Low fog and dogs of all kind hung around H.B. Fuller Park Saturday morning in Vancouver.
It was the region’s 7th annual K9 Frisbee Toss & Fetch Worldwide Championship. Handlers and spectators lined up their chairs on the outskirts of the field to cheer on each other.
The international game gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as an easy way for people to gather outdoors while social distancing.
The game takes place in a field with a chalk-drawn trapezoid about 50 yards long that is split into different zones. Teams, which are made up of one dog and one handler, earn points based on where the dog lands when it catches the frisbee.
The closest section to the starting line is worth 1 point, and the farthest is worth 5 points. An additional point is awarded if the dog makes a mid-air catch.
Handlers throw the frisbee as many times as they can in 60 seconds. Teams usually make around 3 throws and catches in the allotted time.
There are more than 300 clubs with more than 8,000 handlers in the K9 Frisbee Worldwide League, according to its website.
Today, clubs from Chehalis to Newberg gathered for the regional championship in Vancouver. They weren’t the only ones; tournaments have been happening all week across the world.
Scorekeeper John Ransone was entering today’s results live into an internationally-used Google Drive spreadsheet.
Dave Mullens, the Vancouver club manager, said they usually end up in the top 25 internationally.
Despite it being a pandemic-era game, it’s become a beloved an activity for all ages. There are divisions for expert frisbee throwers, veterans (any dogs over 7) and juniors (any handlers under 13).
You can keep up with the championship scores here.
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