International Agility Festival Team Agility Competition (Special) 2023
These competitions will be scheduled as a Special combined class for grades 1 to 7 with a separate qualifying competition for each height category.
There will be up to 8 separate heats for large, intermediate, medium and small height dogs at Kennel Club licensed shows throughout the country.
Eligibility
This event is open to teams from Kennel Club Registered and Listed Status clubs which, at the time of entry to the qualifying heat, have indicated in their Kennel Club registration details that they have an interest in agility or are an Agility Listed Status Club. Each team entry will consist of 4 dogs from the same height category, with 4 different handlers, plus up to 2 reserves. Only dogs entered in the team or as reserves at the qualifying event will be permitted to compete for that team in the final should a change of dog be necessary. Only handlers that competed at the qualifying event or those listed as reserves will be permitted to compete for that team in the final should a handler be unable to compete. All team members must be members of the club at the time of qualifying for the International Agility Festival Team Final. Dogs do not have to be entered into any other class at a qualifying heat and a team entry will constitute acceptance of the Organising Club and Kennel Club Rules and Regulations.Clubs may only qualify one team in each height category for the final at the International Agility Festival.
Once a handler or dog has run for a Kennel Club Registered / Listed Status Club in the International Agility Festival Team Agility qualifying event they cannot run for another Kennel Club Registered / Listed Status Club in a qualifying event at the same height category during the qualifying year. (Handlers or dogs entered as reserves may run or be entered as reserves for a different team, provided they did not run in the original team’s heat).
Competition Rules
The competition will be held under Kennel Club rules and regulations for Agility and any handler entering the competition will be deemed to abide by these rules and regulations. Jumps will be set at the standard height for each height of dog.
It is a team relay event and a suitable baton should be used which must remain behind the start line at all times. When the dog/handler returns to the start/finish, there will be a baton change between the handlers. No part of the next dog/handler must be over the start line at the changeover; failure to observe this will incur a penalty of twenty faults.
An elimination will incur a penalty of one hundred faults, a dropped baton will incur a penalty of 20 faults.
The total time of the team of four dogs must be recorded for marking purposes irrespective of the number of faults or eliminations that a team incur.
If any of the team members fail to complete the course or any of the team dogs fouls the ring the whole team will be disqualified.
Please note that some areas of marking for the International Agility Festival Team event differ from standard marking due to the fact that it is a relay class with cumulative marking and time.
Qualifying
The winners of each heat will be invited to the International Agility Festival final 2023 to compete in the small, medium, intermediate or large height finals. In the event that the winning team or club in a heat has already qualified for the final then the highest placed unqualified team in that heat will be invited to the final at the International Agility Festival.
If a team does not take up the invitation to compete in the final the invitation will be rolled down to the next applicable team from the relevant heat.
Administration
Note to show societies: The Show Secretary should record the top five placed teams and send the results to the Working Dog Activities Team at the Kennel Club within 14 days of the show by email. These results should include the name of the team, name of the Registered / Listed Status club the team represents, team captain’s name and address and the handlers, dogs and reserves in the team.