The Chattanooga Chomp Flyball Club is hosting a regional flyball tournament Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 27-28, at Play Dog Excellent, 4113 Dayton Blvd.
Nicknamed "The Rock 'n' Roll of Dog Sports," flyball is a relay race with four dogs to a team, says Thomas Peterson. The course consists of a starting line, four hurdles spaced 10 feet apart and a spring-loaded box.
To start a heat, dogs enter the course at a full run timed to a sequence of lights, similar to a drag race. Dogs leap the hurdles and perform a turn on the box, releasing a tennis ball. After catching the ball, each dog must return over the hurdles and exit the course with the ball as the next dog crosses the start line.
Races are run in pairs of teams and are laser-timed to 1/1,000th of a second. Some of the faster competitors have completed the 102-foot, round-trip run in 3.5 seconds.
The public is invited to watch these canine athletes as they race against the clock.
This tournament is sanctioned by the North American Flyball Association. Race hours are 8 a.m. to about 4 p.m. both days. There is no admission fee.
For more information: 423-870-7740.