Why does The Agility Club run this Challenge? Most of us in agility have watched the top handlers running at shows including Olympia and Crufts and wondered what it would be like to run in a final with the clock running and the crowd watching and cheering you on. This competition gives you that chance! 

The Agility Club Starters Challenge began in 1997. Heats are held at various shows around the country and consist of an agility round for Combined Grades 1 & 2 in each height category. The class is a Standard class and is open to anyone competing in Grades 1 and 2.

The top two highest placed members of The Agility Club qualify to run in the Final at The Agility Club Championship show in July  at the South of England Showground, Ardingly, West Sussex.

Sandra Ross answers some frequently asked questions

Q. Do you have to be a member to enter these classes?

    A. No, but to qualify to run in the final you need to have joined before the show."

Q. I did better than I thought and won! Can I join the Club now and run in the final?

    A. I'm afraid not. You need to join before the first day of the show. If the heat was on a Sunday, you would need to be a member on the Friday."

Q. Even if I don't win, could I still go through to the Final?

    A. Yes, the class is open to all but only members can qualify.

Q. I am new to Agility and not sure what The Agility Club is all about?

     A. It is for anyone competing or thinking about competing in the UK.

We run leagues for individuals with annual awards for all grades throughout the year and have additional leagues for Juniors and Veteran Handlers. Alongside these runs, your points are added to your training club's total for The Agility Club League Tablesfor The Agility Club at the Annual Awards.

In addition to our Starters Challenge, we hold finals for Juniors, Invitational finals for handlers in G3-5 and G6-7. New this year is an invitational Veteran Handlers final. 

We also publish a monthly magazine called The Agility Voice, created by agility people for agility people! We cover a range of topics as well as the Crufts and Olympia competitions. We are always seeking contributions from the Agility community to ensure we are talking about what matters in our world.

For more information, you can ask your trainers and/or visit our website. 

2018 Heats
(By calendar dates)

Rules and regulations

1. The classes should be billed appropriately as either 'The Agility Club Large Starters Challenge', 'The Agility Club Medium Starters Challenge' or 'The Agility Club Small Starters Challenge' and scheduled accordingly as a Large, Medium or Small Combined Grade 1-2 Agility class.
    

2. The competition will be run under the relevant Kennel Club Regulations in force at that time. All handlers will be deemed to have agreed to abide by these rules and regulations.
    

3. Each Heat is open to all Grade 1-2 dogs of the correct size for each heat.
    

4. Each heat will offer awards for the heights on offer as follows: Rosettes 1st-10th in Large Height, trophies to 1st and 2nd and Rosettes 1st-5th in Medium and Small Heights, trophy to 1st. Where the LHO is offered the Large, Medium and Small dogs will have combined awards.
    

5. ONLY dogs handled by an Agility Club member at the time of competing (date of joining/renewal must be prior to the first day of the show) may qualify for the Final. In order to compete in the Final, you must also be a current member of The Agility Club on the day of the final.
    

6. The competition will normally consist of between ten to fifteen Heats. The two highest placed Agility Club members in each Heat will go through to the Final, providing they have achieved an awarded place as detailed in paragraph 3.
    

7. Both handler and dog may only qualify once for each height Final. Each handler and dog pairing may only qualify once for the final. In the event of the highest placed dog(s) having qualified previously, the next highest placed dog(s) will qualify.
    

8. Finalists should normally compete at the height at which they qualified however if a heat takes place at a show with no LHO, they can choose to compete at the final at LHO. Should a handler qualify at LHO and wish to compete at FHO in the final this would be permitted. Dogs will NOT be allowed to compete at LHO if qualified at FHO in a heat offering both height options.

For more information: Go to www.agilityclub.org or email starters@agilityclub.org or membership@agilityclub.org

First published 27 March 2018

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