Tally Ho, Let’s Go Run Some FastCAT!

Tally Ho! Let’s go run some FastCAT! This past weekend we went to Iowa for three days of FastCAT. We missed two, three day trials in July and August because of Mom’s heart attack and we really want to earn some more points this year. Bailie stayed home because there was a lot of car riding involved and she does not like that at all.

The Process

Some people have asked us how FastCAT works, so we thought we would take a moment to explain the process in simple terms. There are really three steps involved in a FastCAT run:

1. 1. Check in and Inspection – You normally enter the trials ahead of time so when you arrive, you pick up your run card for the first run. If you are a girl, spayed or not, you have to wipe your privates to make sure you are not in heat. No dogs in heat are allowed in this sport. Dogs also need to trot for the check in person to ensure the dog is not lame or otherwise ailing as it is an intense one hundred yard dash for the dog.
   2. Every dog has a handicap depending on height. I run with a 1.5 and Olivia has a 1, so she gets only her actual speed.
   3. Ready to Run – Next, you take your card to the person with the white board and get your name on the running order. Some clubs have pre-made run orders but we find it to be rare where we trial. Depending on where your dog lands in the line up, you may go back to your car to wait, or you may be able to run soon.
   4. You will need a catcher and a releaser. Mom is always our catcher as we like to run to her, and they have people to release your dog if you don’t have someone with you to do that. The starter waves the flag and says, Tally Ho, and the dog is let loos to run to the finish line.
   5. Ribbon Time – After your run, the human needs to pick up your ribbon. Everyone who qualifies gets a blue ribbon with the time, handicap, and points on it. If you earn a title, you may also pick up that ribbon.

How Does A Dog Earn A Title

1. The first title is the BCAT. A dog needs 150 points for a BCAT. We earned our BCATS in Amana in August 2020, Bailie earned hers this July.
2. The second title is the DCAT. A dog needs 500 total points for a DCAT (BCAT points, plus 350). We earned our DCATs in Grinnell, Iowa in June this year.
3. The third title is the FCAT. A dog needs 1000 points for a FCAT (DCAT points, plus 500).
4. Next comes FCAT1, FCAT2 and so on, each additional number is another 500 points.

Our first day was a pouring rain storm! We have never run in rain, so it was a new experience. The rain makes the grass slick, making traction more difficult. Dogs tend to have slower times in rain. Olivia’s second run on Friday was into driving wind and rain, but she still had an okay time. After her run, they shut down the trial for over an hour due to the rain. Olivia was not real amused!

Saturday it was misting in the early morning but then things started to dry out. By Sunday, conditions were pretty good. I always like to keep an eye on Olivia when she leaves to run. This is my Gladys Kravitz in the car shot Mom took of me.

So how did our weekend shake out? We each Q’d on all six of our runs and earned some good points towards our FCAT Titles. I now have 687.18 of the needed 1000. Olivia has 650.91. I have a 1.5 handicap, so I earn points faster than Olivia. Olivia also ran a personal best in her last run of 22.21 mph! Tally Ho! We hope to get to run at least one more trial this year, we shall see!

My GBGV Life is happy, so we’re joining Comedy Plus for Happy Tuesday!