Aug. 5, 1974. It was the seventh-inning stretch at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Alex Stein knew this was his chance. He ran out to his car and grabbed his whippet, Ashley, who was waiting patiently inside. Together, they hurried to the stands.
Leash in hand, Stein waited until the timing was just right. Then — go time. He launched a frisbee towards the field. Ashley followed, dashing over the wall separating fans from players. Soon, Stein was on the field too.
For eight minutes, the show continued. Stein threw and threw, while Ashley caught, twisted and leapt to the sound of a cheering crowd. Stein ultimately was arrested for the rogue display, but the deed was done. The sport of canine frisbee was born.
Now, 50 years later, the tradition continues on in Naperville.
This Labor Day weekend, the Ashley Whippet World K-9 Frisbee Championship is again taking over the city’s Nike Sports Complex at 288 W. Diehl Road. The competition, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, will have teams of people and their dogs testing their frisbee prowess through a variety of events.
Areas of competition include both open toss and catch and a “freestyle” round. Skills will be judged by a team of K-9 frisbee veterans and experts. Nearly 75 dog-and-human teams from all over the U.S. and the world — including some from as far as Hungary, Spain and Japan — are expected to participate. After two days of heated competition, a new world champion K-9 frisbee duo will be crowned.
Stein, five decades after his Dodger Stadium debut, will be in attendance.
Speaking by phone Wednesday after flying into O’Hare International Airport from Florida, Stein said seeing what K-9 frisbee has grown into today is “phenomenal.”
“It’s just incredible,” he said.
For the 50th anniversary event, the championship will feature special guest Adrian Stoica, who won last year’s season of “America’s Got Talent” for performing tricks with his dog Hurricane. Though Hurricane will not be coming to Naperville with Stoica, her sisters Inu and Iris will be competing. Stoica will be available for photos both days when he is not competing.
The Ashley Whippet Invitational is the original and longest-running disc dog competition in the world. It has been held on and off in Naperville for years thanks to local resident Tom Wehrli.
Wehrli, who runs an Ashley Whippet museum out of his Naperville home, has long been involved in K-9 frisbee. His entrance into the sport dates back to 1980, when he began playing with his setter-retriever Delta. Over her 16.5-year life, she performed for millions of people and was a three-time world finalist.
Competing in K-9 frisbee allowed Wehrli to travel the world, he said. He brought the sport home by initially hosting “little local events,” which got bigger and bigger until Naperville was host to the sport’s titling competition, he said.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s championship, Wehrli said, “It’s going to be a special time.”
“It’s all about the dogs and the players,” he said.
Food will be available for purchase at the free competition, with proceeds benefiting the Children’s Dyslexia Centers in Illinois.
