The 2023 Canine Flyball CanAm Classic raced to ESPN2 screens on November 5, 2023 as the nation’s largest flyball tournament. The action took place on October 20, 21, and 22, 2023, in Indianapolis, IN. The tournament was hosted by the North American Flyball Association (NAFA), and featured Premier and Multibreed tournaments. The teams battled it out bracket-style to see who was the speediest in the relay-style competition.
Each class ran in a single-elimination tournament, with the best three out of five runs. Teams that lost ran against each other in the first round to determine the where each team fell in a ranking of eight in the Premier tournament, and four in the Multibreed class.
First Place
Skidmarkz
Winning a best three out of five races in the final round, Skidmarkz Silent But Deadly from Iowa City, Iowa, beat out Run Free from Langley, BC, Canada. Last year, Skidmarkz came in second place against Run Free. The team consisted of five dogs:
- “Fission,” a mixed-breed dog handled by Lucas and Janessa Montgomery.
- “Wire,” a mixed-breed dog handled by Jayne McQuillen and Steve Branin.
- “Juice,” a mixed-breed dog handled by Katie Weihbrecht.
- “Mission,” a mixed-breed dog handled by Nicole Ortz.
- “Trix,” a mixed-breed dog handled by Gillian Cochrane.
- “Pixar,” a Whippet handled by Jayne McQuillen and Steve Branin.
Final Placings
NAFA CanAm Regular Premier Class
- Skidmarkz Silent But Deadly
- Run Free Run Hard
- Celtic Mayhem Pot of Gold
- LAUNCH Zoom
- Fur Fun Forumla Fun
- Syn Surge (Synthetic Surge Recharge)
- Full Tilt Flyball Aspire
- Omaha Speed Racers Spirit
NAFA CanAm Multibreed Class
- Fur Fun Faux Fur
- Mass Chaos Butterfly Effect
- Skimarkz Tail Wind
- Spring Loaded TNG
Want to Get Started in Flyball?
If seeing Flyball on TV has gotten you excited about participating with your own dog, getting started is easier than you think. The best way is to find a club near you that offers classes. Because Flyball is a team sport, you’re going to want to find a team that works for both you and your dog.
If you’re not ready to go to a class, many clubs host online classes and seminars, and you can try practicing jumps with at-home flyball equipment.
While you’re searching for Flyball clubs in your state, you can also read the NAFA Rule book to familiarize yourself with the sport.
Don’t think Flyball is for you? Don’t worry! There are many dog sports that are suitable for dogs of all ages and abilities.
The Canine Flyball CanAm Classic is coming to your TVs! The nation’s largest Flyball event was held on October 22 in Indianapolis, IN, and premieres on ESPN2 on Sunday, November 5th, at 3pm ET. Don’t miss these speedy dogs in action!