Maryland Seafood Festival
September 8 & 9, 2007

Greetings from your hosts MADDogs:

The planning began long before the event was a twinkle in your eyes. Ray set out to get the approval for both events from their respective organizations, secure the venue, obtain sponsorship, and buy the many great awards. All the while, Diane and Dark Frank worked (Diane worked, Frank just reviewed, critiqued, & edited) up the Registration Forms, Event Program, and the Scoring System for this event.

The hard labor began on Friday at 11:00AM when Sherry, JoAnn and Ray arrived at Sandy Point State Park to set the fields and the obstacle course for the weekend in the heat, sun, and 20 plus mile-an-hour winds. They work for four and half hours setting the fields and roping off each area.

The Weekend events were kicked off by none other than our very own, Peter Williams, belting out the National Anthem with ease. Saturday morning came early for forty one teams that showed up planning on having fun with their canine companions and be in the mix for the events’ awards. The FDDO Obstacle course proved to be a challenge to all teams on this breezy warm day. The change in the scoring system encouraged people to try clearing the obstacles much more than last year. The MATCH PLAY kept everyone on the obstacle course most of the day on Saturday, further honing their skills, and vying for the finals on Sunday. Saturday went quickly with much thanks going to the teams for being on time and up to the fields when their turn came. Freestyle gave the judges the biggest challenge to find the best of the best, as many of the top Northeast Teams where there for the challenge. Much thanks goes to our judging staff for the day, Carolynn Williams, Shannon Bilheimer, John Bilheimer, Jeff Stanaway (2005-2006 FDDO National Champions) and Ray Lowman. Large thanks goes to Susan Douglas & NATURES VARIETY for their sponsorship of our event … THANK YOU!

After a long day of multiple events and partaking in seafood delicacies at the Seafood Festival, a few meat lovers convinced twenty one of the teams to meet at Adam’s Rib for a great time with lots of good meat and of course some fine wine to wash it down.

Sunday brought out some of the World class teams and many teams that will be going to the Hyperflite World’s in Atlanta the weekend of Sept 23, 2007. The judges for Sunday, Carolynn Williams, Shannon Bilheimer and Ray Lowman, had a huge job finding the top dogs in the Freestyle event. There were many teams that put on a World class performance that made the judging very close. We saw many people that had been to the Can-AM Games trying different throws that Paul had taught in his clinics.

Over all the two days went very smoothly with little or no problems until the computer thought it was too smart for its BrITcheS. When all the events were said in done, the computer didn’t want to give up the overall FDDO scores. It would not tally the total FDDO for those that didn’t enter all the FDDO games, but Diane worked it out with Frank’s help. This also provided a great opportunity for the 2 time World Champion Pairs Freestyle Team of Shiloh, Frank Buckland, & Shannon Bilheimer along with the other current World Finalist Pairs Freestyle Team of Filo, Frank Buckland, & John Bilheimer to strut their stuff for the crowd.

The MAD Dogs would like to thank those that helped out so much, JoAnn and Sherry for helping with the fields; Val, Diane Carolynn, Shannon, Frank M. for registration; Jeff Stanaway for the use of his wonderful sound system and for helping to judge; Nancy for working the products booth, and giving up her dog Mickey so Courtney could play at the event. Also, thanks to Nancy for looking at many of our furry friends when they pulled up sore. And finally to all of the club members that stayed late to help break down, pack up, and clean up the area (that means so much after a long weekend of fun, so we could get home to rest those dog tired feet).

HAT OFF THE MAD DOG CLUB FOR ANOTHER GREAT EVENT AND LOTS OF FUN WITH OUR FOUR LEGGED FURRY FRIENDS. (Photos by Laura O’Neill)