Every year Crufts highlights the fun, speed and excitement of a major flyball competition as 16 teams strive to become Crufts’ flyball champions in front of a massive, noisy and enthralled audience in the NEC Arena.
Further information on flyball at Crufts 2021 will be available shortly.
To be confirmed.
Each team shall consist of six handlers and dogs, four of which will run at any one time. Each team can also have a team captain, a box loader and an additional person to act as runner / ball collector. No handler or dog can compete in more than one team.
All dogs entering must be a minimum of 18 months old on the first day of Crufts 2020 and be registered on the KC Activity or Breed register.
At least one dog in each team must be a designated breed. The designated breed dog must be registered with the Kennel Club on the Breed Register or on the Activity Register as a Kennel Club registered breed (excluding Border Collies / Working Sheep Dogs).
There must be at least one designated breed dog running in each race.
The invitation event will be a team competition (knockout), also known as a single eliminator. 8 teams will run on the Thursday and a further 8 teams will run on the Friday. The best of three runs will decide the winners which will go into the next round.
NOTE: Boxes should be constructed with the comfort and wellbeing of the dog in mind. Sharp edges must be avoided and adequate padding and protection should be used. The officiating judge has the right to refuse the use of any flyball box they deem to be unfit to use and teams cannot use any external modification that could be classed as training aids; they will be asked to remove them before they can carry on racing.
Each club shall provide its own supply of balls. Approved balls may be of any size, colour or design and must bounce and roll. Balls may not contain a noise maker eg. squeakers or bells. Balls must not be covered in a skin ie Rabbit skin etc. The ball must be able to travel the requisite distance as defined in the box rules section. All non-tennis balls must be approved by the Crufts flyball steward before being used.
Only handlers and dogs who are members of the original team and named on the entry form, will be allowed to compete at Crufts and only by exceptional circumstances will any change be allowed. Any change requests must be submitted by email for approval. All entry forms must be submitted by 1 December 2019.
No sponsorship is permitted to be featured on the flyball boxes and any sponsorship of clothing is subject to KC approval and in any case will be limited to one small breast pocket logo.
If you would like more information regarding the invitation event, please email crufts@kcflyball.org.uk.