Ushering in a new
era of inclusive agility...
 A
few years ago, a group of competitors who were sitting in the stands at the IMCA/PAWC
championships in The Netherlands started to discuss the idea of putting on a
show of their own, an event which truly showcased the UK's amazing ParAgility
athletes. Stuart Doughty and Sarah Fenby both nodded in agreement, but at that
point, neither of them was quite ready to take on such a challenge.
Fast forward to IMCA/PAWC
Portugal 2024, and the question came up again.
Are we doing this thing
or not?
That was the moment it
all began.
What followed was 12
months of intense planning, worrying, creating, begging and spending, all
culminating in our arrival at Ogilvie Dogs on Friday. 3rd October to set
up the arena for what would become a landmark event in UK ParAgility history.
The dust is now settling
after an unforgettable weekend marking the first ever British ParAgility
Championships (BPAC) and were still struggling to find the words to describe
just how incredible it was.
 First
of all, massive congratulations to our British ParAgility Champions 2025
-
Gold - Julie
Thompson with Nancy Jelly Tot
-
Silver - Nikki
Goodrich with Bosun
-
Bronze - Mhari-Clare
Green with Digby
Thank you to everyone who made history with us.
None of this would have been possible without
the amazing team of volunteers who worked tirelessly and entirely for free
for three days straight. They endured our occasional snappy instructions and
demanding expectations with patience, good humour, and total dedication. We owe
them everything.
We were honoured to have
the best judges we could have hoped for. Ryan Hennessy, Dawn Warnock and
Charlotte Baker designed and judged courses that perfectly reflected the spirit
and standard of BPAC. Their attention to detail and commitment to our vision
were second to none.
A huge thank you also
goes to our sponsors including Naylor Agility, Fur Baby Nutrition (FBN) and
Fettle whose generosity made it possible to provide fantastic prizes and awards
for all our winners. Also to Nova Entries, who went above and beyond to help us
bring this crazy idea to life. Nothing was too much trouble, and their support
was invaluable.
Stuart and Sarah
said, 'To every competitor who joined us and embraced the weekend exactly as
we intended with emotion, enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and pure agility joy,
thank you. Watching handlers and their incredible dogs step up to the start
line with the biggest smiles reminded us exactly why we wanted to create
BPAC in the first place. From an idea in the stands to a full-blown
championship we did a thing. And we couldn't be prouder. So... 2026?'
Photo: Sean
Cameron
10th October 2025
Meet the Team Behind the British ParAgility Championships
We'd like to introduce
you to the faces behind BPAC and add a little bit of back story.
The team is headed up by
the formidable duo, Stuart Doughty and Sarah Fenby. Having first met on an
international team in 2019, they've each continued to accrue medals at multiple
World Championship events since then.
Stuart is an able-bodied handler who has represented GB on six different teams winning an incredible nine
international medals partnered by two different dogs, notching up a Team World
Champion title with an individual Vice World Champion. He also enjoys running for
fun including grueling challenges involving running with bags up hills with muddy
assault courses and is aiming to run a Spartan Beast later this year.
Sarah is a Para handler
whose idea of fun does not involve running! She has represented the UK at four
different Para World Championships, winning a total of five international medals
with two different dogs and is current Vice World Champion. Rather than running
Sarah enjoys the (not so) high intensity hobby of line dancing, not least
because it provides important physio/strengthening aspects but is often
practiced in a bar with good music.
Together, Stuart and Sarah aimed to bring a tournament to the UK that
provides Para handlers with the opportunity to shine. Aided by a star-studded
team with collectively one of the strongest CVs you could imagine, they are excited to host the first British ParAgility Championships.
The first British ParAgility
Championships took place over the weekend of 4th-5th October 2025 at the
Ogilvie Dog Training Centre in Lincolnshire.
British Para Championships - A New Era of Inclusive Agility
The very first
British ParaAgility Championships (BPAC) will take place on 4th-5th October 2025
at the Ogilvie Dog Training Centre (near Bourne), creating a high-profile stage
for disabled handler to showcase their skills and the incredible partnerships
they share with their dogs.
The Championships
have been founded with a clear mission to provide an inclusive, competitive and
supportive environment where handlers with disabilities can compete on equal
terms, without the natural advantage held by non-disabled competitors.
'Agility for
everybody,' say the BPAC organising team. 'We want to break down the
barriers and celebrate the amazing achievements of all competitors, while
inspiring the wider agility community to embrace diversity and innovation.
Who can compete?
BPAC is open to handlers with a diagnosed condition, medically recorder injury,
disorder or disability that significantly impacts their performance compare to
non-disabied handlers in standard agility competition.
All breeds and crossbreeds are welcome. Dogs
must be over 18 months of age and KC or A4A registered with an official measure
in place.
Handlers will be entered in groups based on
their disability, whether mobility-related, sensory, mental health, learning
difficulty or long-term conditions, ensuring fair and meaningful competition for
all.
Competition format
Across two days, handlers and their dogs will tackle six runs (two Jumping
and one Agility each day.) Results from all six runs will count towards overall
placings with awards presented for:-
Courses will be designed to KC standards
(Grades 4-7 equivilent), carefully adapted to ensure safe and accessible
participation for everyone, including wheelchair users and handlers of with
mobility aids.
Why BPAC matters
BPAC is more than a competition. It is a community. With inclusively,
respect and animal welfare at its core, the Championships aim to shine a light
on the resilience, talent and determination of disabled handlers.
The team behind BPAC are experienced
international competitors and event organisers who saw a gap in the UK agility
calendar for a dedicated, high-profile competition that truly levels the playing
field. Drawing inspiration from events across Europe, they are proud to bring
the celebration of ability, partnerships and determination to UK soil for the
very first time.
Full regulations, eligibility details and
entry information are available at the
BPAC website
Entries are now open via Nova Entries.
First published
5th April 2025
| 