The KC General Agility Test & Flyball Regulations

These Regulations must be read in conjunction with Kennel Club General Agility Test & Flyball Regulations H. Any new amendments are marked in red.

2. Agility Tests are considered to be 'fun competitions' designed for enjoyment by competitors, their dogs and for appeal to spectators.
Informality is encouraged and maximum discretion is granted to Societies within the constraints of safety and these Regulations. Nothing may be included in an Agility Test which could endanger the safety of the dogs competing, the handlers or the spectators.

3. Licensed Agility Shows

Licensed shows held under Kennel Club Rules and Regulations are those held under license granted by the General Committee of The Kennel Club and are:-

a) Championship Agility Shows - Open to all competitors, except where a qualification for entry has been approved by the General Committee of The Kennel Club, and at which  Kennel Club Agility Certificates are on offer.

b) Open Agility Shows - Open to all competitors.

c) Limited Agility Tests - Where entry is limited to:-

1. Members of the Show Societies
2. Competitors resident within specific area
3. Specific breeds
4. By numbers (such as numbers to be stipulated in the schedule.)
5. Or otherwise subject to the approval of the General Committee of The Kennel Club.

d) Matches* - Where entry is limited to members of the Societies.

* Dogs which have won an Agility Certificate or obtained any award that counts towards the title of Agility Champion under the rules of any governing body recognised by The Kennel Club are not eligible for entry at these Shows.

On the day of the event, a current Public Liability Insurance Document must be held or the event will be deemed ti be unlicensed. (Effective from 1 January 2001)

4. Market Running Orders Championship Class

The Show Society must publish a marked running order containing the following:-

a) On the front outside cover or page, the name of the Society, the type, venue and date of the competition as described on the license and any additional title for which prior permission has been given by the General Committee of The Kennel Club; the names and addresses of the Guarantors of the competition, and the Secretary's name, address and telephone number where appropriate, and the name of the Competition Manager.

b) Championship Agility Class: An alphabetical index containing the names and addresses of competitors, the number and name of each exhibit and the number of the Championship Agility Class in which it is entered, giving a separate line to the name of each competitor, and the full particulars of the exhibit as given on the entry form completed by the competitor.

c) Submission of running order: Within fourteen (14) days of the close of the Show, a copy of the official marked running order, containing a full and correct lit of the entries in the required classes as detailed above, with all the awards correctly marked, must be submitted to The Kennel Club.

5. Championship Agility Certificates (Standard & Mini Dogs)

a) A Kennel Club Agility Certificate will be awarded to any Standard Agility Dog or any Mini Agility Dog winning a Championship Agility Class provided such a dog has no faults in the final round of the Class. If the winning dog does have faults in the final round of the Championship Agility Class, the award must be withheld.

b) A Reserve Agility Certificate will be awarded to any Standard Agility Dog or Mini Agility Dog placed second in the Championship Agility Class provided it has gained a clear round in the final round of the Class. If the second place dog has faults in the final round, the award must be withheld.

6. Ballot for Running Orders

a) Agility Round and Jumping Round - A draw for the running order of the Agility and Jumping Rounds must be made prior to the Show. The relevant competitors must be notified the day before the show.

b) Final Agility Round - The draw for the final agility round must be conducted at the Show by the Judge, in the presence of the competitors and a representative of the Show Management.

7. Format of the Competition
a) The top 20 competitors from the combined results of the two (2) qualifying rounds will contest a final round of Agility to determine the overall winner. The top 20 places will be determined by combining the accumulated placings gained by the dogs in the qualifying rounds.

b) The first placed dog in the final round, having achieved a clear round, will be awarded a Championship Agility Certificate.

c) The second placed dog in the final round, having achieved a clear round, will be awarded a Reserve Championship Certificate.

d) A dog having been eliminated in either qualifying round will not be eligible for the final event, even if placed in the top 20 placings. (Effective from 1 January 2001)

8. Management

Societies are responsible for the following:

a) The Test Area shall have a suitable surface and measure a minimum of 32m x 32m (35yds x 35 yds) for outdoor venues. Indoor venues may be smaller but must be appropriate to the size of the Test.

b) Ensuring that all obstacles and equipment in the test area do not include unnecessary protrusions and where wings or side supports are part of an obstacle they must be appreciably higher than the part to be cleared by the dog.

c) The Competition Manager must not enter or work a dog at the Agility Test.

d) If classes for mini and midi dogs are scheduled, certified fixed bridge type metal measures of 38cms (1ft 3ins) and 43mms (1ft 3ins) respectively must be provided by the Society. Any measurement carried out must be on a hard level non-slippery surface. 

e) The maximum number of dogs a person may judge on one day is 450. Reserve judges may enter dogs for competition at the Show, but may not compete if called upon to judge. Show Committees must appoint sufficient judges for the expected entries.

f) Where classes are split, competitors entered therein must be notified of all changes.

9. Competing

a) No person shall carry out punitive correction or harsh handling of a dog at any time within the precincts of the Test.

b) No competitor shall impugn the decision of the Judge or Judges.

c) Dogs must not wear slip chains, collars or leads when under test.

d) Handlers working more than one dog in a Class must ensure that the dogs compete in the sequence in which they are drawn. Failure to do so may result in elimination.

e) Food shall not be carried in the hand or given to a dog in the ring.

10. Eligibility and Schedule of Classes

The detailed Regulations for Eligibility and the Schedule of Classes are given in Annex A.

11. Schedule of Tests, Courses, Obstacles & Marking

The detailed Regulations for tests, courses, obstacles and marking are given in Annex B.

The detailed Regulations for Agility Matches are given in Annex C.

Reprinted with kind permission of The Kennel Club.

The Kennel Club Yearbook 2000/2001 is still £5.50 and can be purchased from the publications hotline on 020-7518 1016.