Show Snippets

The Internet has come into its own whether it be in times of crisis such as the spring floods or foot and mouth crisis or just the everyday cut and thrust of agility life. The Net is a fast and efficient way of keeping people informed about the little changes as well as the big ones. We can't be everywhere at once and so we rely on your input (and goodwill) to keep Agilitynet up to date so email us your show news as and when...

Please remind your show secretary to keep sending those updates to us and to include the name of the show, date(s), venue and other relevant details.

January 2012

Introducing the Rozzie TopDog Agility League

TopDog Trophies is sponsoring a new, points-based league for Rosmarinus Border Collies. This league is open to  Rozzie dogs of any grades that are competing at Kennel Club licensed Open and Limited agility shows during 2012. It will run from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012.

The winner will receive a bespoke TopDog Trophy.

For full rules and details on how to register, please go to the TopDog website

Source: Karen Jones (29/01/12)

CSJ Highland Agility Stakes 2012

Gillingham Show Appeal

How about getting paid to come to a show...

Gillingham (Dorset) DTS, like many other small Clubs, are finding it hard to get enough manpower to run their popular two day Show in September.  If you, your club or group of friends would like to run a ring for us for a day, we will pay you £120 and provide you with up to 10 luncheon vouchers worth £3.50 each from our excellent catering facility. Alternatively, we will give you £150 without the vouchers. The choice is yours! In exchange, we ask you to take responsibility for running one ring for one day – thus taking the burden of our ever-dwindling band of members and friends. Offers on a first-come first-served basis.

Contact Alison Grimes on tel. 01747 834456, m. 07889 709705 or email alisongrimes@tiscali.co.uk.

Source: Alison Grimes (17/01/12)

Two New Adams Qualifiers for 2012

A decade after the launch of the successful Adams Derby for Large dogs, Adams Agility is introducing two new national  competitions - The Dovedale Speed & Power and the Adams Jumping  Cup.

Dovedale Speed & Power
Taking some suggestions from fellow competitors, it was decided that the Medium and Small dogs should have a similar qualifier. That's where the Dovedale Speed & Power has come in.  Run along similar lines to the Adams Derby, it should be great fun for the Medium and Small dogs competing to qualify for the finals in August.

The object of the competition is to complete the Jumping section, against the clock, with no faults before going on to complete the control Section. It is a Special class.

        Rules

• The first section of the competition must contain 12 jumps plus no more than two rigid tunnels. It is timed and dogs must successfully complete this section without faults before proceeding to the second section.

• The second section of the competition will contain A-Frame, Dog walk, Seesaw, Long jump and 12 weaves. It is un-timed.

• The winner and subsequent places will be decided on the fastest time and no faults on the control section.

• The first two dogs from each heat will be invited to compete in the final. The next two dogs will be held as reserves.

• The winners of the Small and Medium Finals will receive a £50 voucher each to spend at Adams Agility

• It is a Special class and does not count towards progression.

This event has been kindly sponsored by Pads Agility, Tag agility and Adams Agility. It is licensed by Dovedale Agility, the club run by Chris and Sandra Adams.

The competition does not replace the Large Adams Derby. This will still go ahead.

Now it's time for an all Jumping qualifier!
The Adams Jumping Cup is a new qualifier that is being run uniquely to Adams shows throughout the year. This will be a normal KC class - not a special class - so any wins are still counted towards progression.

This again will be run as two finals - Grade 1-3 and 4-7. The final will be held at the last Adams show in August 2012.

        Rules

• The first four handlers and dogs in each heat will go forward to the final with the 5th and 6th dog from that heat being reserve.

• The competition must be judged under the appropriate Kennel Club Rules in force at the time of the event.

• The winners of the Final will receive a £50 voucher to be used at any of the Adams Agility shows to pay for camping/entries, Adams K9 Hydro or Adams Agility equipment

Adams Derby
This year the Adams Derby final will be held at the July Adams Agility show instead of the Derby show. The final winner will receive £100 voucher to spend at Adams Agility.

Source: Laura Field (16/01/12)

Norfolk Agility Festival 2012 Cancelled

Unfortunately, due to an unforeseen clash of show dates, this year the Norfolk Agility Festival on 30 June - 1 July has sadly been cancelled for the first time in nearly 20 years.  It will be back again in 2013 on 29th and 30th June.

The Norfolk Easter Show on 7-8 April is not effected and the Norfolk Autumn Show 2012 will still be taking place on 6-7 October.

Source: Janet Dilloway - Secretary, Coltishall Agility Club  (12/01/12)

Bitz 'n' Chips Weekend

The Camddwr Cup Launched

Following the feedback from Agility people after the withdrawal of their former sponsor CSJ, Ann and Stuart Harmes have confirmed that the Novice Competition will continue, with the support of RAS Rosettes. It will be known as The Camddwr Cup.

All heats will take place at licensed Kennel Club events and will be held under KC rules and regulations. It will be open to eligible dogs from Grades 3 to 5.

The eight heats will remain as follows:- (The dates to be confirmed)

• Beacon DTC

• Dog Vegas (Bakewell)

• Hinckley DTC

• Thames DTC

• Tuffley DTC

• Wirral DTC

• Adams Agility

• Wyre DTC

The Grand Final
The Final will take place by kind permission of the Dog Vegas team, and will be held in the beautiful setting of Bakewell- This will be at their three day September Show, 2012 from the 28th to the 30th September 2012. The Final will be held on the Saturday early evening.

Ann Harmes said, 'A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us, especially to the host clubs for their continued commitment and to the Dog Vegas team  for hosting this much loved event. We look forward to seeing you all on the circuit in 2012 and beyond and wish you all luck in the forthcoming heats- and the final in September!'

Rules & Regulations
The Camddwr Cup will consist of eight heats which be held at various Kennel Club Licensed Agility shows around the country. These heats will run throughout the year with the Grand Final being held by kind permission of the  Dog Vegas team, at the Bakewell Agility Show in September. The first four handlers and dogs from each heat will be invited to compete in the final.

Prizes:

• Rosettes to 20th Place

• Trophies

• 1st to 3rd place in each heat,

• Product and or vouchers may be provided by the sponsors.

Should a heat need to be split, the prize allocation should be discussed with the host club and the organisors, a duplicate set of prizes will be provided should the numbers exceed KC maximum numbers allowed, and the qualifying places will be split between each part.

Eligibility for the competition  
Each heat will run under the Kennel Club classification and open to dogs working  grades three four and five. 

The competition must be held and judged under the appropriate Kennel Club rules and regulations. Competitors entering the competition must be deemed to have agreed to abide by those Rules and Regulations.

Competitors may enter more than one dog in a heat, but may only qualify one dog for the final.  Each heat is open to all competitors eligible for Grades Three Four and Five.

Qualifiers may enter further heats for competition, providingthey are eligible.

Handlers who gain a place in a heat with a previously qualified dog should inform the Show Secretary on the date of the show. In the event of someone qualifying more than once for the final, reserves will be invited.

 Surrogate Handlers will not be allowed.

 Competition Organisers Ann and Stuart Harmes

Sponsors

• Camddwr Canine Ltd - Unique quality products for active dogs and handlers www.camdddwrcanine.co.uk

• Kindly supported by RAS Rosettes and Trophies www.ras-online.co.uk

For more information, visit www.camddwrcanine.co.uk

Source: Ann Harmes (12/01/12)

TraVal Tournament 10 March 2012

There are still plenty of spaces left at this show writes Val Clark. After lengthy discussions, she says they have decided to open up the entire show to all grades. This means that G4-5-6 and 7 may now enter all the classes. Grades 1-3 handlers who are still collecting points for the Tournament Tables will not be affected by this decision.

Classes for this show are Agility, Jumping, Helter Skelter with one piece of contact equipment, Steeplechase and Run 4 Fun.

Val said. 'I do not have time to update the schedule but the original is on Agilitynet and the online entry form can be found on the blog   Can I finish by stressing that this is for the March show.

There will be no running orders for this show. They will be online and a full list will be supplied at the show. Ring guides, class guides, time show starts etc will all be uploaded to the TraVal website.

Source: Val Clark  (12/01/12)

Blackdown Show Enquiries

Blackdown Agility Society' Secretary is currently on the move and in between residences so, for all enquiries about competition matters of whatever sort, please ring Wendy Sadler on tel. 01460 54 657. (Yes, there are enough digits!)

This information is also on our website - www.blackdownagility.org.uk

Source: Lisa Wilson  (12/01/12)

Skinners Sevens Agility Competition Announced

Skinners, makers of high quality dog and puppy food for seven generations, are pleased to announce a brand new agility competition for 2012 called the Skinners Sevens Steeplechase Pairs with more than £1000 in competition prize money. There will be seven heats with opportunities for the top seven pairs in each heat to be invited to the Skinners Sevens Grand Final in autumn 2012.

The competition
The competition will be for pairs of Large dogs Grades 3-7 Combined, using a steeplechase style course with a baton change between handlers. The class must be judged using the current Kennel Club rules. The course will be made up of a minimum of 17 jumps and tunnels, but no weaves, and it must contain at least one rising spread set at maximum size. Mishandling the baton changes incurs a 200 points penalty. Handlers can qualify any number of dogs in the final who will run in draw order. Full rules are below.

The magnificent seven heats will take place at the following shows.

 Skinners Sevens Competition Rules 2012

An Agility competition for pairs of large dogs Grades 3 –7 Combined, using a steeplechase style course. The class must be judged using current Kennel Club rules and a course laid with a baton change between handlers.

Class Title:    Skinners Sevens Steeplechase Pairs Large Grades 3 –7 Combined Special

Class Style:    Spectator attractive steeplechase course with jumps and tunnels  (no weaves) and MUST contain at least 1 Skinners Spread (a rising spread set at maximum size). Course must contain maximum/minimum 17 obstacles and a hand-to-hand baton change behind the line. Mishandling the baton change 200 points penalty.

Entry:            Two dogs and two handlers enter the competition and take part as a competitive partnership

Conditions:    No changes are possible once entry to each heat closes or to the pairs that qualify

Qualifiers:      Each host venue provides seven winning pairs to take to the final from 1st –7th places. Only the first seven pairs qualify. No reserves are needed.

 Notes

1. Handlers can qualify any number of dogs for the final who will run in draw order.

2. The partnership (2 dogs and 2 handlers) qualify so should one dog or handler of the pair be unable to take part in the final the pair cannot compete.

3. Only pairs that qualify at each heat will be invited to the final.

 Skinner's web site

Source: Graham Taylor (01/01/12)

 DECEMBER 2011

Eligibility for EO Team Selection Revised for 2012-2013

The Kennel Club has revised its procedure for selecting handlers and dogs from England to compete as part of Team GB at the European Open Agility Championships, starting with the selection for the championships in 2013.

A selection day will be held in the spring of 2013 as in previous years. However, the selection day competition will be open to owners of any Grade 7 dog living in any of the home nations – England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. The former system for English competitors of gaining points at Grade 6-7 ranking events held at agility shows during the year will, therefore, be discontinued once the 2012 selection day has taken place. Societies which had previously held ranking events at their shows have been notified.

Selection for the 2012 European Open Championships team will take place on Saturday, 21 April 2012 at Lincoln Agility Enthusiasts’ show near Lincoln. A list of those who have qualified to compete at the selection day, by gaining points at ranking events during 2011, can be found on the agility pages of the Kennel Club website. Qualifying handlers will be sent schedules shortly and will need to enter by the end of January 2012.

The 2012 European Open will be held from 27 – 29 July 2012 at Kristianstad in Sweden. the 2013 Championship will be hosted by Belgium. The easing of the Pet Travel scheme from 1 January 2012 means that next year dogs without passports will not need to receive rabies vaccinations until after the selection day has taken place.

Graham Partridge will continue as European Open team manager, and he will also manage Team GB for the FCI World Agility Championships for 2012, a one-year appointment pending a Kennel Club review of its international team management structure.

The 2012 FCI World Championships selection day for Team GB will be held at Rugby DTC's purpose-built venue, as in 2011, on 28 May 2012. The 2012 World Agility Championships will be hosted by the Czech Republic, and the 2013 Championships will be held in South Africa.

Source: The Kennel Club (16/12/11)

TraVal Tournament News

TraVal has decided to open up the afternoon classes at the February show to Grade 6 and 7 dogs. If you only have Grade 6 or 7 dog, you are welcome to enter. If you own multiple dogs in several different grades, the organisers hope this will assist your decision as to whether or not to enter. All your dogs may compete. You have Power and Speed and Steeplechase. There is the possibility of a Pay on the Day Pairs, if time permits.

Val Clark said, 'We have also listened to handlers comments and feedback, and future TraVal series will revert back to the format of Agility and Jumping G1-3 in the morning and Agility and Jumping G1-7 in the afternoon with the possibility of a POD. The points system will remain for G1-3 with their Agility and Jumping being qualifiers. We will, of course, be keeping the Run 4 Fun.

 http://www.travalagility.blogspot.com/

Source: Val Clark (14/12/11)

PRO PLAN Announces New Agility Series

Purina is pleased to announce its flagship Advanced Nutrition dry dog food brand PRO PLAN will be introducing a major new agility competition in 2012 - the PRO PLAN Agility Challenge. The exciting new series will cover all heights and grades of dog and will culminate in a series finale to be held at Moulton in October 2012.

The PRO PLAN Agility Challenge Series, held under Kennel Club agility regulations, will consist of three qualifying agility events - the Starters Challenge for Grades 1 & 2 Combined; the Novice Challenge for Grades 3, 4 & 5 Combined and the Masters Challenge for Grades 6 & 7 Combined.

Judith Nicholson from Purina said 'The competition has been created to reflect the company’s on-going commitment to and support of the sport of dog agility with the aim of making the finals one of the 'must – do' agility events of the year. I am very pleased with the support we have received from the invited host clubs and am looking forward to an exciting season of agility.'

We are grateful to the following clubs who have agreed to host the 2012 heats:

The PRO PLAN Agility Challenge Series heats and finale is being co-ordinated by Steve Croxford who should be contacted on tel. 01455 220245 or email meistermansion@aol.com in the event of any enquiries about the heats or final.

 Source: Purina (08/12/11)

Weimie ABC Celebration Show

The Weimaraner Association ABC Open Agility Show on 16-17 June next year will be scheduling more classes for Border Collies/WSDs and their crosses. The show will be an official KC Open show with two classes each day - Agility and Jumping for ALL breeds and ALL heights of dogs at ALL grades. Awards from these classes will, therefore, count towards KC progression. There will also be two other 'Special BC/WSD' classes scheduled and four 'Special ABC' classes so handlers will have a choice of at least four classes to enter any breed and height of dog.

Organiser Janet Hudson said, 'When I organised the first show in 2009, I was concerned that we didn't bite off more than we could chew, so to speak. Being a Breed Club, the main WA committee had no knowledge of agility so I knew I was going to have to rely on help from competitors to get everything to run smoothly. To keep the number of entries to a manageable size, we decided to make most of the classes open to ABC dogs only. Having gained valuable experience by running a further two shows since 2009, I am confident that the Weimaraner Association are now in a position to take on a larger number of entries for 2012 - hence the decision to schedule more classes for non-ABC dogs. By still letting the ABC dogs have four separate 'Special' classes, I hope that all the ABC handlers will be happy and still consider this a true ABC Celebration Show!'

The show will be held at the Winterton Agricultural Society Showground, near Scunthorpe.

All being well the schedule will be available from the New Year - watch this space.

For more information, email abcagility@doglovers.co.uk

Source: Janet Hudson (06/12/11)

Your Opportunity to Host 2012 Crufts & Discover Dogs Qualifiers

The Kennel Club has announced two new competitions for ABC dogs - one for large dogs competing in Grades 1-5 and the other for Medium dogs of any grade. This follows a review conducted by the Kennel Club of its agility competitions at Crufts and Discover Dogs to ensure that there are competitions for all grades and heights of dog.
For both new competitions there will be ten heats held throughout the year with the first ten placed dogs in each heat being awarded points. The two dogs with the most points from each of the top ten breeds, will be invited to a semi-final at Discover Dogs 2012 (twenty dogs in total). The ten highest placed dogs at the semi-final will be invited to compete in the finals to be held at Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham in March 2013.

The Small/Mixi Pairs final will continue in its current format but its final will be moved to Discover Dogs at Earls Court, London, in November 2012. The Crufts Singles and Team competitions will remain unaltered. The Small Agility Challenge and Small Circular Knockout will no longer be held after the final at Crufts 2012.

The Kennel Club is currently organising qualifiers at agility shows during 2012 to find finalists to compete at Discover Dogs and Crufts. The majority of these qualifying heats will continue to be held at the shows which staged them during 2011. However the following heats are looking for new host societies, and the different competitions could be held at different shows:

• 1 x heat for the Crufts Singles – Small, Medium and Large

• 1 x heat for the Crufts Teams – Small, Medium and Large

• 2 x heats for the Crufts Large Novice ABC Agility Stakes

• 2 x heats for the Crufts Medium ABC Agility Stakes

To be eligible, shows must be Kennel Club licensed Open or Championship Agility shows and take place before 31st October 2012. Shows will be asked to provide full details of all qualifying dogs and handlers to the Kennel Club within two weeks of the end of the show.

Show organisers wishing to stage the qualifiers are invited to contact Debbie Deuchar no later than Friday 16th December 2011 by writing to the Kennel Club, 1-5 Clarges Street, London, W1J 8AB, or by emailing debbie.deuchar@thekennelclub.org.uk.  For further information please contact the Kennel Club Working Dog Activities Team on 0844 463 3980, Ext 316 or 331.

Lists of existing qualifying heats for Crufts 2013 and for Olympia 2012 are available on the Kennel Club website at: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/2882.

Source: The Kennel Club Press Office (02/12/11)

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