Little darlings...

The Dog Agility Rescue League (DARL) was originally set up in 2006 to recognise people's agility achievements with rescue/rehomed dogs. Every year it runs a league based on points from KC and unaffiliated shows. The highlights of the DARL year is the Finals when members are invited to take part in a unique competition just for rescue dogs. Today the league is run by a committee. Karen Fuller, one of the league's original founders, sent this report.

The Dog Agility Rescue League (DARL) Finals were held on Sunday, 29th June 2025, kindly hosted by Wellingborough DTC at their show which was really lovely and friendly and run by such helpful members.

We had a fantastic turn out of rescue dogs along with their owners to compete in the DARL Finals.

Due the forecast showing very hot, the event started early to beat the heat. Thankfully the day started with some cloud cover and lots of smiling faces to greet us when we arrived at the finals ring.

Our lovely Judge for the event was Gill Vann who set some great flowing courses for all categories - G1-3, G5-7 and Anysize/Veterans. These started with a morning Agility round, followed by a Jumping round. By the afternoon, the sun had broken through, so frozen bone broth packs kindly donated to all our finalists by Axels Elixir were a very welcome treat for the dogs.

Awards were given for each round and then the scores were combined to determine the overall winners in each height and category.

As usual, we had a great atmosphere with competitors and friends gathered ringside to watch the day’s competition, there was huge support for everyone, win or lose.

Judge's report
It was an honour to be invited to judge the 2024-2025 DARL Finals. Rescue dogs are very close to my heart, having owned many in my life, so spending a day watching them do agility was perfect.

Well done to all the handlers with your lovely dogs. I watched some fantastic runs and some lovely 'almost' runs. It was so good to see the way the teams ran together and the empathy the handlers showed when things didn't go exactly to plan.

I tried to set courses with some challenges, and it was great to see them run so well.

The lovely trophies and rosettes were a fitting tribute to the work put in by the owners and their dogs. Congratulations to all those who gained prizes and to everyone who took part. Overall, it was an amazing day for everyone involved.

Thank-you to Wellingborough DTC for hosting The Finals and for all the DARL team for your help, support and organisation and for helping the day run smoothly.

Best Improved Rescue
We also had a competition to find the most improved rescue dog. DARL members were asked to send in information about their dogs. It is always lovely to read the progress each dog and handler has made, and some are very emotional.

This year, it was so hard to pick just one, so we included two runners-up as well.

1st -Emily Shewell with Gilbert (Mister Unpredictaball)

= 2nd -Rachel Williams with Mac (Mac It a Good One)

= 2nd - Claire Herd with Poppy (Pops to the Rescue)

The winner's story could have had a very different outcome. Gilbert was found dumped by the sea. He came into Emily’s life at a critical time. They not only excelled in agility but heelwork to music as well, and ultimately they rescued each other.

The full stories of each dog can be found on our Facebook page – Dog Agility Rescue League (DARL).

Thank you
To everyone who helped run the ring and worked so hard to ensure everyone had a lovely day, thank you.

The raffle, organised and run by outgoing Chair Lorraine Mathews, had some amazing prizes. It raised £1,526.00 which will be split between various charities as voted for by our 2024 DARL members.

She said, 'I have been very proud to run and be involved with the League these past few years. We have raised thousands for charity, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and wholeheartedly enjoyed meeting everyone.'

There are so many clubs to thank, businesses and individuals who sponsor both the raffle and the finals classes, including also Broono Pet who kindly donated £5 vouchers for all our finalists plus a Vitamineral supplements tub for the overall winners. A full list of our supporters can be found on the DARL website.

If you compete with a rescue/rehomed dog in agility and would like to find out more about our annual League Awards & Finals, please visit our website for more information and how to join.

The DARL Finals were sponsored by Skinners Dog Food who kindly provided a 'goody bag' for all the finalists who were invited to the event by taking part in our annual league tables sponsored by Dogeria.

More history of the DARL finals can be found in the League section of the Agilitynet website.

First published 31st July 2025

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