Dogs and handlers from across the globe compete at the world’s largest agility festival
Last weekend saw the Kennel Club International Agility Festival take place, with over 3,100 dogs and their handlers from all over the world competing in the event, held at Rockingham Castle.
The Festival, which is supported by Skinner’s Pet Foods, welcomed dogs of all types and sizes, with competitors having travelled from countries as far as Australia to navigate the jumps, weaves and tunnels.
Despite extreme weather conditions causing the majority of events on Friday 9th August and Saturday 10th August to be cancelled, handlers competing in the Olympia Agility Stakes were still able to participate, with the quarter and semi-finals relocating to nearby Rutland Showground, Oakham, enabling competitors to secure a place for the prestigious competition held at Olympia in December. Normal service resumed on Sunday, 11th August, which saw successful dogs and their handlers qualify for the British Open Final, which will be held at Crufts 2020.
Competitions that were unable to go ahead over the weekend included the Starters Cup, the Novice Cup, the Championship Classes and the International Young Handler Classes. However, the top number of competitors for both the Starters Cup and the Novice Cup, based on the combined results from the first day of competing on Thursday 8th August, will be invited to compete at Discover Dogs in London (Starters Cup) and Crufts in March (Novice Cup).
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said: “Once again, we were delighted to see so many dogs and handlers competing in the International Agility Festival, having travelled from all over the world to attend.
“The safety of both dogs and handlers are our top priority, and as such, cancelling the events on Friday and Saturday was a tough but necessary decision. However, whilst the appalling weather may have provided an unwelcome hurdle to proceedings, it certainly didn’t dampen the spirits of our competitors.
“We would like to thank Rutland Showground for hosting the Olympia qualifiers at such short notice, as well as both volunteers and everyone attending the festival for their support and understanding.”
William Delamore, Sales and Marketing Director of Skinner’s Pet Foods, said: “Many congratulations to all the winners and competitors at this year’s Kennel Club International Agility Festival. We are proud to sponsor the Festival and we were incredibly impressed by the commitment and dedication displayed by the competitors.
“Congratulations to all of the winners at this year’s Festival, they should be very proud of their achievements.”
The top three placings in each of the main competitions at the Festival were as follows:
The Kennel Club Olympia Agility Stakes Semi-Finals
Large ABC Semi-Final
- 1st – Sue Mosedale and Another Bad Hair Day
- 2nd – Sarah Woodley and Basileas Yabba Dabba Doo
- 3rd - Andy Brown and Munchanga’s Ghost
Medium Semi-Final
- 1st – Dalton Meredith and Fandabidozi Munchykin Jive
- 2nd – Dawn Weaver and Galaxy’s Ace of Spades
- 3rd – Naomi Read and Little Miss Jumping Jinx
Small Semi-Final
- 1st – Dawn Weaver and Ag Ch Galaxy’s Dream Summer
- 2nd – Dave Munnings and Boost Bite
- 3rd – Lauren Langman and Maesydderwen Shine Bright at Devongem
The Kennel Club Olympia Agility Stakes Quarter-Finals
Large Novice Quarter-Final
- 1st – Shannon Springford and Castomya Love is Gifted at ShansDream
- 2nd – Tracy Moerel and Zhanisgo Otto is The Motto
- 3rd – Robyn Barclay and Elswish Dark Jester
Large Senior Quarter-Final
- 1st – Naarah Cuddy and Lilhaze Dark Pleasure
- 2nd – Euan Paterson and Devongem Quick Time
- 3rd – Natasha Wise and Agility Champion Nedlo Flipping Shiny Pebble
Large Special International Final
- 1st – Nicola Giraudi and – Gran Funk to Shark Zanzibar
- 2nd – Carla van Adrichem and Kyla vom Thurnhof
- 3rd – Jordi Boix Baró and Vipper Rainbow
Medium Special International Final
- 1st – Jessica Garcia and Noa a Dream Come True
- 2nd – Sharon Broeders and Utopia Blue from Marmorea’s Shelter
- 3rd – Javier Dalmau and Thor
Small Special International Final
- 1st – Michèle Taffijn-du Bois and Total Touch Don't Stop me Now
- 2nd – Montse Canalda Moreno and Rei de Can Canalda
- 3rd – Michèle Taffijn-du Bois and Little But Brave Dark as the Night
- Kennel Club British Open Semi-Final (Crufts qualifiers)
- 1st – Naarah Cuddy and Lilhaze Dark Pleasure
- 2nd – Marita Davies and Lalapaws Taken By Surprise
- 3rd – Georgina Baker and Borderstorm Freak Out
Medium Kennel Club British Open Semi-Final
- 1st – Blyth Fox and Devongem Golden Moment
- 2nd – Abigail Doxford and Annervalley Cassie
- 3rd – Caclin Alexandre and Gallway Link
- 1st – Bonny Quick and Ag Ch Goldheart Trail of Flames
- 2nd – Lucy Norton and Ag Ch Radajasa's Whirlwind Fling
- 3rd – Sarah McLean and Milo'd of Mischief
Kennel Club Nations Cup
Large Kennel Club Nations Cup
- 1st – Wales 2 – Martin Cavill and Raeannes Apollo, Michelle Sturge and Benjamins Gwter Goch (AWB), Curtis Alway and Welshspel Hurricane Ace
- 2nd – England 2 – Gemma Haycock and Lalapaws Turn Up The Jukebox,Steve Seale and Devongem Try Fleck, Sophie Balchin and Mirramay Fairey Flycatcher
- 3rd – Rest of World 3 – Cranford McCartney and Grenaby Seven's Best,Michael McCartney and Haligalli Theatre Of Dreams, Sergio de Sousa and Doubleuse One in a Million
Medium Kennel Club Nations Cup
- 1st – England 2 - Rachel Ward and Ivormyth Double or Nothing AW(B), Blyth Fox and Devongem Golden Moment, Louise McMahon and Charterwood Danita AW (G)
- 2nd – England 1 - Aemillia Nicholson and Little Miss Woo Woo, Hannah Thorp and Izzie Catch a Falling Star, Elise Finney and Rose of Whitethorn
- 3rd – Rest of World 1 - Javier Dalmau and Thor, Elisenda Riba and Drac de Sant Jordi, Sharon Broeders and Utopia Blue from Marmorea’s Shelter
Small Kennel Club Nations Cup
- 1st – Rest of the World - Michele Taffijn-du Bois and Total Touch Don't Stop me Now, Bronagh Walsh and Fearnach God of Thunder, Montse Canalda Moreno and Rei de Can Canalda
- 2nd – England 2 – Dawn Weaver and Dulcet Painted Cherokee, Lucas Irwin-Burns and Lucas’s Little Soppy Sam, Angela Madigan and Only Juan Don
- 3rd – England 1 – Dawn Weaver and Galaxys Dream Summer, Ashleigh Butler and The Closet Monster of Ashpen, Lucy Norton and Radajasa’s Whirlwind Fling
Young Kennel Club competitors at the Kennel Club International Agility Festival. Credit: Simon Peachey and the Kennel Club
A competitor in the ABC Olympia semi-final at the Kennel Club International Agility Festival. Credit: Yulia Titovets and the Kennel Club