Day Two At The Royal Kennel Club International Agility Festival Sees Rising Stars Compete For Crufts Qualification Glory

decoration

 

The action continued on Friday (Friday 7 August) at the Royal Kennel Club International Agility Festival, as thousands of dogs and handlers returned to the course at Rutland Showground for the second day of competition. 

Now in its 22nd year, the four-day event is welcoming more than 3,200 dogs and almost 2,000 handlers from 11 countries and territories, with competitors hoping to secure prestigious Crufts 2027 qualification places and take important steps towards representing Agility Team GB on the international stage. 

Day two saw some of the festival’s rising agility stars take centre stage, with competitors battling it out across four Starters Cup Finals. Competitions also took place to qualify for prestigious events, including the Crufts Singles, where winners secured a place at Crufts, and the Large Crufts ABC (Anything But Collies) Agility, where competitors battled for a place in the semi-final at the London International Horse Show. 

The day’s competitions included: 

  • Small Starters Cup Final 

  • Medium Starters Cup Final 

  • Intermediate Starters Cup Final 

  • Large Starters Cup Final 

  • Crufts Singles Agility Small, Medium, Intermediate and Large  

  • Crufts Large ABC Agility 

The Starters Cup Finals, which are for grade 1 and 2 dogs only, showcased some of the most promising agility partnerships at the festival, with competitors demonstrating speed, accuracy and teamwork as they tackled challenging courses. 

Small Starters Cup Final 

In the Small Starters Cup Final, Cocker Spaniel Biz-Ness (Arthward Lemon Fizzle), handled by Rosie Cavill from Newport, claimed victory. 

The podium was completed by: 

  1. Rosie Cavill & Cocker Spaniel Biz-Ness (Arthward Lemon Fizzle) 

  1. Leanne Alder & Cocker Spaniel Bruce (Kacadu Dream Big) 

  1. Aimee Morgan & Crossbreed Booze (Blame It On The Booze) 

Medium Starters Cup Final 

In the Medium Starters Cup Final, Cocker Spaniel Dolce (Girl In Red), handled by Rosie Quinn took the top spot. 

The podium was completed by: 

  1. Rosie Quinn & Dolce (Girl In Red)  

  1. Arabella Fischer & Crossbreed Rafiki (Ready Steady Raffi)   

  1. Hannah Truscott & Cocker Spaniel Colin (Pawspan's Drummer Boy) 

Intermediate Starters Cup Final 

In the Intermediate Starters Cup Final, Border Collie Phew (Comebyanaway We Did It), handled by Nicola Vince from Norfolk, came out on top. 

The podium was completed by: 

  1. Nicola Vince & Border Collie Phew (Comebyanaway We Did It)  

  1. Alyna Arnold & Border Collie Cove (Ursa Cove Saltern Sweet) 

  1. Heidi Wain & Border Collie Winkle (Pick A Peak Trendy Tinkerbell) 

Large Starters Cup Final 

In the Large Starters Cup Final, Border Collie Tux (Mendipstar Suited N' Booted), handled by Lesley Bloska from Somerset, produced a winning performance. 

Lesley, 40 from Somerset said following her win: “I am so pleased to have made it into the main ring with Tux. I am so grateful for the trust he puts in me, he's a very special dog.”   

The podium was completed by: 

  1. Lesley Bloska & Border Collie Tux (Mendipstar Suited N' Booted) 

  1. Michael Blackford & Belgian Shepherd Dog Sokka (Stay Wild Rising Sun Fighting Dreamers) 

  1. Amy Challis & Border Collie Hype (Chattlands He Worth The Hype) 

Small-Large Singles Agility 

Below are all the winners of the Singles Agility in all sizes who have now qualified for Crufts. 

Small Singles Agility: 

  1. Claire Chappell & Crossbreed Kiba (Kamikaze Kiba) 

Medium Singles Agility: 

  1. Dawn Weaver & Crossbreed Bear (Too Bear To Care) 

Intermediate Singles Agility: 

  1. Nicola Giraudi & Border Collie Katniss (Shepworld I Want It All) 

Large Singles Agility: 

  1. Dalton Meredith & Border Collie Crush (Fandabidozi I Have A Crush) 

Large Crufts ABC Agility 

In the Large Crufts ABC Agility, German Shepherd Neo (Hartshill Apollo), handled by Ian Armstrong claimed victory. The top two unqualified dogs will qualify for the semi-final at The London International Horse Show. If either of the top two has already qualified, the place will pass down to the next highest-placed unqualified partnership. 

Ian Armstrong, 49 from Surrey, said following his win: “I am so proud of Neo, this is the third qualifying position he has had this year in this competition but doing it at the Royal Kennel Club Show makes it even more special. He just loves his agility and is looking forward to going to the Crufts semi-final again.” 

The podium was completed by: 

1st: Ian Armstrong & German Shepherd Neo (Hartshill Apollo) 
2nd: Lydia Spriggs & Australian Kelpie Dusk (Mahogamia Dark Shadow) 
3rd: Emmelia Daines & Labrador Amber (Isla Winding) 

The Royal Kennel Club International Agility Festival continues until Sunday 9 August at Rutland Showground, bringing together some of the best agility talent from across the world. 

More information about the RKC International Agility Festival, including schedules and spectator information, can be found at: https://www.royalkennelclub.com/iaf 

ENDS