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Top handlers recommend it
 Agility
first surfaced in what we call a recognisable format at Crufts in 1978. Prior to this, people
had played about with separate bits of equipment but for Crufts 1978, the Kennel Club asked for
a few enthusiasts to put together a demonstration event. This event would encompass some
working trials equipment, show jumping equipment and a little bit of obedience thrown in for
good measure.
The name Dog Agility was born.
It was such a success in 1978 that it went back to Crufts
in 1979 as a proper competition. Watching the events at both of these Crufts shows was Eric
Smethurst, who was then manager of Pedigree’s Breed, Show and Veterinary Services
Department. Eric and the rest of the Pedigree team were really impressed with this new sport
and decided that they would like Pedigree to be a part of it. Therein lies the start of over
twenty years of continuous support and sponsorship of dog agility.
The Pedigree Canine Christmas Cracker
This was followed in December 1979 by the first
of the very famous Pedigree Chum Agility Stakes Finals which was held at the Olympia
Christmas Horse Show, although to be fair, in the early days it was mostly jumping. Qualifying
for the Pedigree Olympia Finals has remained the ultimate goal of all agility handlers.
There is no doubt that Crufts and Olympia played a huge
part in publicising and popularising the sport. Agility turned out to be one of the fastest
growing canine pursuits during the 1980s. Pedigree was the first national sponsor and has
remained at the forefront of support, sponsoring many different types of agility, with finals
at many major events in the the UK.
 Other
events
In the intervening years, of course, many more competitions have been added. These now
encompass a team competition, pairs relay, mini agility, Gamblers, Power and Speed, Irish
Agility Dog of the Year, Scotland’s very own Highland Agility Stakes and the Novice Grand
National Jumping. There are now 77 heats for Pedigree-supported agility competitions. These are
held at 35 of the UK’s premier open agility shows. In addition to this, there are twenty finals
and semi-finals.
Pedigree’s commitment to dog agility is undeniable. In
these days of cutbacks and downsizing, Pedigree has remained totally committed to the sport,
and there are no bigger fans of dog agility than the Pedigree team.
 Agilitynet
Sponsorship
Pedigree Masterfoods are now supporting the Agilitynet web site by sponsoring the Show Diary
pages.
Dave Ray,
Pedigree's Agility Consultant, who manages all of the company's sponsorship throughout the
United Kingdom, stated 'Pedigree recognises the importance of of Agility moving forward
into the 21st Century. Computers and the World Wide Web are an integral part of this move
forward. We already support the Dogs in Action web site where the latest Pedigree results are
posted as soon as they are received from the relevant societies. It is a natural extension that
we would wish to support the leading British Agility web site.'
Dave also said, 'I know from my own experience over the
last few months how many agility folk are corresponding with me via email and have access to
the Internet. This pool of people is increasing all the time. I don't think that web sites will
have a detrimental effect on our agility magazines for the foreseeable future, but the fact is
that, if you want to get immediate information, the web is the place to go. As the leading
Agility supporter in the UK, Pedigree wants to be totally involved in the communication
superhighway.'
Pedigree Masterfoods,
the best known sponsor of agility events, is the UK division of Mars Europe and the largest of
the Mars pet care companies. It commenced operating in 1935. over 60 years ago and has been
active in agility since the sport was born. Its National Office is located in Waltham-on-the
Wolds in Leicestershire, and the factories are based in Melton Mowbray and Peterborough. With a
turnover of £500 million, it employs over 1,000 people.
Photographs reproduced from front covers of Agility Voice
(June 1991, October 1992, January 1993) with kind permission of John Gilbert.
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