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Catcher On The Fly

Crystal L. Lauderdale/Tampa Tribune

Brigit and her owner Bob Walkley recently won the World Champions frisbee title in Atlanta

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2007

Additional Photos

DAVIS ISLANDS - Bob Walkley wasn't always a Frisbee champion. In fact, it wasn't until Brigit became a part of his life that he started attending workshops and reading training manuals on the flying disc.

'I was terrible when we started,' said Walkley, a lawyer. 'Just dreadful.'

Brigit is a 5-year-old border collie and the 2007 Hyperflite Skyhoundz Sport Division World Champion. She competed with her owner for the first time at the championships, Sept. 22-23 in Atlanta, bringing home a trophy almost as big as her. They faced 26 teams from Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States.

'I knew she was good when she caught at 4 months old,' said Walkley, who is living in a Davis Islands rental home with his wife, Janelle, while their Hyde Park home is renovated.

'It is a carry-over from sheepherding. These are her sheep,' he said, pointing to slobber-covered Frisbees lying in the grass during a recent practice.

Every day, Brigit and Walkley practice at the tip of the islands on a strip of level grass at Severn and Martinique avenues. During the summer heat, they are out no more than 10 minutes.

'In the wintertime, we'll practice for about 30 minutes,' Walkley said.

That's in addition to the early morning runs the two take daily.

'You have to keep border collies active,' said Walkley, a member of the Central Florida Dog and Disc Club.

Walkley's desire for a running partner was part of the appeal in owning Brigit, named for a Celtic goddess and Catholic saint.

Janelle Walkley tried for years to convince her husband that they needed a dog before he caved. She researched dog breeders and found one in Williston, just south of Gainesville, with a working farm.

Brigit joined the family in 2002. Bob Walkley's brother, who had an affinity for Frisbee, had just died. Putting dog and disc together just felt right for Walkley.

Shortly after getting Brigit, they added Jack, an Australian shepherd who was dropped off on the side of the road while Walkley was throwing the Frisbee with Brigit.

Jack, named for President Kennedy, is less interested in competition and just as happy to chew on the Frisbee while lying down.

Brigit, on the other hand, covers about 400 yards in a minute. In the four years they have been competing, she has worn down her bottom two canine teeth from biting the plastic Frisbees.

'She's aerodynamic,' Janelle Walkley said. 'She can flip in the air.'

Brigit competes in the sport division, which involves catching throws in a 50-yard, diamond-shaped field. She scores points for the number of throws she catches in a given time and for the distance at which she catches them.

Up next for Brigit is completion of Canis Major, five competitions held from September to November by the Central Florida club.

In his fourth season of training Brigit, Walkley said he is just happy to be playing with his dogs.

'This strictly is fun,' he said. 'My dogs are my hobby.'

FRISBEE TIPS

Bob Walkley, owner and trainer of Brigit, the 2007 Hyperflite Skyhoundz Sport Division World Champion, offers a few pointers on training dogs to catch a Frisbee:

•Start by rolling the Frisbee to the dog

•Have the dog grab the Frisbee out of your hand; increase the challenge by holding the disc in different positions, such as behind the back

•Progress to short throws, gradually extending the throw as the dog picks up the skill

For information on the Central Florida Dog and Disc Club, contact director Chuck Hensley at (863) 859-4770 or info@cfdiscdogs.com, or go to www.cfdiscdogs.com.

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 835-2114 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com.

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