For the rising stars of agility...

The Agility Challenge celebrates all that is good in the Agility calendar. It is one of the must try for annual finals for the rising stars of the Agility world. This year it is being organised by Country Shows Agility and, for the first time, is open to Large dogs G1-4.

With 10 chances to qualify across the country, the top five competitors from each of the qualifiers will be invited to the Agility Challenge Grand Final at the Malvern Autumn Show on Sunday, 30th September 2018 under the watchful eye of Championship Agility Judge Martin Tait.

 The first qualifier of the Agility Challenge 2018 was to be be held at Hatton Festival but the show was cancelled due to weather and ground conditions.

Heats

April 2018

  • 28th - 29th April - Hatton Agility Festival (Hatton, Warwickshire) - CANCELLED

May 2018

June 2018

July 2018

 August 2018

September 2018

 Schedules for all our host events are available on the Agilitynet Show Diary and elsewhere.

Agility Challenge Rules

  1. There will be 10 qualifying heats, producing 50 finalists who compete at The Agility Challenge Grand Final to be held on Sunday, 30th September 2018 at The Malvern Autumn Show, Three Counties Show Ground, Malvern.
     

  2. Once a dog has qualified (i.e. 5 finalists per heat) this eliminates that dog from taking a further finalist place in the Agility Challenge.
     

  3.  Handlers may not qualify more than one dog for The Agility Challenge final.
     

  4. Any surrogate handlers must be notified in writing within four days of the last heat. NO amendments after this date and non-advice will disqualify the partnership.

For more information contact, Agility Challenge, 2 Medley Grove, Leamington Spa, CV31 2GA tel. 01926 315335 Email: rover.pro@outlook.com

Severnside at the North Somerset Show

The North Somerset Countryside event welcomed the Agility community at its 150+ year old annual Bank Holiday gathering in the Mendip Hills. With everything on show from Dexter calves to native breeds wool spinning, Agility enjoyed a prime showground position. And boy, was it hot!

This heat was judged by Julian Bartram who said, 'Very honoured to be entrusted with two qualifiers. It was now time for the Large dogs to step up to the plate. There were two places where you had to negotiate off course obstacles and a tricky weave entry. Again I was impressed with a significant number of dogs with independent weave entries and focus to the end of the weaves. Great stop contacts and good pace despite the enervating conditions.'

Agility Challenge Qualifiers

  1. Lee Hunt with Filton Flyer - 32.557 secs (C)

  2. Bridget Fletcher with Kerschker My Collie - 34.099 secs (C)

  3. Sarah Trigwell with Tynevermore Kita - 34.123 secs (C)

  4. Laura Bentley with Samson My Golden Boy - 40.517 secs (5f)

  5. Keith Williams with Wumbli Bumbly Happy Sherry - 41.261 secs (5f)

Heat 3 sees the Agility Challenge heading northwards to Worcester Premier Agility Show on 19th May to find our next five Agility Challenge 2018 qualifiers.

Good luck to one and all!

Worcester Premier Agility Show

The Worcester team welcomed Heat 3 of the Agility Challenge 2018 at To Barn on 19th May when our rising stars of the Agility world grappled to gain one of the qualifying places for the Agility Challenge Grand Final at the Malvern Autumn Show on Sunday, 30th September 2018 under the watchful eye of Championship Agility Judge Martin Tait.

Judge Michelle Waugh officiated today and with the Agility Challenge 2018 now open to Grades 4 dogs some well-known faces made the photo call!

She said, 'The course was fast, testing dogs skills and independence. There were many good runs over (I think) a 168m course. The winner showed great speed, consistency and handling. Congrats to all who qualified.'

Good luck to one and all!

Agility Challenge Qualifiers

  1. Ian Radford with Chase Me Chelsea - 38.952 secs (C)

  2. Veronica Hill with Maisnme Black Magic - 39.631 secs (C)

  3. Rachel Williams with Blamorder Just Like Magic - 40.164 secs (C)

  4. Jess Sansome with Not a Mini Cooper - 41.537 secs (C)

  5. Hilary Bowden with Son of a Gunner - 43.101 secs (C)

Hopefully the Worcester weather maintains across the outdoor season. Heat 4 of the Agility Challenge see us heading northwards to Dogs Unleashed to find our next five Agility Challenge 2018 qualifiers.

Dogs Unleashed

Dogs Unleashed is our annual visit to one of the truly 'working dog' events held around the UK. It has everything for those with disability dogs to rings where youngsters can compete for the 'Best Six Legs together a myriad of canine activity of everything else in between. I reckon this year the longest queues were in the 'have a go' section forming for the Jump & Splash.

With a fenced ring at the heart of the show, our rising stars of the Agility world gathered to gain one of the qualifying places for the Agility Challenge Grand Final at the Malvern Autumn Show on Sunday, 30th September 2018 under the watchful eye of Championship Agility Judge Martin Tait.

Judge Rae Blythe officiated although the glorious hot weather at Bakewell made it a tough job. Thanks to all who lent a hand to keep things going.

Agility Challenge Qualifiers

  1. Sarah Lyon with Aye Eye Mister Pirate - 35.587 secs (C)

  2. Amy Tempest Jones with The Mighty Tempest - 42.147 secs (C)

  3. Lisa Holler with Morgansr Kiss the Blarney - 44.195 secs (C)

  4. Michelle Garbutt with Tail of Olympus Sunshine - 46.799 secs (C)

  5. Millie White with Magnificant Mr Mutley - 50.656 secs (C)

Heat 5 of the Agility Challenge heads East to Just Dogs Live to find our next five Agility Challenge 2018 qualifiers.

Just Dogs Live

Troy Hedger is one cool dude! With temperatures into the 30s, he would not have been out of place in Henley’s Regatta Royal Enclosure, which is also held on the same weekend as Just Dogs Live, one of the larger eastwards canine events on the Peterborough showground.

Agility Challenge Qualifiers

  1. Janice Bell with Magilitias All About The Bass - 28.923 secs (C)

  2. Lisa Kennedy with Canen Rhett - 31.336 secs (C)

  3. Ilka Antippa with Wumblibumbly Dottie Lottie - 32.289 secs (C)

  4. Belinda Charles with Welsh Rarebit - 35.000 secs (C)

  5. Gillian Preece with Kiaminoques Windy Willow - 37.219 secs (C)

Rugby Championship Agility Weekend

I have to say that once I worked out how they functioned, the showers at Catton Hall were a credit to Rugby DTC Championship Agility Weekend that hosted Heat 6 of this year’s Agility Challenge.

Judge Martin Reid, on his way to Championship Agility Judge status, kept his cool aw well in the longest heat wave for 30 years. Many today found the challenge of the extended tunnel under the dog walk up a stretch to far but for the successful ones the next challenge awaits them at the Agility Challenge Grand Final at the Malvern Autumn Show on Sunday, 30th September 2018 under the watchful eye of Championship Agility Judge Martin Tait.

Agility Challenge Qualifiers

  1. Amanda Hampson with Somerzest Funtastic Flyer - 34.995 secs (C)

  2. Stuart MIlton with Jenerelena Follow the Fun - 36.841 secs (C)

  3. Anya Westland with Chikaramor Kynda Kunais - 38.727secs (C)

  4. Shelley Woodward with Rosmak Midwinter Storm - 31.513 secs (5f)

  5. Dave Jolly with Makeitso Next Generation - 35.192 secs (5f)

Pembrokeshire By The Pond County Show 

Now I am saying nothing save a Welshman judging in Wales finds a Welsh winner for the Agility Challenge 2018 seems somehow right.

With Agility about as far west as you can get without getting wet, the county show again extended a good weather welcome to those seeking a bit of R&R as well as a few days running the dog.

Judge Nik Loizos said, 'Great days judging at Pembrokeshire County Show.  If I remember the day of the Agility Challenge hear  was a beautiful day the day of the Agility Challenge though it had been raining the day before. I tried to design a great flowing course with a few tricky points for all competitors to challenge their handling skills. On the whole, I thought everyone did a fantastic job as I like to put out slightly challenging courses but not overly difficult. I would like to thank Graham and Luke for asking me to be a part of Pembroke show and congratulate all competitors who came away with a rosette and those who didn't but went home with the best dog. Thanks to Barrie James, another Welshman, for being my scrime and to all of my wonderful ring party.'

Agility Challenge Qualifiers

  1. Adele Newman with Forestfalls Brook - 35.159 secs (C)

  2. Jane Holmes with Spot On Sami - 40.483 secs (C)

  3.  Anne Tomkins with Red Rose Day - 41.197 secs (C)

  4.  Nikki Whittingham with Shadow Chaser of The Night - 43.889 secs (C)

  5.  Sue Hourd with Millstone Dexters Daydream - 53.713 secs (3.713)


 The Welsh Kennel Club Championship Show

The Welsh Kennel Club run the largest dog show in the principality and its annual takeover Builth Wells’s Royal Welsh showground draws Agility, Breed  & Obedience all together with Tickets being awarded across the board.

It must be a Welsh thing as again Judge Stephanie Wilson Astbury was joined by her qualifiers and ladies one and all will be welcomed to the Agility Challenge Grand Final at the Malvern Autumn Show on Sunday 30th September 2018 under the watchful eye of Championship Agility Judge Martin Tait.

Agility Challenge Qualifiers

  1. Bernadette Jobbins with Nedlo Antares Born Ready - 36.121 secs (C)

  2. Sarah Morecroft with The Black Sheep -39.272 secs (C)

  3. Janet Imlach with Slippery Customer - 44.978 secs (5f)

  4. Joanna Rees with Tail’n Swift Sara Jes Barker - 51.333 secs (10f)

  5. Yvonne Horner with Dreamwork Rumour Has It - 62.425 secs (10f)


 Bromsgrove Premier Agility Show

It was not as wet at Bromsgrove as Judge Ian Radford's attire may convey at the penultimate heat of this year’s Agility Challenge held on Bank Holiday Saturday. Most would expect a bit of rain which Ian was glad to see did nothing to dampen the delight of those involved today.

Agility Challenge Qualifiers

  1. Katie Fox with Jess For The Fun of It

  2. Karen Boyle with Charlie Bravo

  3. Tim Hodgkins with Ruby

  4. Donna Jones with Kentredecim Wednesday Sun

  5. Jan Gordon with Lilhaze Kwik Save Me


Chatsworth County Fair

Chatsworth County Fair is one of the best UK outdoor events.  With a hot air balloon overture to another fine day, we all arrived to find our last qualifiers for the 2018 Agility Challenge

Judge Pat Eady set a nice course and, in front of an audience of low thousands, our competitors accepted the challenge to secure a top five place to gain an invitation to this year’s Agility Challenge Grand Final at the Malvern Autumn Show on Sunday, 30th September 2018 where Judge Martin Tait will officiate.

Agility Challenge Qualifiers

  1. Jenna Williams with Cymro Hogyn Bach Glas -43.217 secs (C)

  2. Leah Ellis with Sugar Lemon Fizz - 45.364 secs (C)

  3. Tina Hollins with Can’t Stop Pop - 39.913 secs (5f)

  4. Andie Williams with Cymro Seren Glas - 43.973 secs (5f)

  5. Chloe Forgham-James with Gem & Tonic - 53.774 secs (5f)

As has become customary at this time of year, may we thank all the clubs, secretaries, judges, ring parties and of course competitors for their valued contribution to the competition and I am sure all would wish to add their congratulations and best wishes to all the 2018 finalists.

First published 26 March 2018

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