Crowds dive in to county fair activities

o What: Clark County Fair.

o Hours today: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

o Where: 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield.

o Admission: Adults, $10; seniors 62 and older, $8; kids 7-12, $7; kids 6 and younger, free; parking, $6; C-Tran shuttle, $2 per person round trip from area park-and-ride lots.

o Carnival: Noon to 11 p.m., unlimited rides, $30.

o Sleep Country Amphitheater: Scorpions, 8 p.m., sold out; Grandstands: Knights of the Realm — Medieval Jousting Tournament, 2 and 6:30 p.m., free with fair admission.

o Other highlights: Pretty Baby Contest, 11 a.m. (registration 10 a.m.); Harbor Patrol Jazz Band, 1 and 4 p.m.

o Pets: Not permitted, except for personal service animals or those on exhibition or in competition.

o More information: www.clarkcofair.com or 360-397-6180.

Sure, they’re cute. But the crowds that flocked to the chlorine-free pool at the back corner of the Clark County Fair on Friday morning weren’t there for their floppy ears or puppy dog eyes.

They were there for their athletic skills — to see which dog could jump the farthest.

And Bruce, a spry 1-year-old Labrador-mastiff, didn’t disappoint. He leaped 16 feet into the pool to fetch a tennis ball in a practice run with his owner, Ian Fagan of Vancouver.

Not bad for a dog who practices at a pond using a makeshift plywood diving board, Fagan said — especially since professional water dogs average jumps of 18 feet or farther.

“He’s jumped 25 feet before,” boasted Fagan.

The Dock Dogs event proved to be a popular attraction the first day of the fair, as crowds milled around the pool in the morning well before the competition began. They sat in bleachers, oohing and ahhing as dogs took practice plunges.

“Excuse me, when does this start?” several people were heard asking organizers. The competitions started at noon and continued through the afternoon. The event, in its fourth year at the fair, will continue every day of the fair.

It was hardly the only crowd-pleaser. Thousands of people ignored the grey morning skies and arrived early for the free pancake breakfast, a signature sign of the fair’s opening day.

Though the annual event always draws large crowds, this year’s line seemed especially long. Melinda Merrill, a spokeswoman for Fred Meyer, which sponsors the event, said the 22,000 tickets the stores gave away in advance went faster than last year.

“I think we ran out of them by Monday or Tuesday,” she said. “It gets more popular every year.”

Other crowds clustered around commercial vendors, the 4-H area and the rides. The fair stayed busy all day. Families came to the afternoon Dock Dogs show, and kids circled the pool, laughing and cheering as they got splashed.

Fagan and his dog were one of the first to arrive at the Dock Dogs pool. As they waited to practice in the pool, Bruce whimpered and wagged his tail, anxious to get wet.

“He loves it,” Fagan said, noting that the whole thing started when they were playing fetch. That’s when he noticed how far the dog could leap. After seeing an ESPN show featuring Dock Dogs, Fagan thought it would be fun to enter Bruce. So he started taking him to a pond near his job at Clark County Fire and Rescue in Battle Ground.

“When I get off work, I go jump him,” he said. “He jumps far.”

So far that Fagan starting bringing his buddies with him, so they can use measuring tape to track Bruce’s distance. They also built a 10-foot ramp with plywood.

Before the competition, Fagan was modest about Bruce’s chances, saying the dog is nursing a sore foot. “I’m going to practice with him and see how he does.”

Another rookie to the Dock Dogs event is Molly, a 2-year-old yellow Labrador. Her owner, Mike Travers, entered the dog after being inspired by last year’s competition. He started training Molly in their home swimming pool in Fairfield, Calif. (He has a summer home in Clark County.)

“As young and vibrant as she is, I figured she would be a natural,” he said.

Friday morning, Molly averaged between 12- and 14-foot practice jumps, typical for an amateur dog, said Scott Heaton, announcer for Dock Dogs. He said semi-professional dogs jump between 15 and 18 feet. The world record is 28 feet, 10 inches.

And it’s not about the size of the dog in the jump, he said. It’s the size of the jump in the dog.

“Shih tzus, wiener dogs and all variety of dogs are welcome.”

Laura McVicker: 360-735-4516 or laura.mcvicker@columbian.com.