How they will affect you and your dog

Kennel Club Clarifies Some Questions on Grading System

As most people know, the new year will see the introduction of the new agility grading structure and class eligibility. The changes will come into effect on 1 January 2007. Following some questions on The Agility Forum, the Kennel Club has reissued their press release and diagrams to explain what it will mean to agility competitors and their dogs. There is also a revised flow chart.

Both the diagrams and the Questions and Answers should be read in conjunction with the new regulations and can be viewed online at www.thekennelclub.org.uk.

The Kennel Club staff Agility specialists, Debbie Deuchar and Zoe Elkin, are available to respond to any queries, or to talk through the changes. They can be contacted by telephone on 020 7518 1013 or by email at ddeuchar@the-kennel-club.org.uk or zelkin@the-kennel-club.org.uk. 

Agility Grading System Structure for 2007 Explained

The Kennel Club has made changes to the grading structure and class eligibility in Agility, following extensive consultation, with the intention of bringing competitions up to date and to form the basis for the future development of the sport.

In order to help Agility competitors understand the full detail of the changes, the following diagrams have been created to explain exactly what the changes will mean to owners and their dogs, and where people can expect to be competing when the changes come into effect in 2007.

The Kennel Club has also put together a Question and Answer sheet that we hope will help to explain further how the changes will work for Agility competitors.

The diagrams and the Questions and Answers below should be read in conjunction with the new regulations.

The Kennel Club will also be providing Agility clubs with direct assistance in scheduling their classes for next year and tackling any queries that may arise.

For the details regulations and KC announcement on the changes, go here

Agility Grading Structure with 2007 Entry
 Positions for Existing Agility Handlers & Dogs

Dogs that match the above criteria for any grade must compete in the relevant grade at the start of 2007.
There is an exception for current Novice dogs.  Dogs that achieved a top 10 place prior to 2006 in Novice or above (but not during 2006) will have the option, at the beginning of 2007, of competing in the grade achieved, as above OR dropping down one grade to grade 3 or 4 (accordingly).

Agility Grading Structure with
Win/Points Progression Criteria for 2007

Agility Grading Structure Questions & Answers

Q1.      Progression can be on points. Who is checking that I’ve got the right number of points to be in the class that I am?

  A1 . All KC activities rely on the truthfulness and integrity of competitors and it’s in your best interest to keep your Agility Record Book up to date. Once you’ve achieved the right number of points to progress to another Grade your record book must be signed by the society secretary at the first show entered at the new level. This means there’s no going back to a lower level.

Q2.      If I want my dog to progress on points, from when can I count the points?

 A2.  The points are based on those used for the Agility Warrant, although there is no requirement for any of the points to be gained in agility classes (as opposed to jumping classes). Points can be counted from 1 January 2007 and 75 points must be gained at each level to progress to the next grade.

Q3.      If my dog is eligible for Novice at the moment, what grade will it be in next year?

 A3.   The current Novice class is being split into three different grades:-

• Grade 3 (Graduate) for dogs that have not gained a top 10 place in Novice or above.
• Grade 4 (Novice) for dogs that have gained a place 6th –10th in Novice or above.
• Grade 5 (intermediate) for dogs that have gained a place in the top 5 in Novice or above.

            All of these refer to standard Kennel Club classes. 

Q4.      If my dog came 4th in Novice Agility in 2003 and is now 8 years old and not fast enough to get placed, does he still have to go in Grade 5?

 A4.   No. If your dog achieved its last top 10 place in Novice, or above, prior to 2006, you can choose whether to be in the grade you are eligible for, or one below this. Once you have selected the Grade in which you will compete, you cannot change the dog’s level unless you win out.

Q5.      If my dog is eligible for Starters, but has gained a place in Novice, which grade does she go in next year?

 A5.   If your dog is eligible to enter Starters classes in December 2006 then she will be Grade 2 (Starters) in 2007.

Q6.      If my dog has gained 3 (or more) jumping wins, or 1 agility win, in Novice does this mean she will automatically be Senior next year?

 A6.   No. She will be Grade 5 (Intermediate) because she has gained a top five place in Novice. The only dogs that will be eligible for Senior (Grade 6) are dogs that are qualified in to Senior during 2006 or before.

Q7.      How will my dog ever have more than 2 runs if it is only eligible to compete in one grade?

 A7.   You are currently reliant on societies scheduling classes for you to enter and the same will apply next year. It is up to each individual society to decide which classes they want to schedule. You may actually end up with more choices by having classes open to various grades and they may be either Combined or Graded classes.

Q8.      What is the difference between a Graded class and a Combined class?

 A8.   A Graded class may be open to one, or more, consecutive Grades with separate results for each Grade. A combined class is open to more than one Grade and there is only one set of results for the whole class.

Q9.      I am a Show Secretary - if I have a large entry in a Graded class how can I split this?

 A9.   A Graded class can be split by Grade only. If, for example, you have a single class for Grades 1, 2 and 3 and have 100, 150 and 350 entries respectively, you can split this in several ways to suit you and your ring plans; you can have each Grade in a separate ring (and split Grade 3 into 2 parts if required); or, you can have Grades 1 and 2 run together and Grade 3 separately; or, you can split Grade 3 into two parts and run Grades 1 and 2 together in the same ring. The choice is yours to make.

Q10.    What about if this was a Combined class - how would I split it then?

 A10. A Combined class must be split randomly, as classes are split at present.

Q11.    If I am eligible for Grade 2, but win a Combined agility class with Grade 4 dogs competing, does this mean it is equivalent of having won a Grade 4 class?

 A11. No. When you gain an agility win, or three jumping wins, this progresses you from your existing Grade only - you cannot skip Grades.

Q12.    Does the course have to be set at the standard for the lowest eligible Grade of dog?

 A12.   The course design, and suitability, is entirely up to the judge who will take into consideration all the eligible level of dogs. This is, of course, exactly what happens at present.

Q13.    My Novice dog has won three Intermediate jumping classes, which at present counts towards being Advanced, will these be lost in 2007?  Will I have to get four more wins?

 A13.   No - we thought this would be unfair. Wins gained in Intermediate, Senior and Open classes count towards Grade 7 (Advanced) eligibility and can be carried forward. You will still require 2 further agility wins at Grade 6 to become advanced.

Q14.    I am a show secretary - for a Graded class how will I know what Grade a dog is and how will I sort out the results?

  A14.  The entry form will need to be amended to include a box asking for each dog’s Grade. The specimen schedule and entry form will be amended and sent to all agility societies by the KC soon. In respect of sorting the entries out, all dogs of each Grade will have to compete before the next Grade starts. It is recommended that when processing the entries the class is split into a, b, c etc with running orders, pads and score sheets being prepared for each section (Grade) of the class.

Q15.    I won out of starters 2 years ago but handle other people’s dogs that don’t do agility.  At the moment I can compete with them in Novice as the dog has not won anything.  What class can I do with them next year?

A15.    As the dog and owner have not won anything the dog is eligible for Grade 1, you as the handler are eligible for Grade 3 and you can therefore compete with the dog in a combined grade 1 – 3 class only.

Q16.    As a Grade 3 handler, what would happen if I handled a Grade 1 dog in a Combined Grade 1 – 3 class and it won?  What grade would it now be in?

 A16.    If you won a combined class the dog would win out of its current grade, in this case from Grade 1 to Grade 2.  This would be no different from a handler competing in a Novice class, under the current system, with an Elementary dog and gaining a 2nd or 3rd place in Novice thereby winning it out of Elementary.

Q17.    I currently compete in Senior, but my son has started competing and has his own dog with which he competes.  However, sometimes I take the dog to a show - what class can I do?  Does the dog now have to be put in my name so I can compete with it?

  A17.    No the dog can continue to be in your son’s name, you can compete with it in a combined class for grades 1 – 3.  Your son could compete with it in a grade 1 class at the same show if you wanted to.  This is the same as a dog currently competing in Elementary with your son and Novice with you.

Q18.    I am preparing my show schedule and have a combination of grades and combined classes, how should these be displayed on the schedule?

     A18.    This is up to each individual Society, but an example is listed below:

•  Class 1           Large Agility Grades 1, 2, 3 (Combined)
•  Class 2           Large Agility Grades 3, 4, 5 (Graded)
•  Class 3           Large Agility Grades 5, 6, 7 (Combined) 

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