Meet Me in St. Louis

Not since Judy Garland danced and sang her way across the big screen in the 1944 musical "Meet Me in St. Louis," has there been such an event to resurrect this title from the archives.  But with the 2010 U-FLIChampionship coming to Purina® Farms November 12 - 14, 2010, it found its match.

An hour outside of St. Louis, at 200 Checkerboard Drive in Gray Summit, Missouri, is the penultimate pet facility known as Purina® Farms.  What better place to hold a Flyball tournament than at a facility devoted to the well being of animals since 1894!

"The Purina® campus is huge," said Stephanie Smith, one of the Event Coordinators from K9Racers (St. Louis, MO),  "The new building we will be using is absolutely beautiful.  It's awesome."

Purina® Farms' new 45,000-square-foot Main Exhibition Hall sits in the middle of 300 acres of gently rolling hills in the center of the country.  Its state-of-the-art facility offers special alpha-sport padded flooring that provides optimal comfort, dog watering stations, ample indoor crating and lots more.  And for those needing electrical hookups while in the building, you will find them readily available and free of charge.

In addition to the main hall, the second floor offers a generous banquet room that seats 350 people where a dinner will be held Saturday night (more details to follow).  Dogs can be safely crated on the first floor while dinner is enjoyed on the second floor.

"Flyball has been held at Purina® Farms for many years," said Melanie McAvoy (River City Flyers), U-FLIChampionship Committee member.  "In addition to events like the Purina® Incredible Dog Challenge, Purina® has always been a place that teams have gone to play Flyball.  You couldn't ask for a more dog-friendly place; they are very excited about having the U-FLIChampionship there and introducing us all to their new event center."

While the Purina® Farms location offers a world-class tournament facility, you can also expect exceptional on-site camping at rock-bottom prices.  For only $25 per night, campers can enjoy full-sized RV spots complete with water, sewer and full electrical hookups, including 20, 30 and 50 amps.  There is also a shower house on the grounds.  And as a Flyball enthusiast would hope for, finding a green spot to potty your dogs in this dog Mecca just won't be difficult. 

So why come to St. Louis for the U-FLIChampionships?  Because there is so much to offer!  Consider striving for a goal in the Friday Singles Championship or possibly in the Pairs Championship.  How about being part of a Dream Team or finally playing on a pickup team in the regular tournament with that Flyball friend you made on Facebook but have never met?  So whether or not your team qualified for the Championship itself, there are many opportunities waiting for you and your dog(s) at Purina® Farms.

"The Dream Teams are one of my very favorite things," said Connie Croley (Rude Dogs), U-FLIChampionship Committee member.  "We've had so many great Dream Teams through the years.  We've had an all Daschund team, an all Cattle Dog team, an all Bully Breed team, an all Boston Terrier team, an All Kids Team.  The list goes on and on and on.  Whether you're running in singles or on a pick-up team or in the regular tournament or in the championship tournament, there is something for everyone."

To help locate an available spot on a pick-up team or to be part of or put together a dream team, consider posting a message on the U-FLI Flyball e-mailing list.

This year's event will include custom t-shirts for sale (details to follow).  A DJ will be on site keeping us moving with music and a photographer will be there to catch memories as they happen.  Vendors offering clothing, collars, leashes, dog toys and much more will also be on site.

If you're thinking of spending some time in the area, visit http://www.explorestlouis.com/ to read about the top 25 things to do in St. Louis.  And don't forget that St. Louis is considered one of the most pet-friendly places in the nation.  For a list of attractions, wineries, dog parks, gardens, outdoor restaurants and more that warmly welcome dogs, visit www.explorestlouis.com/pets.

For more information, visit one of the helpful links below.

Helpful Links:

Camping Reservations:  Stephanie Smith, K9Racers, at smithdsc@charter.net or at 314-313-1319

http://www.purina.com/

www.explorestlouis.com