Outdoor Games

There is a place where sports men and women go to test their endurance and skills in an all-together different way than those whose glory is achieved on the fields, tracks, or courts. The riflemen, archers, and lumberjacks of the world and even their trusty canine companions compete in an event each year known as the Great Outdoor Games. This event is hosted by ESPN Outdoors and is entering its seventh year.

The 2005 Outdoor Games featured events in four categories – Sporting Dog Events, Timber Events, Target Events, and Motorsports. Men and women can compete in the Outdoor Games in log rolling, archery, speed climbing, target shooting, endurance competitions, four wheeler racing and other events.

The sporting dog events consist of three different competitions. The first is an agility competition where dogs, led by their handlers, navigate an obstacle course in the attempt to achieve the best time and the least number of mistakes. The second is a timed challenge where dogs and their handlers must complete six frisbee passes and catches in each of six different field zones in under 3 minutes. The final is a strength competition in a sense and is one of the most entertaining to watch. It features dogs competing in two jumping challenges. The first is a measure of distance, somewhat like the long jump in track and field competitions for humans. The second is a combination of distance and height. It is absolutely amazing to see what some of these sporting dogs are capable of.

The Outdoor Games has qualifications and rules like any other competition, but what makes it unique is that it features sports that until recent years were not considered professional. There is no question though when viewing a target archery or rifle competition that the competitors are very much professional. The Great Outdoor Games can be seen on ESPN Outdoors and more information on this competition is available at their website.