Societies setting up and running agility shows need to address a number of main tasks:

• Nominate a Show Secretary, Chief Steward and (optionally) a Show Manager as well as a Show Committee (the Chief Steward may not enter or compete at the show). The Kennel Club Obedience Chief Stewards Guidance Booklet is available to download.
• Decide on a date, a venue and the number and type of classes to be run. Most Societies run their shows in the same week in each year. To avoid date clashes, a list of shows can be obtained from Canine Activities, or by phoning 0844 463 3980 Ext 207
• Provisionally book the intended venue (for new venues consider venue size, surface, road access and availability of water, power and waste disposal).

Set up the show

• Obtain a licence: first apply in writing to the Kennel Club's Show Diary section for the desired competition date (use club headed stationery), ideally 18 months or more ahead of the show date; once the date has been checked and agreed, a licence application will be issued to the club, which must be returned with the fee no later than 60 days before the date of the competition.
• Complete a Guarantors' declaration and return to the Kennel Club
• Confirm the venue and check any conditions of use and cancellation terms
• Advertise the show date
• Draw up a budget
• Book your show processors (if used) and online entries service (if used), and catalogue and schedule printers (if used)
• Draw up a provisional ring plan, allocating classes to rings on the basis of estimated numbers of entries. Bear in mind the need for a stay ring of adequate size for the expected entry and consider whether dogs and bitches are to be split or mixed
• Identify suitably qualified and experienced judges for all classes
• (Judges should be invited in writing, and asked to accept in writing; the club should then confirm the appointment in writing to form a three-part contract, except in Championship classes where Kennel Club approval must be obtained first  - see the Judges Section for details)
• Book trophy, rosette and prize card suppliers, caterers and veterinary cover; order score sheets
• Book hired facilities if required, such as ring markers and ropes, signs, skips, toilets, PA system, 'walkie-talkie' radios, tables and chairs, marquees, score tents, fire extinguishers.

After the schedule is finalised

• Prepare and distribute a show schedule, using the appropriate Open, Limited or Championship Agility Show Specimen Schedule as a basis. Two copies of the Schedule must be sent to the Kennel Club – at least three months before the show date for Championship Shows, and at least one month before for Open Shows
• Distribute the schedule as widely as possible, using the dog press, Obedience websites, the Kennel Gazette, and other Obedience shows
• Invite trade stands if applicable
• Prepare a risk assessment (see the Sample Risk Assessment form for guidance) and develop a safety plan to minimise risks
• Arrange adequate public liability insurance (the certificate must be displayed at the competition, with the Kennel Club licence)
• Appoint chief stay steward and ring stewards where needed. Allocate tasks such as parking control, PA system announcers, results processing, prize presentations, ring refreshments and judges and helpers lunches, car park checks for hot dogs, signage and equipment management.

After entries close

• Once entries have closed, finalise the ring plan, splitting classes where numbers of entries make it advisable (50 or more except Championship Class 'C' which may not be split). Ensure no class exceeds 60 dogs
• (Championship shows only) Send final, checked lists of entries for the Championship Class 'C' Dog and Bitch classes to the WTOA team at the Kennel Club for a running order draw to be made. For a speedy reply, send the lists in Word or Excel by email if possible
• Inform judges of their entries and the breeds entered, especially in classes 'B' and 'C', to ensure suitability of test design and retrieve article
• Prepare the show catalogue information including competitor details and classes and send information to the show's printers if used (including Championship Class 'C' running orders advised by the Kennel Club) .
• Conduct a random draw for running orders in relevant (non-Championship) classes, and notify all competitors by post of their running orders and the ring plan (show processors/printers will generally do this for you while preparing the catalogue)
• Prepare a stewards list to ensure efficient use of club and volunteer helpers; ensure all rings have sufficient stewards where judges are not bringing their own teams and that enough stay stewards and scent decoy stewards are available
• Confirm to suppliers the numbers of trophies, rosettes and prize cards, catering and refreshment requirements, ring equipment etc
• Finalise ground plan for rings, parking, camping if applicable, trade stands and secretary's tent.
   

At the show

• Ensure copies of the Regulations, all entry forms, copies of the show schedule and catalogue, the competition licence, insurance certificate, awards, neutral and decoy scent cloths, judges correspondence, spectator dog entry form booklets and an official Kennel Club incident book (available free on request from the WTOA Team at the Kennel Club) are taken to the show
• Within fourteen days of the end of the show, send a fully updated and accurate copy of the catalogue, with all awards marked in, to the Awards Department at the Kennel Club
• Within two weeks, report to the Kennel Club if there were any incidents requiring a report (for example biting/aggression incidents, formal objections/complaints, changes of judging arrangements, cancellation or abandonment.

NOTE: The above list gives an idea of general timescales but many individual tasks will be done in a different order from that above depending on circumstances.