Entries now open for the return of top agility festival

The Kennel Club International Agility Festival will take place from 12 – 15 August 2021

Online entry is now open for The Kennel Club International Agility Festival, the world’s largest agility festival for dogs and their owners, which is returning for the first time since 2019.

Following on from last year’s cancellation, in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown, the event every agility dog has been waiting for has been scheduled to take place at Rutland Showground from 12 – 15 August 2021. During the festival, 18 rings will be set up to host the competition, which will feature dogs of all agility grades and sizes, from all over the world, with over 200 separate classes taking place.

The Kennel Club International Agility Festival, which will return for a sixteenth time, welcomes all dogs and is supported by Skinner’s. To ensure the safety and security of participants, spectators, volunteers and staff, The Kennel Club will be continuing to monitor Government advice and the Covid-19 situation.

Entries can be submitted online at firstplaceprocessing.com with payment open from 7 June until 16 June 2021.
Classes include:
  • The British Open is for all FCI grade 3 dogs, British or Irish grades 6 or 7 dogs or dogs holding a Masters or Championship title in the USA. The top seven large dogs, seven intermediate, seven medium and seven small dogs, together with the top overseas based competitor from each size group, qualify for the British Open final at Crufts 2022.
  • The Novice Cup has changed going forward from 2021. The festival will see a Novice Cup qualifier take place on Thursday 12 August, but please note that there will be no semi-final this year. The qualifier is open for dogs graded 3, 4 and 5. Dogs and handlers who qualify for the semi-final will have their qualification carried forward to the semi-final at the International Agility Festival in 2022.
  • The Starters Cup is for all grade 1 and 2 dogs. The top six large dogs, six intermediate, six medium dogs and six small dogs from the semi-final round of The Kennel Club Starters Cup will be invited to compete at the final at Discover Dogs 2021.
  • The Young Kennel Club (YKC) Pairs is open to YKC members only, aged between 6 and 24 years. Pairs must both use the same size dog. Once a qualifier has been entered, members may not switch dogs or handlers. The pair who are placed first in each category will qualify for Crufts 2022.
  • The Young Kennel Club Agility Dog of the Year and Under 18 Years Jumping are open to all YKC members aged 6-17 years. If a member and dog combination accumulate 30 points or more, they will qualify for Crufts 2022. Members may qualify with a maximum of two dogs for this competition. As soon as a dog has qualified for this competition at Crufts 2022, it may not be entered into any further qualifying heats.
William Delamore, Group Commercial Director for Skinner’s said: "We are proud to be the headline sponsor of the International Agility Festival for yet another year. Our Field & Trial range has been nutritionally formulated to support working and active dogs and is ideal for performance dogs that compete in agility.

“Our team will be on hand to offer nutritional advice to competitors and visitors at Rutland Showground from 12 – 15 August 2021. Until then, we would like to wish all of those competing and training for the event the very best of luck.”

Vanessa McAlpine, Events Executive at The Kennel Club said: “The Kennel Club is looking forward to welcoming back canine competitors of all ages and breeds, to compete in this year’s International Agility Festival.

“It has been a really tough year, and we know so many dog owners have really missed having their usual annual opportunity to display the hard work they’ve dedicated to agility. Therefore we hope to see plenty of familiar faces back at the festival, as well as those beginners who may have picked up agility during lockdown as a way of strengthening their bond with their dog, and what better way to start a new hobby than at the world’s largest agility festival.”

More information can be found about The Kennel Club International Agility Festival or visit The Kennel Club’s dedicated Facebook page.