18 Countries Make History at the First World Agility Open Championships

The World Agility Open Championships (WAO), an annual international agility event, held its inaugural show on 13-15 May 2011 at the Hand Equestrian Centre. Over 200 competitors from 18 different countries travelled to the event to compete under judges Andy Hudson of England, Dave Grubel of the USA, and Mia Laamanen of Finland.

The WAO was designed to provide the ultimate in dog agility competition; showcase the highest level of agility training, human/canine partnership, and athleticism; and enable all dogs, whether pedigreed or not, to compete in an environment that is solely focused on the sport of agility. It is the first international agility event created and run entirely by agility competitors (Greg Derrett, Mark Laker, and Monica Percival).

The WAO is not part of any agility organization. People interested in being a team manager for their country, apply to the WAO. If accepted, the team manager develops the official team selection criteria process for his or her country. However, WAO does require that each country’s selection process be non-discriminatory with regard to both handlers and dogs. In addition, the country’s selection process must allow for at least one dog in each jump height to win its way onto the team.

WAO also allows a limited number of “wildcard” entries for qualified individuals (people who have previously won national or international events) who were not on their country’s team or who were from a country that did not send a team. This option, along with four available jump heights and no pedigree requirements, allowed maximum accessibility so that the best competitors in international agility could meet to compete.

The event featured Individual and Team competitions, and included a variety of classes:

• The Individual Agility Pentathlon consisted of two rounds of Agility - two rounds of Jumping, and one round of Speedstakes. The combined results from these classes determined the Individual Agility Pentathlon World Champion in each jump height.
• The Agility Biathlon consisted of one round of Agility followed by one round of Jumping. The combined results of the two classes determined the Agility Biathlon World Champions in each jump height.
• The Agility Games Championships consisted of one round of Snooker and one round of Gamblers. The combined results of the two classes determined the Agility Games World Champion in each jump height.
• The Team Agility Pentathlon consisted of two rounds of Agility, two rounds of Jumping, and one round of Speedstakes. The combined results from the five classes determined the Team Agility Pentathlon World Champion.

Competitors were extremely pleased with the event. Comments included:

 The atmosphere in the arena throughout the weekend was quite something and, especially considering what a small team you were, I think you put on a tremendous event. Long may it continue!

 The footing and equipment was top notch. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate having those things as the primary considerations. Thank you very, very much for that.

 [There are] many big events but this one is on top of the list! Very well organized, efficient, nice courses, cool handling, great volunteers, excellent weather, you name it, it was there. Thank you and congrats to all involved.

 What a great weekend of competition! Thanks to the entire WAO organization for the opportunity to be a part of it! The bar has been set high for 2012!

The 2012 World Agility Open will be held on 18-20 May 2012 at the Equestrian Centre De Warre  in Belgium For more information go to http://www.dewarre.be/_le/home.php

People who are interested in organizing a team for their country should contact info@worldagilityopen.com . Competitors interested in trying out for their country’s team should visit www.worldagilityopen.com  and select Countries from the main menu to see whom to contact in their country.

The results are as follows:-

2011 WAO Team Agility Pentathlon Champions

• Gold: England
• Silver: United States
• Bronze: Scotland

2011 WAO Individual Agility Pentathlon Champions

300

• Gold: Anneli Hilton with Slice, Canada
• Silver: Marilyn Adams with Tia, England
• Bronze: Heather McLean with Bud, Scotland

400

• Gold: Karen Holik with Sizzle, United States
• Silver: Tricia Elms with Jazz, Scotland
• Bronze: Mimi Shimono with Marie, Japan

550

• Gold: Mark Douglas with Ruby, Wales
• Silver: Dudley Fontaine with Sweet, United States
• Bronze: Nigel Staines with Zico, England

650

• Gold: Dave Leach with Rusty, England
• Silver: Niina-Liina Linna with Rhett, Finland
• Bronze: Linda Mecklenburg with Wonder, United States

2011 Agility Games World Champions

300

• Gold: Minako Tokuda with Win, Japan
• Silver: Ivette White with Zip, United States
• Bronze: Tracy Bennett with Cody, Wales

400

• Gold: Jessica Martin with Dice, Wildcard 
• Silver: Jennifer Crank with Blaster, United States
• Bronze: Bernadette Bay with Zen, England

550

• Gold: Jeannette Hutchison with Rumble, United States 
• Silver: Leslie Osborne with Fizz, England
• Bronze: Kim Cullen with Recess, Canada

650

• Gold: Dave Leach with Rusty, England 
• Silver: Laura Chudleigh with Rodney, Wildcard
• Bronze: Lee Windeatt with Bold, Wildcard

Agility Biathlon World Champions

300

• Gold: Daneen Fox with Masher, United States
• Silver: Anneli Hilton with Slice, Canada
• Bronze: Derek Osborne with Gizmo, Wales

400

• Gold: Jennifer Crank with Blaster, United States
• Silver: Nobuko Akiike with Kool, Japan
• Bronze: Tricia Elms with Jazz, Scotland

550

• Gold: Rosanne Demascio with Drifter, United States
• Silver: Mark Douglas with Ruby, Wales
• Bronze: Deb Rhodes with Britt, Canada

650

• Gold: Franky de Witte with Uboro, Belgium
• Silver: Ian Jackson with Bobbie, England
• Bronze: Ian Balchin with Bess, Wildcard

Congratulations to all the winners of the first World Agility Open Championships! High-resolution winners photos are available on the WAO website—  —under Results & Courses.

Results of Irish Photo Comp Announced

Congratulations to the winners of the photo competition in aid of the Republic of Ireland WAO team.  €260 was raised for the team.  Well done
everyone.

1st Prize - General Category
Butterfly - Caroline Woods

1st Prize - Pet Category
Dog in Tree - Gina Graham

2nd Prize - Pet Category
Want That Duck - Miriam McDowell

3rd Prize - Pet Category
Gee-whiz - It s a Swan! - Mary Dolan

4th Prize - Pet Category
Dogs with Baby - Sheila Smith

5th Prize - Pet Category
Couch Potatoes - Carmel Murphy

To  see  the winners go to http://www.wtci.ie/news--updates.html

Fundraising for Mark & Shaun

Golden Valley DTC is hosting a fundraising agility competition on Sunday, 17 April, to raise funds for their trainers - Mark Douglas (Wales) and Shaun Hunt (England) for the WAO.

It starts at 10.30am and is at their training facility at Kingstone, Hereford. The cost is £2 per class or £5 per dog for the whole day. There will be a shared lunch and raffle, so please come along and support, entries taken on the day.

Directions to the ground

Directions A465 from Hereford
Take B4349 to Clehonger.  Turn left staying on B4349 to Kingstone.  At T junction turn right. Take next right to Madley...

Directions A465 from Abergavenny
Take B4348 to Kingstone.  Go through Kingstone, past the Post Office on the right, keep going past the next right turn and then turn right to Madley...

After 200 metres turn right after a large office complex, enter the lane and turn almost immediately left into the Members’ car park - the entrance to the Club grounds is located 50 metres further up the lane on the right.

See the Golden Valley web site for details http://www.goldenvalleydtc.co.uk/index.html

Download schedule from the Agilitynet Show Diary

Free tickets to the WAO 2011!

There will be a fantastic free prize draw for a three day ticket passes to the World Agility Open 2011 to be held at the following UKA shows:-

• Broadlands - 9 & 10 April
• Prested Hall - 16 & 17 April
• Countryside K9s -  16 & 17 April
• UKA Easter - 22 - 25 April
• GT May - 29 April -1 May
• DigIt Dogs - 1 May
• HJ  Agility - 7 & 8 May

All helpers at these shows will be entered into a free prize draw.  Two passes to the three day World Agility Open Championships 2011, on 13-15 May 2011 are offered as prizes. This is a fantastic opportunity for helpers, each three day pass is worth £25.  So if your name is not yet down to help at these shows, take advantage of this prize draw and volunteer now. Don t miss out on seeing a world class competition with some of the best dogs and handlers from around the world competing.

For anyone wishing to buy tickets please visit http://worldagilityopen.ticketsource.co.uk/

Camddwr Canine Auction for Wales

The Camddwr Canine auction, in support of the Wales WAO Agility Team starts Saturday. 2nd April 2011. Come and find a fantastic bargain. The auction schedule is can be found on www.camddwrcanine.co.uk/auction.htm where you can check out some of the amazing items that are being sold.

Ann Harmes said,  We have some really fantastic pledges so far from Hurtta, including fabulous winter coats and waterproof fleece jackets, rain coats, harness and leash etc ., CSJ energy packs,  Ruffwear  Swamp Coolers, Yumove Working Dog Formula, Sealskinz All Season Gloves .. and more coming in!

If you aren t about on the auction day, don t worry. You can still send us your bid before the auction begins- Bidding will not start until the day of the auction @10.00am.

Please support the Team, and maybe pick up a great bargain, too!

Sunday, 3 April Camddwr Canine Auction Bidding Update

Ann Harmes reports that there have been some amazing bids today. Here is the bidding so far today:

• Ultimate Contacts DVD with Toni Dawkins and Stuart Harmes - £16.00

• Yumove Working Formula - £44.00

• Hurtta Pro Waterproof Fleece Jacket - £38.00

• Hurtta Reflex Leash Stretchie - £10

• Hurtta Pro Winter Jacket - £48.00

• CSJ Packs - £10

• CSJ Pack - £20

• Ruffwear Swamp Cooler - £38.00

• Hurtta Reflex Leash - £5.00

Bidding closes at 10.00pm  To take part in the auction, go to www.camddwrcanine.co.uk and click on the auction tab. All money raised from the auction will go towards fundraising for the WAO Wales Team

Thank you for your support!

A Taste of Japan for the NI Team

On 15 April, there will be a special Konnichwa meal at the Ginger Tree, a charming restaurant in Belfast, to support the Northern Ireland Team.

• Location:   The Ginger Tree, 23 Donegal Pass, Belfast BT7 1DQ. (Public car park behind the restaurant, free of charge at night.)

• Date:         15  April, 2011 at 7.15pm for 8.00pm.

• Price:         £18 per person, excluding drinks.

The Ginger Tree is a charming restaurant dedicated to serving authentic Japanese Food in a fresh eclectic way. The meal will consist of an appetiser, and a starter selected by each person. This will be followed by a selection of main courses delivered to each table so that people will be able to taste a variety of dishes. Contrary to popular western belief, Japanese cooking does not consist entirely of raw fish, Most, if not all, of the dishes will be cooked.  However, there will be no European food on the menu.

If you would like to attend this event please contact David Duncan, Cooper Hill Farm, 260 Belfast Road, Dundonald, Belfast BT16 1UE Please let him know how many of you are vegetarians.

Fundraising Photo Competition for the Republic

Jenny Hale of Dee Design Kitchens and Louise Roche are sponsoring a photo competition in aid of The Republic of Ireland WAO. There will be two categories:-

1. Pets

2. General

This competition will be judged for content rather than photographic skills so there is no need to send professional photos.

Prizes include:-

• Photo shoot for your pet with Blackblur photography

• I nights B&B for two people at a choice of four Clarion Hotels - Dublin City, Liffey Valley, Cork, Sligo or Limerick

• Bottle of bubbly

• 50 Euro Marks & Spencer voucher

• Bottle of Whiskey*

*To receive the alcohol prize you have to be over 18 years

Entries must be received by Wednesday, 27 April.

Email your photos to patriciadunn1@mac.com or post them to Patricia Dunn, Glendove House, West End, Kilfinane, County Limerick. All photos must be accompanied with contact details (name, phone number or email address) and can have a caption added if preferred.

Entry fee: 5 Euro per photo or three photos for 10 Euro. Payment can be made by by PayPal, if preferred. helenivory@eircom.net. Cheque or postal order made out to Fingal Dog Club at address above.

Team England Selection Guidelines for WAO Championships 2012

• Jo Rhodes

• Anthony Clarke

• Greg Derrett

• Mark Laker

Team England 2012
Team England squad will be compromised of:

• 1 dog per height from the automatic “win on” selection place.

• The remaining squad will be chosen by the selection committee using the Wildcard selection criteria.

• Team England will consist of a minimum of three dogs per height

• £10 per Dog/Handler combination

• Open to G6-7 & UKA Champion level

• Closing Date September 30th 2011 (postmarked)

• Official national competitions reviewed 2010 & 2011: CC qualifiers, KC Agility Stakes Olympia, Crufts Senior, Crufts team, Crufts CC, UKA GP, UKA Nationals, UKA Games, UKA Team Tournament, UKA Masters

• Handlers and dogs international experience and successes will be taken into consideration

• Results from standard KC and UKA shows (England Only)

All those applying to join the Squad will be required to attend a Wildcard Training Day. Dates and venues T.B.A. to be held in October/November. Dogs and handlers will be assessed on a variety of Agility Skill tests. From the performance on these days and from consideration to the individuals competition history as stated on the application form, a squad of dogs will be selected to form the England 2012 Squad. It is anticipated that this final squad will comprise of 6-8 dogs per height and will be announced on 21 December 2011.

Win on place
Within the team under WAO rules at least one place, per height division, must be achieved via winning. Therefore, the win on place will automatically be selected for the squad & team and will be entered in either the Biathlon or Pentathlon event as a minimum at the WAO. The highest placed eligible dog from the UKA Masters series will be invited to represent Team England at the WAO Championships. To ensure a level of consistency but not to create a system where the person who attends the most events qualifies, handlers will submit ONLY their best 3 Masters results and their results from the Masters final. Points will be awarded in the following way;

• 1st in Jumping or Agility = 1 point

• 1st overall = 4 points

• 2nd overall = 3 points

• 3rd overall = 2 points

• 4th overall = 1 point

• 1st in Jumping or Agility = 2 point

• 1st overall = 8 points

• 2nd overall = 6 points

• 3rd overall = 4 points

• 4th overall = 2 points

Masters results will be collated by the selection committee and be published throughout the year. The winning handlers will be contacted by the Team England manager by 31 December 2011.

General Information
All dogs entered must comply with the Pets Travel Scheme (PETS) to allow travel back to the UK April 2012. Application forms for both the Wildcard selection process will be available via UKA website shortly. Any queries should be directed to the Team Manager email address: englandwao@gmail.com

Finnish Judge Agrees to Join Judging Panel

It has been announced that Kaisa Åkerman from the Finnish Kennel Club has formally given permission to Mia Laamanen to judge at the 2011 World Agility Open Championships, which will be held on 13-15 May. Mai is an experienced judge, and has had previous experience of judging world class agility having judged the FCI Agility World Championships 2006 in Basel, Switzerland. Her judging appointments have taken her around the world to an impressive list of 17 countries from Japan to Germany.

Mia Laamanen, along with the two other judges invited for the 2011 WAO - Andy Hudson and Dave Grubel -will be judging each day of the competition. The schedule has classes for the both the Individual and Team Pentathlon events every day of the three-day championships. Friday’s schedule includes the first rounds for both the Individual Agility Games and Individual Agility Biathlon, the second round for each being held on the Saturday and Sunday respectively.

As you might expect, with the World Agility Championships only two months away, tickets are now selling fast.  To buy your ticket and get further details about this event, visit our website: http://www.worldagilityopen.com

WAO is currently looking for suitable venues to host the 2012 event.  If you know of an appropriate venue that may have the facilities required for this level of event please contact info@worldagilityopen.com

WAO Home Country Teams Selected

Three of the four Home Country team managers have announced their teams for the World Agility Open Championships which will be held in the United Kingdom on 13-15 May, at the Hand Equestrian Centre.

The following handlers have been selected to represent their country. Congratulations to the following everyone who qualified and their fantastic dogs.

World Agility Open Championships Announced

The WAO is the first international agility event created and managed by agility competitors - Greg Derrett, Mark Laker and American Monica Percival. It is not run under the auspices of any agility organisation.

The World Agility Open Championships (WAO) is an annual international event designed to:-

• Provide the ultimate in dog agility competition

• Showcase the highest level of agility training, human/canine partnership, and athleticism

• Enable all dogs, whether pedigreed or not, to compete in an environment that is solely focused on the sport of agility

The WAO strives to provide jump height divisions where similar types of dogs compete against one another, an excellent competition surface and environment, and several varieties of contests with maximum runs to adequately test teams for all the skill sets necessary to be the best in dog agility.

With that goal in mind, the Individual winners from the 2010 FCI Agility World Championships and 2010 European Open, as well as the All-Around winners from the 2010 IFCS Agility Championships, are automatically eligible for entry to the WAO regardless of whether their country submits an entry.

The WAO is the first international agility event created and managed by agility competitors (Greg Derrett, Mark Laker and Monica Percival). It is not run under the auspices of any agility organization.

The official language of the WAO is English.

In 2011, the WAO will be held in the United Kingdom on 13-15 May 2011 at the Hand Equestrian Centre. Check-in and warm-up sessions are scheduled for Thursday, 12 May, 2011.

For more information, visit http://www.worldagilityopen.com/index.html or email info@WorldAgilityOpen.com

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