Online entry is now open for The Kennel Club International Agility Festival, the world’s largest agility festival for dogs and their owners, for the second year in its new home of Rutland Showground, from 11 – 14 August 2022.
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 seventeenth time, welcomes all dogs and is once again supported by Skinner’s, who are set to continue to sponsor the event until at least 2025.
Entries can be submitted online at first place processing's website with payment open until 9 June 2022.
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 thirty dogs from each height category together with the top three overseas-based competitors from each size group will compete for the British Open final which will be held on Sunday 14 August at the International Agility Festival.
The Special International Class, open to all overseas dogs that are eligible for F.C.I Grade 3 classes (or equivalent), dogs holding a Masters or Championship Title in the U.S.A. Only dogs that reside outside the UK are eligible for this class, with the winners in each height (large, medium and small) subsequently invited to compete in the Crufts Singles at Crufts 2023.
The Novice Cup is open for dogs graded 3, 4 and 5. Dogs and handlers who qualify for the semi-final from this qualifier, and qualifiers across the country, will compete in the semi-final on Saturday 13 August, with finalists going on to compete at Crufts 2023.
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 2022.
The Nations Cup sees three dogs representing their country competing in a jumping round with a final agility round to decide the overall winners. The top team from each height: 3 large dogs, 3 intermediate dogs, 3 medium dogs and 3 small dogs will be invited to compete individually in the British Open Final, to be held on Sunday at the festival.
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 2023.
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 2023. Please note that members may only compete with one dog. Should a member qualify with more than one dog, then only one can compete, with the other only used as a reserve in the event that the first choice is unavailable.
Hiedi Hutchinson, Marketing Director for Skinner’s said: "We are proud to be the headline sponsor of the International Agility Festival for yet another year. Both our Field and Trial and Get Out and Go! ranges have been nutritionally formulated to support active dogs and are 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 11 – 14 August 2022. 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 once again looking forward to welcoming back canine competitors of all ages and breeds, to compete in this year’s International Agility Festival.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for competitors to display the hard work they’ve dedicated to agility whilst also strengthening the bond between dog and owner.
“There’s something for everyone at the festival, with a wide range of competitions, not only for seasoned professionals, but also for beginners, and there is no better way to get started in agility than at the world’s largest agility festival.”
More information on The Kennel Club International Agility Festival can be found on The Kennel Club website or via The Kennel Club’s dedicated Facebook page.
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 seventeenth time, welcomes all dogs and is once again supported by Skinner’s, who are set to continue to sponsor the event until at least 2025.
Entries can be submitted online at first place processing's website with payment open until 9 June 2022.
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 thirty dogs from each height category together with the top three overseas-based competitors from each size group will compete for the British Open final which will be held on Sunday 14 August at the International Agility Festival.
The Special International Class, open to all overseas dogs that are eligible for F.C.I Grade 3 classes (or equivalent), dogs holding a Masters or Championship Title in the U.S.A. Only dogs that reside outside the UK are eligible for this class, with the winners in each height (large, medium and small) subsequently invited to compete in the Crufts Singles at Crufts 2023.
The Novice Cup is open for dogs graded 3, 4 and 5. Dogs and handlers who qualify for the semi-final from this qualifier, and qualifiers across the country, will compete in the semi-final on Saturday 13 August, with finalists going on to compete at Crufts 2023.
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 2022.
The Nations Cup sees three dogs representing their country competing in a jumping round with a final agility round to decide the overall winners. The top team from each height: 3 large dogs, 3 intermediate dogs, 3 medium dogs and 3 small dogs will be invited to compete individually in the British Open Final, to be held on Sunday at the festival.
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 2023.
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 2023. Please note that members may only compete with one dog. Should a member qualify with more than one dog, then only one can compete, with the other only used as a reserve in the event that the first choice is unavailable.
Hiedi Hutchinson, Marketing Director for Skinner’s said: "We are proud to be the headline sponsor of the International Agility Festival for yet another year. Both our Field and Trial and Get Out and Go! ranges have been nutritionally formulated to support active dogs and are 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 11 – 14 August 2022. 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 once again looking forward to welcoming back canine competitors of all ages and breeds, to compete in this year’s International Agility Festival.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for competitors to display the hard work they’ve dedicated to agility whilst also strengthening the bond between dog and owner.
“There’s something for everyone at the festival, with a wide range of competitions, not only for seasoned professionals, but also for beginners, and there is no better way to get started in agility than at the world’s largest agility festival.”
More information on The Kennel Club International Agility Festival can be found on The Kennel Club website or via The Kennel Club’s dedicated Facebook page.