Young Kennel Club (YKC) Agility Team GB win five medals at the Junior Open Agility World Championships
The Young Kennel Club (YKC) Agility Team GB is celebrating a successful performance over the weekend, after taking home two gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the Junior Open Agility World Championships, which were held in Abrantes, Portugal between 10-13 July.
Securing the gold medals were 17-year-old Max Glover, from Market Drayton, Shropshire, and his Border Collie, Soldaze Dark Side Of The Moon (Sushi), in the Under 19 Large Individual competition, and 12-year-old Isabella Taylor, from Daventry, Northamptonshire, and her English Springer Spaniel, Tarnock Forever Fancy (Twiglet), in the Under 15 Intermediate Individual competition.
Further medals were won in the following competitions:
Silver
- 10-year-old Elsie Lomas, from Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and her Working Sheepdog, Welsh Rarebit (Toastie) in the Under 12 Intermediate Individual competition
Bronze
- 14-year-old Will Hinz, from Epworth, Lincolnshire, and his crossbreed, Shes a Mischief Maker (Honey) in the Under 15 Small Individual competition
- 11-year-old Jessica Keegans, from Brigg, Lincolnshire, and her Border Collie, Whiterose Micky (Micky) in the Under 12 Large Individual competition
YKC Agility Team GB is sponsored by The Kennel Club, Natural Instinct, SWAG K9, Dog Sports Derby and Galican. The coaching team consisted of Greg Derrett (Team Manager), Anthony Clarke (Team Coach), Victoria Fraser (Team Vet), Ann Roberts (Safeguarding and Support Officer), and Tina Davies (Results Analyst).
Agility Team GB Manager, Greg Derrett, said of the team’s achievement: “The 2025 Junior Agility Team GB have been a pleasure to manage and I’m proud of how they came together as a team to cope with all the challenges Portugal 2025 brought to them. Five individual medals demonstrates the depth of talent within the Junior team and serves as a real testament to their dedication and cohesion as a group.
“With around half of this year’s partnership in their final JOAWC, it was an excellent way to finish their junior careers. I am excited to see what this group can go on to achieve with the younger handlers returning to compete in next year’s Junior World Championships, and the older handlers progressing into the adult teams.”
UK Managing Director of Natural Instinct, Peter Roy, added: “Natural Instinct are proud to sponsor YKC Agility Team GB and we congratulate the team on their fantastic success at the Junior Open Agility World Championships this weekend. We are extremely proud of all those who competed. Well done to all!”
Daniel Millwood, owner of SWAG K9 said: “SWAG K9 are proud to sponsor the Junior GB Team. It was great to see all the amazing results coming in over the weekend, the Junior Agility Team GB handlers really showed the world what they can do. Well done to all of you for your hard work, especially to the two new world champions, Max and Isabella!”
Further details on the YKC Agility Team GB, can be found by visiting our website and full results from the Junior Open Agility World Championship can be found by visiting here.
Parents of young dog lovers (aged between 6-24) who may be interested in becoming a member of the Young Kennel Club should visit thekennelclub.org.uk/ykc for more information.