Come Join Us for Our Annual Fall Fast CAT!

 

 

On September 28 and 29 we will be hosting our annual autumn Fast CAT trials, this time at K9 Splash Zone, 9386 National Road in Brookville, OH. (More on K9 Splash Zone here.) We’ve attached three documents below– the Premium List in a “read only” version, in a “print version” (so the pages come out in the right order) and just the stand alone entry blank, if you just want to read the premium list and only print the entry blank.

There will be four tests, two each day, with a limit of 125 dogs per test. Entry fees are $20 per test if you send them in postmarked before September 23. Day of trial entries will be $30 each, and we can’t promise that we’ll have them available, as sometimes the tests do fill up!

If you’re wondering, what is this Fast Cat stuff? Do they chase cats? No, no, no, goodness, no! The “cat” stands for “coursing ability test” and a Fast Cat is simply a 100-yard dash for dogs. You do have to have a “number” from the AKC to participate, but it doesn’t have to be a registration number– as any “Canine Partner” is welcome to participate. (Though mixed breed dogs must be neutered to do so.) More on the AKC’s canine partnership program here.

TESTS , TITLES & TIMING

How Does a Fast CAT Work?

Fast CAT is a timed straight race of 100 yards.  Dogs run by themselves and the time it takes to complete the 100 yd dash is converted into miles-per-hour. (My dog likes to stop midway and look at butterflies.)   A handicap system is applied to a dog’s miles-per-hour to determine the number of points earned. (The handicap system is based on the height of the dog at its withers: a. 18”or greater = handicap is 1.0 b. 12” up to less than 18” = handicap is 1.5 c. Below 12” = handicap is 2.0) Then the miles-per-hour is multiplied by the dog’s handicap for their point total.

Fast CAT suffix titles are earned at designated milestones: a. BCAT = 150 points b. DCAT = 500 points c. FCAT = 1,000 points d. FCAT# = every additional 500 points

The time to complete the 100 yard dash is recorded to the nearest 1/100th of a second (e.g. 9.11). The club may use stopwatches or break-the-beam electronic timer to obtain the time. If stopwatches are used, two timers are positioned at the finish line. An individual at the start line signals with an arm drop the moment the nose of the dog crosses the start line. The timers start their stopwatches at the bottom of the arm drop and stop their watches when the nose of the dog crosses the finish line. The times from the two stopwatches are averaged to determine the recorded time.

The area of the course is fenced with a large secure “recovery” area where the handler is reunited with the dog. The dogs chase a “lure”– generally a white grocery bag on a continuous loop– though many dogs are so excited to run to their owners, they don’t much notice the lure. Dogs of all sorts compete in Fast Cat: tiny dogs, giant dogs, bulldogs, fast dogs and slow.

If you just want to come out and watch, it’s free for spectators, and we’ll get started about 8 in the morning and then again around noon on both Saturday and Sunday.

If you’re interested in entering, check out the Premium List below. If you have questions, please feel free to give us a shout and we’ll do our best to answer them.

 

Larkin Vonalt

Trial Secretary, (937) 781-6561 (you can text to this number too.)

larkinvonalt@earthlink.net

Read Only Fast Cat Premium

Printer friendly Premium

fastcatseparateentry

Four Fast CAT Tests One Weekend!

Be sure to mark the last weekend in September for Fast CAT fun at Fort St. Clair Kennel Club! We’ll have two AKC Fast CAT tests on Saturday and two tests on Sunday. We expect all four tests to fill, and there will be “Day of” Entries ONLY if there are spaces left. If you want to be sure your dog runs, get your entries in as soon as you can. Each test is limited to 100 dogs. Pre-entries close September 26th, and the entry fee  is $20.  (In the event that there is space for day of entries, those will be $25.)

The Fast CAT trials will be held at Preble County Fairgrounds, 722 S. Franklin St. in Eaton, OH. On-site RV camping is available through the Fairgrounds office, but you must arrive before 4 p.m. on Friday to arrange that. (Call Beth the Fairgrounds for more information, (937) 456-3748.  There are pet-friendly hotels located in nearby Richmond, Indiana.

During the Trial, there will be access to shade and shelter in the Rabbit barn, but please bring your own chairs. There is potable water on the Fairgrounds, but we recommend you bring some with you as well. Food concessions will be available.

FSCKC September 2018 Fast CAT Premium

Fast CATs on Tap for April 29

Once again, we are so pleased to be offering two sets of Fast CAT tests along our all-breed dog show Sunday, April 29th at Preble County Fairgrounds, in Eaton, Ohio.

Entries are now open and the entry blank can be found in the menu on the left side of this page.

Pre-entry is $20, day of test (IF there are any spaces available) will be $25. There is space for 50 dogs in each test and a waiting list of 25.

Dogs run towards their owner on a hundred-yard straight course that is lightly enclosed with snow fence. Qualifying runs are awarded a light blue flat ribbon, new title holders receive a commemorative rosette.

Fort St. Clair Kennel Club is so grateful to members Tracy & Jeff Leonard, who have brought this great new event to our club and through their incredible hard work and effort we have been able to offer two sets of tests each year.

Autumn Fast CATs

Fort St. Clair is delighted to announce that we have been approved for two Fast CATS this autumn, September 30 & October 1, at Preble County Fairgrounds.722 S. Franklin St. Eaton, Ohio.

Dogs must be one year old to compete. New AKC regulations allow for dogs to run with collars, though we still recommend running your dog “naked.” The lane for the run is “fenced” with snow fencing, as is the “catch” area at the end of the run. Rosettes will be given to dogs completing their titles.

The link to the entry form is at the bottom of this page.

Camping is available, but must be arranged through the Fairground office (937) 456-3748.  There are pet-friendly motels in New Paris (the Golden Inn, a Mom and Pop-style establishment, popular with our dog show exhibitors 937-437-0722) and in nearby Richmond, Indiana.

FSCKC Fall 2017 Fast CAT Premium 2.0-1