanes, doing what she loves best. At 11 Foster is still racing strong (sub-5’s) and is a legend in our region.

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 18

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 18

Dog's Call Name:

Bree

Dog's Breed:

Border Collie

Dog's CRN:

100036

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(826) Northern LightSpeed of Alaska

Dog's Owner:

Brian Sheridan

Nominated by:

(826) Northern LightSpeed of Alaska
Wasilla, AK
United States
 

At 15 months, Bree entered her first two tournaments in November 2009 and excelled as a start dog. She ran full time and helped her team earn their first two tournament victories.

In one year of racing Bree earned her FM, a first for any dog in the Region. She has broken her best time in each successive tournament and her current best was obtained at the Patriot Games at 6000 feet altitude in 90 degree weather; quite a feat for a dog acclimated to Alaska.

Bree has proven herself consistent, reliable, and versatile. She can run with any dog, in any position, at any venue, can be handled by anyone and still maintains her competitive edge.

Team record times were repeatedly broken with Bree in a lineup; the Regional Record team included Bree as the start dog. She has undoubtedly been a driving force in raising the level of competition in Alaska!

Ambassador? Bree in a nutshell. She loves meeting new dogs and people and gets them excited about flyball. She is the unofficial team greeter who loves getting and giving hugs and kisses. In her spare time, Bree enjoys watching flyball videos, doing agility and looking for sheep.

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 18

Dog's Call Name:

Zorro

Dog's Breed:

Jack/Parson Russell Terrier

Dog's CRN:

070528

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(695) Alaska Dogs Gone Wild

Dog's Owner:

Sasha Andreis

Nominated by:

(695) Alaska Dogs Gone Wild
Anchorage, AK
United States

Zorro is a wee little Jack Russell Terrier with a whole lot of spunk and attitude. He is a straight-shooting bullet who will not quit (even when the race is over). He can run with any handler, any position, any time. Zorro began his flyball training with Alaska Dogs Gone Wild (ADGW) and learned the game quickly. He has never looked back and is quite certain flyball was created just for him. Zorro ran in his first demo at a hockey game in front of 5,400 spectators, completely unfazed by the noise and commotion. He is a huge crowd-pleaser with his own following of fans. Zorro is the top-pointed Alaska-trained dog and is currently poised to become the top-pointed ADGW dog at CanAm 2010. He recently earned his FMX, which was no easy task in such an isolated region. Zorro may be one of the smallest flyball dogs out there, but the impact and benefits he has given to his team and to flyball in Alaska are as big as his bark.

 

 

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 19

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 19

Dog's Call Name:

Daisy Mae

Dog's Breed:

Miniature Schnauzer

Dog's CRN:

050887

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(401) RUFF

Dog's Owner:

Laura Dolph

Nominated by:

(401) RUFF
Denver, CO
United States

Daisy Mae is a spunky miniature schnauzer that lets everyone know when it is her turn to race. Daisy Mae started racing in 2005. Although Daisy Mae was not sure about flyball at first, she decided the sport was for her. Over the years, Daisy Mae has helped train many of the RUFF dogs. She can run in any spot and pass any dog. Daisy cheers her dog teammates on while waiting for her turn and scolds them if they crowd the lane. The little gray dog wins the hearts of audiences everywhere she goes and you will hear them cheering “ Go Daisy Go”

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 19

Dog's Call Name:

Puzzle

Dog's Breed:

Border Collie

Dog's CRN:

050176

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(765) LAUNCH

Dog's Owner:

Dana Nichols

Nominated by:

(765) LAUNCH
Arvada, CO
United States

I’d like to nominate Puzzle (CRN# 050176) for Region 19 MVP.

Puzzle is a seven year old Border Collie who came to race in Colorado early in her career. She started in Michigan, but really hit her stride here in Colorado. Many of us did not realize what we were training for until we saw her turn. She showed us how we could make our dogs faster and better.

Puzzle is a very intense dog and has a very strong work ethic. Anything that stood between her & the flyball lane was unacceptable. She matured into a dog that could run in any position and for many different handlers. She has traveled all over the country doing what she loves.

Puzzle helped set several records in multi-breed and regular racing and ran on regional champion teams in both classes too. She also helped train many dogs, bringing out drive from many young dogs racing beside her.

Puzzle is an incredible flyball dog and she takes her job very seriously. Go Puzz!!!

Susi Evans

www.Launchflyball.com

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 19

Dog's Call Name:

Willow

Dog's Breed:

Jack/Parson Russell Terrier

Dog's CRN:

021252

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(810) Denver Speed Demons

Dog's Owner:

Jackie McCourtie

Nominated by:

(810) Denver Speed Demons
Aurora, CO
United States

Willow is the Postal Service of Flyball. Come rain, snow, sleet or hail, she

will find a way to play the game. She loved Flyball so much when she started,

that she wanted to take everyone's spot on the team by rerunning herself. Now,

she can run anywhere, anyplace, anytime, on any team by anybody! She is a

reliable height dog, who has so much enthusiasm for the sport. Anyone that knows Willow outside of the lane knows she is a timid, submissive dog (not a typical Jack), but you wouldn't know that by watching her lunge and bark in the ring. She's a point and shoot dog...just hold tight until it is her turn to run.

She has run on MANY teams in Region 19, helping them earn points and win divisions, as their sole height dog. Willow has helped others in training by running on several newbie teams. Even at the age of 9 and 12' tall, she still runs 5.6 seconds, nothing slows her down. Willow reached 40,000 points in 2010, which is a huge accomplishment for such a little dog and a testament to her dedication. She gives 110% for the love of the sport.

 

2010 Regional MVP Nominees - Region 20

Nomination for Regional MVP - Region 20

Dog's Call Name:

Liam

Dog's Breed:

American Pit Bull Terrier

Dog's CRN:

070961

Dog's Club Affiliation:

(452) DogZworth

Dog's Owner:

Louis Bédard

Nominated by:

(452) DogZworth
Montreal West, QC
Canada

Because he is the most unlikely flyball dog, please vote for DogZworth’s Liam as Region 20’s MVP for 2010.

Nobody wanted a big white Pitbull. When he was a puppy Liam was abandoned at the pound. Months later he was transferred to Sasha’s Den Rescue. At 19 months old Liam was finally adopted!

When he was 2 Liam began his flyball training. Flyball was so complicated for Liam, but he never gave up! He tried his best and was always happy to continue playing – even if it wasn’t exactly the right game!

In 2007 Liam started to warm-up. He was so enthusiastic- he left the building! Finally in 2009 he started racing. Every heat was not the same. He couldn’t decide which way to turn.

Liam’s training took 2 years but in 2010 he put it all together! He has over 6,500 points. With a pass his best time is 4,5 seconds! He can run in any position, pass any dog and will run for anyone. Also, he finally decided- he’s a lefty.

Liam encourages all the other "flyball challenged" dogs to keep training. Liam never gave up and he is now a great asset to his team.

 

 

 

 

2010 Nominees for Judge of the Year

Nomination for Judge of the Year

Judge:

Brian Fay

Nominated by:

Amanda Brown
Raleigh, NC
United States

Brian Fay decided to become a NAFA Judge 11 years ago, and has been a supervising Judge for 8 years. In his role as a Supervising Judge, he has trained and mentored many new judges, some of whom are now Supervising Judges themselves. Brian went a step further for NAFA, volunteering his time to serve on the board and heading up the Judges Committee for 3 years, followed by a 2 year stint on the Rules Committee.

He has been NAFA's "go-to" Judge for many years and is in demand internationally, as he has judged at the Australian Flyball Nationals twice. Brian has judged every final at Cynosports, was selected to judge the CanAm Classic, and was the obvious choice to judge the 2010 CanAm finals. His professional demeanor, devotion to fairness, and fun attitude are appreciated by competitors and spectators alike.

Brian has judged several world record runs and in 18 of NAFA's 20 regions. His goal is to judge in all 20 of them! NAFA has many great judges, and I believe that Brian is the best of the best. He is an excellent candidate for the Judge of the Year award.

Nominated by: Amanda Brown, DogGoneFast Flyball Club

Nomination for Judge of the Year

Judge:

Dave Walt

Nominated by:

Steve Diedrich
Newmarket, ON
Canada

Dave has consistently set a high standard in Region 2 for fairness, adherence to rules, efficiency in the ring, clarity of judgement, concern for dogs and handlers and has maintained both a great attitude and sense of humour through it all. As a result, teams in Region 2 have been able to derive a greater enjoyment and appreciation of the game of flyball, without being subjected to excessively long days, consistent delays, confusion, ambiguity or a less than savoury attitude. Dave has recently been promoted to Supervising Head Judge and, as a result of the example he has set, new judges in this region show a huge degree of promise by displaying the same patience, good judgement, and certainty with decisions that Dave has shown over the years. There are many competitors in Region 2 that use Dave as a benchmark, and rank judges by his example. Inside and outside of the ring you couldn't ask for a nicer, fairer nor more motivated individual. For these reasons I respectfully submit Dave Walt as NAFA judge of the year.

 

Nomination for Judge of the Year

Judge:

Lawrence Cox

Nominated by:

Sam Ford
La Porte, TX
United States

I would like to nominate Supervising Judge Lawrence Cox as Judge of the Year.

Lawrence has dedicated over 15 years to the sport of NAFA flyball. He moved through the ranks of Judging to become a Supervising Judge and has always been willing to share his knowledge with those coming into this sport. Fair, respectful of the dogs and people running in his tournaments, he has always been an example for other judges to follow.

Lawrence has judged tournaments from one coast to the other and many places in between. As he is coming to the end of his career and retiring he has had to limit assignments but never has he lost the desire to see this sport progress and thrive. Even today he attends so that new judges can progress and learn. He passes on to them the rules and the love of the sport.

I can think of no one more deserving of this honor. Lawrence will be missed by Region 5 and all the regions he has judged in. Please consider recognizing his contribution to this sport by making him the Judge of the Year. He has a lifetime of accomplishments to back up his nomination.

Nomination for Judge of the Year

Judge:

Phil Getty

Nominated by:

Jason Crawford
Lowell, MI
United States

I have chosen to nominate Phil as he is a great example of a judge as he does not waiver from the rule book and makes calls as he see them. I have judged along side of Phil and he is a great asset the the nafa judges list as he is a great mentor to our new judges and is a great example to the rest of the flyball community.

Nomination for Judge of the Year

Judge:

Scott Chamberlain

Nominated by:

Phil Getty
Kokomo, IN
United States

I have had the pleasure to see Scott judge NAFA(r) tournaments now for over 5 years. I have seen him as a competitor and as a fellow judge. Scott has always been a true professional in the ring and has always set a high standard for the other judges to live up to. His knowledge of the game, rules and overall ability to lead/manage the ring is outstanding. Scott presents himself in a manner that is fitting for a judge. He draws no attention to himself but allows for the participants and spectators to realize that he is the representation of NAFA(r) in the ring and someone that all can look up to for guidance and support. When I heard NAFA(r) was coming out with a Judge of the year award, Scott Chamberlain was the first person that came to my mind. NAFA(r) does not have a better judge than Scott. Scott is NAFA(r)'s judge of the year. He has always put flyball's needs first and it shows in the command/respect that he gets in his ring at every tournament. I am honored to nominate Scott for this award and he is definitely deserving of this honor.