JAMES CITY — Jamestown Beach Event Park is going to the dogs.
From Friday through Sunday, Muddy Marley’s Dog Wash will host the Chesapeake Bay chapter of DockDogs for the Colonial K9 Classic, a unique event in which dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds compete in athletic contests for a cause.
Spectators will have the opportunity to watch canine participants compete in three categories: DockDogs Big Air, to see how far they can jump; DockDogs Extreme Vertical, to determine how high they can jump; and DockDogs Speed Retrieve, which clocks how fast the dogs can run, jump from the end of a dock into the water and swim to retrieve an object.
“Who wouldn’t want to see a bunch of dogs diving into a giant pool?” said Sarah Sanders, marketing director for Muddy Marley’s Dog Wash.
Muddy Marley’s Dog Wash, located in the Williamsburg Crossing shopping center off John Tyler Highway, first opened in 2017. DockDogs, which started in 2000, is an organization that hosts a variety of track and field-like competitions for dogs across the country. While similar competitions have been previously held in larger localities such as Richmond and Virginia Beach, this is the first year such an event will be held in the Williamsburg area.
“It’s incredibly exciting to realize our dream of hosting an athletic dog competition in Williamsburg,” said Rebecca Mulvain, owner of Muddy Marley’s and director of the Colonial K9 Classic.
Currently, 36 dogs are set to compete in the three-day event. Bridget Ward will have two dogs competing — her 11-year-old black lab, Sadie, and 4-year-old chocolate lab, Winifred. Sadie has been competing in DockDog events for eight years, while Winifred has been competing for three.
Lab Rescue LRCP, the nonprofit organization where Ward adopted her dogs and volunteers, is a beneficiary of the event, which is one of the reasons she decided to sign up her pets.
“Winifred came to us as a very scared little girl,” Ward said. “She was terrified of certain noises and very uncomfortable with people. To see Winifred grow over the years and gain enough confidence to participate in DockDogs is an accomplishment. She loves the sport.”
In addition to the athletic contests, the Colonial K9 Classic will feature vendors, food trucks and a beer garden. There will also be raffles and demonstrations, as well as a dog ice cream eating contest. Anyone, along with their furry companions, is welcome to attend and watch the competitions.
“The goal of this event is to introduce the exciting sport of DockDog diving to the area and, at the same time, expose people to the rich culture of Williamsburg,” Sanders said.
Muddy Marley’s Dog Wash hopes to make the Colonial K9 Classic an annual event.
“The Colonial K9 Classic is a lively mix of dock dog diving and our colonial roots dating back to 1699,” Mulvain said. “We are especially excited to see the pure excitement and joy that the dogs exude as they jump into the pool, showcasing their talents to thousands of spectators.”
The Colonial K9 Classic is free to the public and will run from noon on Friday until 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit Muddy Marley’s Facebook page at facebook.com/events/1629296044562784.
Brandy Centolanza, bcentolanza@cox.net
