Where old meets young...
 When
the FCI announced that it would be adding a new Agility World Championship
competition in 2024 for older handlers to their prestigious events, Jackie
Gardner instantly decided that she wanted to be involved. The new event the
Senior Open Agility World Championships (SOAWC), based on a similar format to
Junior Open Agility World Championships, is open to handlers over the age of 55
and split into two age categories: 55 to 65 and 66 plus. It is being held in
Sentower Park, Belgium, alongside the JOAWC. Jackie got her wish and is
now GB
SOAWC Team Manager.
As soon as I heard about this event, I contacted the Kennel Club
to ask if GB could send a team as only teams authorised by their own country's
kennel clubs are allowed to enter. On a personal level,
I was excited about this competition as I have a
very good young dog, and I wanted the opportunity to compete on the world stage
once again so I assumed that others would feel the same way.
But first, I needed to prove to our Kennel Club that the Seniors
event was something the Agility community would support, so I decided to do a
survey.
I was not prepared for the number
of responses I received which was over 500. I was blown away by the
response. And I then had to collate all the information and send it to the KC.
The application had to go through various committees at the KC, but finally it
was agreed that it could go ahead on the basis that the team was totally
self-funding.
Of course, the new Team would need a manager as unfortunately the
Agility Team GB Manager already had a full schedule and could not take any more
involvement with this new team. I said that If no one else wanted to do
it, I would be happy to manage the team as I really wanted this event to happen,
so here I am, ta dah... the new GB SOAWC Team Manager. My only disappointment is
that being team manager means I can't compete with my own dog in this
competition, but I will get great pleasure from building a team and helping them
succeed.
There is an awful lot to organise in what seems like such little
time to do it.
My first official job was to organise a tryout competition which
takes place on the 28th April at Dog Sports Derby Venue. At the tryouts, the
competitors will be vying for the overall 'win on spots' i.e. combined results
of the Jumping & Agility rounds, of which eight are available. Any breed can
enter as long as they are G4 or above and do not have a cropped or docked tail.
 Win
On Spots
-
Overall Winner of the 55 to 65 Small Dog Category
-
Overall Winner of the 55 to 65 Medium Dog Category
-
Overall Winner of the 55 to 65 Intermediate Dog Category
-
Overall Winner of the 55 to 65 Large Dog Category
-
Overall Winner of the 66+ Small Dog Category
-
Overall Winner of the 66+ Medium Dog Category
-
Overall Winner of the 66+ Intermediate Dog Category
-
Overall Winner of the 66+ Large Dog Category
Those who do not win on will need to showcase their handling
skills to me and my selection team at the tryouts.
A further three dogs will be selected from each category, making
a full team of 32 dogs. The full team will be announced at the beginning of May.
In addition to me as Team Manager, I will be traveling to Belgium
with my Assistant Manager Susannah Chalmers and photographer Lisa Harbey of Paws
Off the Floor.
The SOAWC Finals will be held in Belgium from the 18th to
21st July, and will be live-streamed for the world of agility to watch. This
will be at the same venue and run, somewhat ironically, at the same time
as the Junior Open Agility World Championships.
Great support from the agility community
We are so very grateful to our sponsors, without whom, this
opportunity would not have been a possibility. They include:-
-
Dog
Sports Derby
for
providing the tryout venue free of charge
-
Galican
UK for
allowing us to use their equipment for the tryouts
-
Agility
Plaza
for doing all the show processing and are supplying us with
onsite support at the tryouts
-
Norton
Rosettes for
contributing the overall winners rosettes
-
Paws
Trading Ltd for
donating prizes for the overall winners
I'm still looking, however, for sponsors for the Individual class
winners of which there are 16 Individual classes across all heights/age
categories.
I am also looking for a sponsor for our Team Kit as this will be
one of the biggest expenses that the team members will have. This will be for a
maximum of 35 people, possibly less if a handlers qualifies more than one dog.
Let's build a great team
I hope
everyone will support our competitors who are the bread and butter of agility.
They are the ones who put on the shows, the ones who help at the shows and the
ones who make agility what it is, a wonderful sport to be a part of. They are
the ones who truly deserved to be recognised as Champions.
 About
the author...
Jackie
Gardner has
been in agility for over 40 years, both as a competitor and a Judge. She has
competed at all levels at all the major finals in the UK and internationally
with five of her dogs and for Team GB with two of her dogs.
Jackie has judged
most of the prestigious events in this country and abroad, and she is this years
LIHS Judge.
First published 27th March 2024
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