NAFA 2008 Region 5 MVP

Tri-Hard Top Gun
"Pilot"

CRN: 980071
Breed of Dog: Mix
Dog's Club Affiliation: Top Dog Racers
Owner of the Dog: Pam Martin

Nomination:
I would like to nominate Pilot of Top Dog Racers, for Region 5 MVP. Pilot has raced the entire 9+ years of his flyball career on Chain Reaction (Top Dog Racers' A Team), running as the sole height dog for a good portion of that time.


Pilot changed the face of flyball in Region 5, introducing the region to a small dog who could run in the 3.9’s and 4.0’s. He also changed the “look” of flyball in Region 5 as one of the first Border Jack mixes in Texas. He has always been a crowd pleaser, and it could often be heard when he was running, “… what kind of dog is that.”

With Pilot on the team, Top Dog Racers were able to achieve some amazing things such as becoming 2002 NAFA Champions, breaking into the 16's, and then the 15's, and achieving a 1st Place finish at the World Cynosports Championship in 2007! Pilot considered retirement when he reached his 50,000 point mark, but decided he wasn't quite ready to give up the excitement of flyball competition yet.

NAFA 2007 Regional MVP

Heidi

CRN: 980071
Breed of Dog: Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Dog's Club Affiliation: Flat Out Flyers
Owner of the Dog: Tracy Bunker

Nomination:
Heidi (aka Amarillo by Morning), a diminutive, red Pembroke Welsh Corgi, was the heart of the Flat Out Flyers flyball club for many years.

Heidi retired in January 2007 at 14 ½ years old, after achieving her FGDCH title. She might be a small dog but she ran with a big heart and was a very commanding presence on any team!

Heidi never failed to give 100%, at local tourneys or on the road. And just because her owner, Tracy Bunker, couldn’t attend a tournament, it didn’t mean that Heidi stayed home. The little corgi traveled with the club to Tennessee, Colorado and various places in Texas; running for anyone, as long as that anyone had her treat bag in hand. Heidi would run in any position and while the mistakes were rare, she would be the first to tell you, they were generally never her fault!

Heidi has shown that these little herding dogs also make great flyball dogs. Heidi always served Region 5 as a great ambassador for the sport of flyball, never failing to be a crowd favorite in any flyball arena.

NAFA 2006 Regional MVP

Dillon

CRN: 960885
Breed of Dog: Border Collie
Dog's Club Affiliation: Texas Heat
Owner of the Dog: Mary Fairbairn

Nomination:
Dillon, a member of the Fairbairn Family, Mary, Michael, and John, began his flyball career in 1996, and ran his first race in 1997. Dillon has shared the lanes with Region 5’s finest for almost a decade. Dillon’s first competitive runs were in a “Fastest of the Fast” competition in Las Vegas against dogs from Animal Inn, Rude Dogs, and Touch n Go. This big puppy wasn’t quite sure what he was doing, but he won the competition and the respect of all. Dillon was one of the first 3.9/4.0 dogs in Region 5. He was a member of the fast Top Dog teams of the late 1990’s and was on Texas Heat’s first 16 second team in 2001.

Dillon is the true foundation dog for Texas Heat. He has been an integral part of the training of every puppy and every human trained as a member of Texas Heat. Dillon’s presence and confidence has positively influenced all of the puppies he has helped train. Dillon was equally as valuable training new handlers. Dillon’s steadiness allowed them to focus only on their responsibilities. Dillon’s many accomplishments and contributions for the past decade make him a worthy candidate for Regional MVP.

NAFA 2005 Regional MVP

Sampson

CRN: 930186
Breed of Dog: Irish Setter
Dog's Club Affiliation: K9 Kommotion
Owner of the Dog: Teresa Turner

Nomination:
It’s hard to think of Region 5 Flyball without seeing a big red Irish Setter running and jumping as fast as he could over the Flyball jumps. Sampson ran Flyball from July 1993 until September 2004. He was hard to miss, with that beautiful mahogany coat. Everyone knew him and he knew everyone. Sampson never knew a stranger. At age 13, he’s now retired.

Sampson’s Flyball career started with CDTC, continued with Texas Tornados, and when they disbanded, Sampson joined and concluded his career with K9 Kommotion. “Sammy” mentored all of the dogs currently running on our team. He was extremely consistent, whether as the start dog, running second or third or as a fast anchor. He ran his heart out for his “human” Teresa, but anyone on the team could run him. He was the heart and soul of our team.

Sampson achieved the title of FGDCH with 32,378 career points. He was the first Irish Setter to achieve the titles FM through FGDCh, and is the only Irish Setter to achieve FMCh to FGDCh titles.
Sampson was and still is an outstanding ambassador for Flyball and deserves to be Region 5 MVP.

NAFA 2004 Regional MVP

Mandy

CRN: 940876
Breed of Dog: Border Collie
Dog's Club Affiliation: Just Say Go!
Owner of the Dog: Daurece Cox
Nominating Club: Just Say Go! 246
Nominating Club Owner: Daurece Cox
1504 Holly Circle
Richmond, TX 77469-4215

Nomination:
I would like to see Mandy, a ten year old Border Collie handled and loved by Daurece Cox of Just Say Go!, be made the MVP for Region 5.

She is the foundation and the most versatile dog on our team; a dog that can start, pass and run anchor.

She has taught the new dogs on our team to pass and has been invaluable in teaching dogs who have lost their confidence in passing to learn the game of flyball again. The dogs that Mandy has helped have become great racers with the confidence to play the game, due to her no-fuss attitude. I have never seen a dog dislike or feel threatened around Mandy.

She is a true and confident athlete that plays the game without distraction. On the track she gives her handlers 110%, whether or not it is her owner behind her. She has been racing in flyball since June of 1995 and in March, achieved her FG40K with no signs of stopping. Her Border Collie smile and desire to race are always ready and there is no slowing down for the MVP of Just Say Go!

NAFA 2003 Regional MVP

Samantha Sunshine

Nominating Club (#): Lone Star Ruffnecks (406)
Dog’s Name (#), Breed: Sami (950728), Shetland Sheepdog
Dog’s Owner: Stephanie Rudisill
Dog’s Current Club Name (#): Lone Star Ruffnecks (406)
Clubs Raced with: Lone Star Ruffnecks
Nomination (200 words or less):


I’ll try for a moment to tell you about Sami. She was a wonder height dog. Small, standing only 13” tall, but big enough to carry a flyball team tournament after tournament. Many a time we traveled hundreds and thousands of miles with only one height dog in the line up. Time and time again she held up when others had to quit. Many titles including ONYX have come her way but she earned more than just those by always being there for others. If you counted the titles of teammates she carried over her career, Sami wold have earned multiple Onyx’s, and a couple of FGDCH’s and that doesn’t even count the numerous beginners she helped along the way.

Samantha was more than just a flyball dog; she was a teacher too. She opened our hearts, taught us about great dogs, and opened her home to many a homeless border collie. For Sami, always room for one more to stay for a while.

But tonight I remember the giant small Sheltie that helped us all. From California to Florida. Texas to Detroit, Sami has been with us and in fact she will be with us whenever we run.