Ready, steady, go for it...

If any clubs would be willing to host a heat before July 2024, please contact SWAT asap by email

Toni added, 'We will, of course, be continuing the Junior challenge as well with our new sponsors The Agility Orchard.'

4th October 2023

Changes to The Agility Club Starters Challenge

As agreed at the AGM this year, The Agility Club is changing how members qualify for their Starters Challenge.

Finalists will qualify via the Agility Club Grade 1 leagues. The top eight dogs from each height in Grade 1 will qualify for the final, with the final held at the Agility Club annual show. Qualifying heats will no longer be held across the country.

Why is it changing?
The Starters Challenge was originally set up for newcomers to the sport, before Kennel Club regulation changes on 1st January 2019 new handlers were Grade 1 and Grade 2, Experienced handlers started at Grade 3 with any new dog. This change will bring the Starters Challenge back to it’s original purpose of being for complete new comers to agility.

What will happen to Grade 2 dogs?
The Novice invitational will change to include Grade 2. From next year Novice invitational will combine Grade 2 to 4, Senior invitational will also change combining Grade 5 to G7.

Details will be updated on our website shortly.

Should you have any questions regarding the final, email finals@agilityclub.org

The popular Jewlnick Jump & Twist Pairs is back again for 2023 thanks to the continued sponsorship from Julie and Nick of Jewlnick Leather.

The following shows will each be hosting a heat of the Pairs, so pick your partners and get ready to qualify for the prestigious final in September at the Southam show.

In addition to the Final, Southam will be hosting the last year of the 2023 competition and the first heat of 2024.

• Worcester - 20th May

• Dartford/Upanova Tigers - 2nd-4th June

• Wye Valley - 3rd-4th June

• Whirlwind - 17th-18th June

• Golden Valley - 17th-18th June

• The Agility Club - 28th June - 2nd July

• Wellingborough - 1n25 -2nd July

• Wirral - 15th - 16th July

• Bromsgrove - 26th - 27th August

• North Derbyshire - 9th - 10th September

• Southam - 15th - 16th September

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The Finals of the SWAT South West Junior Challenge were held at the SWAT show on Saturday, 6th August 2022, after the rings had all finished. A large audience brought chairs to sit ringside and cheered on the Junior handlers.

Heats had been had held at various local shows from Cornwall to Bristol for the previous 12 months. All judges were asked to design flowing jumping courses with the aim to build confidence in the handlers. The younger handlers clearly look up to the older Juniors and the support they all give is wonderful to see, congratulating each other even when their own run hasn't gone to plan.

2022 had more finalists than Pre- Covid, four dogs in the Under 9s and 18 in the Overs. The standard of handling was phenomenal!

Martin Tait, International and Championship Judge, judged the evening finals, setting a wonderful course that everyone could attack. Natalie Mitchell, who had judged all day, kindly agreed to do the commentary bringing a touch of Crufts to the atmosphere. The crowd participation encouraged all the handlers and their smiles were infectious. There were definitely a few tears of happiness shed.

All the finalists received a rosette and sweets, with the winners and reserves getting lots of prizes including goodies from our sponsors Skinners Pet Foods.

SWAT was not only delighted that Martin agreed to judge the finals - especially after judging in the day - but was also so encouraging of all the young handlers.

Afterwards he commented, 'I wanted a fast but handled course and the Juniors did not disappoint. They were a wonderful bunch who ran hard and celebrated with their dogs at the end whether clear, faulted or eliminated. All in all, an amazing day.'

Huge congratulations to everyone who took part, but especially to our winners - Thomas Newsam did the double in the Under 9s!

Results

Under 9s

1. 1st Thomas Newsam with Betty

2. 2nd Thomas Newsam with Monty

Over 9s

1. 1st Gaby Farrar with Oreo

2. 2nd Maisie Wiltshire with Mike.

Heats for 2023 are already being planned and once again, the finals will be held at the August SWAT Show at Shapwick.

Sunset over the winners

At last, the long awaited final! After a long two years without this fabulous pairs class, the stage was set for the Jewlnick Jump and Twist Pairs Final 2022!

We had our venue, the ever welcoming Southam Show. We are so lucky to be able to host the final here each year. We had our prestigious judge, the talented Gary Murphy and we had 32 very excited pairs, eagerly looking at their running orders for the Final.

The show closed after the last presentation of the day, and the finalists walked the course which Gary had set. Spectators began arriving with chairs, nibbles and glasses of something alcoholic as they took their places around the ring.

Our sponsors, Julie and Nick Ross from Jewlnick, always add an extra twist at the Final. This year, they gave everyone - spectators, competitors, judge, Scrime, and helpers -  literally everyone who attended a fruit lolly (pot luck if it was sweet or sour 😁) and a raffle ticket. The 1st prize was a bespoke collar designed by Nick for the lucky winner with 2nd and 3rd prizes being a hamper of goodies.

Everyone was on great form, all adding to the great atmosphere. Gary had set a fast, flowing and exciting course. The first to run was the White Pair. They were running in memory of a dog that had passed away after qualifying. We felt it was a fitting tribute.

We were fortunate to have a very much sought after commentator in the form of the lovely Miranda Frankham. She was brilliant and did an amazing job. Just enough info about each pair combined with a helping of witty banter - perfect.

After a well supported final we had our results. Jewlnick had provided stunning Mango Glass trophies which were awarded to the top three pairs and to our judge. In addition, the Scrime and the last six pairs who weren't eliminated also received lovely mementos of the occasion. Another little ‘twist' provided by our sponsors. A nice mix of all heights represented here - maybe proof that size doesn't matter 🤣😁

Results

1. Maria Jenkinson with Flyte & Kathryn Stewart with Diva - 57.118 C/C

2. Colin Veal with Milo Helen & Veal with Mayhem - 60.829 C/C

3. Lorna Goodban with Tic Tac & Michelle Patient with Freesia - 62.010 C/C

4. Paul Gordon with Di & Jan Gordon with Kwik - 62.912 C/C

5. Michelle Oades with Poppy & Mark Pattenden with Izzy - 64.170 C/C

6. Joanne Asher with Willow & Gill Ciantar with Betty - 64.632 C/C

7. Kate Partridge with Willow & Morgan Looker with Roly - 65.039 C/C

8. Tanya Glover with Twink & Avril Taylor with Hattie - 65.627 C/C

9. Lesley Young with Lola & Sam Gregory with Finn (White Pair) - 85.339 C/C

10. Katie Beauchamp with Violet & Helen Roberts with Peachey - 59.479 5/C

11. Alan Gardner with Jess & Jackie Gardner with Tyler - 126 C/5

The first heat for 2023 has already taken place at Southam show with the remaining heats to be announced as soon as they are confirmed.

This year the CSJ Highlands Stakes Final will take place at the Scottish Game Fair on Sunday, July 3rd 2022 at Scone Palace. It will consist of a preliminary round and the final and each will consist of an Agility class judged according to KC rules and regulations.

The judge for the Finals this year will be Yvonne Reid.

Heats for the 2022 Highland Agility Stakes will be held at the following shows:-

• Kingdom of Fife - 2nd April

• Woodside DAC - 1st May

• Fair City - 15th May

• Scottish Kennel Club - 22nd May

• Gleniffer DTC - 28th May

Heats will take the form of a Graded or Combined G6-7 Agility class, held under standard KC rules and regulations. There will be a class for all four heights of dogs – Large, Intermediate, Medium and Small.

The first two previously unqualified dogs in each height category from each of the heat will go through to the Finals at the Game Fair.  Where resulted in the heat are graded, the results will be combined for the purpose of qualification.  If a dog that has already qualified is in the first two, then the qualification will move down to the highest placed dog.

Finalists will be sent invitations in advance of the event with further details.

Any queries regarding the event should be made in the first instance to Sara Hawkswell at sara@dynamicdogs.uk

After an enforced two year layoff, it's with great pleasure that Showtime has announced the return of the Showtime Novice Cup this year.

As previously intended for 2020, the Showtime Novice Cup will be for Grade 3, 4 & 5 dogs and all four heights.

Many thanks must go to the host clubs for their continued support. Look out for heats at the following shows:-

• Kingdom of Fife - 2nd-3rd April

• Fair City DTC - 14th-15th May

• Gleniffer DTC - 28th-29th  May

• Prestwick & District DTC - 11th-12th June

• Tweedbank DTC - 25th-26th June

• Bearded Collie Club - 16th-17th July

The Medium and Large finals will be held at Dundee Championship Show in August while the Small and Intermediate finals wil be at Gleniffer in September.

    Ian Malabar said, 'Our thanks to Dundee and Gleniffer for their continued support for this popular event.'

The Jewlnick Jump & Twist Pairs competition is back, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Jewlnick Leather.

A fun qualifier, the competition is open to Pairs of the same height, regardless of grade. All heights compete against each other for one set of results. One dog runs an Agility course which must include 12 weaves and three contacts which can be three different ones or any combination. The Twist in the title is the judge's choice of contacts and who goes first. The other dog runs a Jumping course which must also include 12 weaves.

Top four Pairs from each heat will qualify for the Final which will be held at Southam Agility Show in September 2022. Gary Murphy, hot from his prestigious judging appointment at Olympia (not Olympia), has agreed to judge.

Organiser Lisa Duggan said, 'With the generous support of CSJ, the event will be back in 2020. East Lothian has been able to confirm the dates won't clash in 2020, so we plan to run it again in 2020 with the introduction of the fourth Intermediate height qualifiers and final.

Thank you to CSJ and Ceri Rundle without whom this event wouldnot happen and all the clubs that agreed to host heats - Woodside, Kingdom of Fife, Scottish Border Collie Club, Fair City and Gleniffer. Apologies for the late notice but we were exploring alternatives once we realised there was a problem.

If anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We will announce this on Facebook once clubs, sponsors and equipment suppliers know thanks again.'

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