To tell the story of how Fly'N Aces came to be, you have to go back aways with its founder, Gail Workman.  Here is the story in Gail’s own words. 

I have been training and showing dogs in multiple dog sports for close to 25 years now.  However, I did not start doing 'flyball' until around 1993.  The first time I played I took an eight week coarse with Vi Odell, who was teaching us something fun to do with our dogs that was new to Las Vegas.  There were no teams here in Vegas at the time.  I played the game with my Doberman, Tina. She loved the game and took to it quickly.

I thought that was going to be the end of flyball for me until a lady by the name of Katy Kaylor moved to town.  Katy had had a team in California and started a new team here called Touch N Go.  She found out that I had a dog that was already trained for flyball and she needed an extra dog for the Multi Breed Class.  She asked if I would like to go to California for a tournament.  She quickly got us registered, and at 10 years old Tina played and earned her FD (Flyball Dog).

That was such a fun tournament, my first, and one of my fondest.  Back then Multi Breed was fun and you were lucky to have a team running fast enough to make 25 point runs.  Tina was not fast, but she never made a mistake. I was hooked!

I did not have a dog that was really up for the game until Kelly came along.  Kelly learned quick and was fast for a Cocker Spaniel.  Not fast enough to be competitive on a team like Touch N Go, which was getting faster all the time. Kelly and I just did not fit the bill for that team.  But. . . that is how new teams get started.

I started a team called Desert Dawgs. Myself, Karen Malone, Bill Welling, Carol Graves, and Ruth Charley were the founding members.  Judy Thomas came on board shortly after that.

Desert Dawgs was a great team, much like Fly'N Aces.  We grew by leaps and bounds.  When this happens there are always going to be some people who have different opinions, and the normal split happened.  As I was not captain of Desert Dawgs, I had no control of its destiny.

I believe it was about 1999/2000, that we began Fly'N Aces.  All but a few from Desert Dawgs joined Fly’N Aces.  By then my sister Donna and her husband Kevin had been on Desert Dawgs.

Fly'N Aces was some team!  Our fasted time was 19.91 which was very competitive at that time. Once, we were even featured on a national TV program, because we won 1st place while they were filming for the program. They filmed the whole Multi Breed Division. Kelly had fans all across the country who recognized her from that program. It was a fun time!

Then, as is normal, the team grew very big.  But, as people have different views, the team split again.  Through it all, I could always count on Judy Thomas and Kathy Bennett.  We had a small team, but kept plugging away and that's about the time Ann Salisbury joined the team.

I am very proud to say that Fly'N Aces has always kept the attitude: 'Anyone who wants to play flyball; no matter what breed or how fast your dog is; if you are willing to put in the effort; if you have the dedication; you have a place on the team.'

We have had all different breeds play on our team, from the smallest to the tallest.

Some breeds you don't normally see in flyball that played with us are: 

    Turbo - the French Bulldog 

      Pete - the Newfoundland

        Adam, Ian & Andy - the Whippets

          Jet - the Schipperkee

            Calvin & Dusty - the Australian Shepherds

               Bo - the Great Dane

"The hardest thing in the world for me was to relinquish my position as Captain of Fly' N Aces.  With my husband and me moving to Utah, I had to pass it on.  Thankfully, Ann was willing to take the job.  It is not an easy position to be in at times, but other times it is most rewarding.

One thing to always remember, is people will come and go from the team, from all different walks of life.  Everyone has something special to offer.  They may not have a fast or always accurate dog, but they came to the team for a reason.  Maybe it was for themselves or maybe for their dog.  Maybe, you are suppose to learn something from them.

With all the people and dogs that the team will encounter, you will build lots of friendships.  Always remember that flyball is just a game.  The dogs just want to play and they don't care about a ribbon or points.  Keep the game safe and fun for all!!! Remember, friendships and peoples’ feelings are more important then being the best or fastest team out there.

I am very proud of the team accomplishments and look forward to the future of Fly' N Aces. "

                                                       Gail (July, 2005)