Super Saturday At IAF Sees Championship Winners Take Centre Stage

decoration

 

The Royal Kennel Club International Agility Festival reached fever pitch yesterday (Saturday 8 August), as a Super Saturday of competition saw some of the sport’s most accomplished partnerships go head-to-head at Rutland Showground, with the event proudly supported by sponsors Skinner’s and Antinol. 

With more than 3,200 dogs and almost 2,000 handlers from 11 countries and territories taking part across the festival, Saturday delivered a packed programme of high-level competition, including the Young Royal Kennel Club Dog of the Year Agility competitions and the hotly anticipated Championship Finals. 

With prestigious titles and Crufts 2027 qualification places on the line, competitors battled it out across the festival’s 18 rings in front of an enthusiastic crowd.  

The day’s highlights included: 

  • Small Championship Finals 

  • Medium Championship Finals 

  • Intermediate Championship Finals 

  • Large Championship Finals 

 

Championship Finals 

The festival’s Championship Finals delivered a day of high-level competition, with competitors battling across agility and jumping rounds to secure their titles. Each first-place partnership for each height goes through to the Crufts 2027 Championship Final in 2027.  

In the Small Championship Final, Katrina Hands and her Shetland Sheepdog, Wild (I'm Going Wild Of Summergarden), claimed victory after an impressive display of speed, accuracy and teamwork. 

  1. Katrina Hands & Wild (I'm Going Wild Of Summergarden) 

  1. Isabella Cox & Fidget (Isabelora Steal My Girl) 

  1. Chloe Brown & Sofi (Twinkle Star Koryfej At Licosateria) 

 

Katrina & Wild - Small Championship Winners

 

 

Katrina, from near Forfar in Scotland, said: “It was fabulous to win the CC here at IAF. I have won RCC with two other dogs at IAF so to actually win the ticket was amazing. Making the final with both dogs was brilliant and I’m extremely proud of them and grateful to have them.” 

In the Medium Championship Final, Cocker Spaniel Arrow (Tuftihed Fly Like An Eagle AW(D)), handled by Summer Clark, came out on top. 

  1. Summer Clark & Arrow (Tuftihed Fly Like An Eagle AW(D)) 

  1. Will Bacchus & Brave (Bonamassa The Brave) 

  1. James Bartram & Dominic (Frason Turbo Charge) 

 

Summer & Wild - IAF Medium Championship Winners

In the Intermediate Championship Final, there was an international win from handler Nicola Giraudi, from Italy, and his Border Collie, Katniss (Shepworld I Want It All). 

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

  1. Abigail Doxford & Brizzle (Stellmax Brizzle Shizzle) 

  1. Dalton Meredith & Eclipse (AG CH Fandabidozi Eclipse Of Dust) 

Lastly, in the Large Championship Final, Fiona Gavin and her Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois), Keeper (Play With Madness Explorer) claimed victory. 

  1. Fiona Gavin & Keeper (Play With Madness Explorer) 

  1. Zachary Spilsbury & Bob (My Boy Rockett Sox) 

  1. Alan Short & Bomb (Labomba At Lalapaws) 

The Royal Kennel Club International Agility Festival, sponsored by Antinol and Skinner’s, concluded Sunday 9 August) at Rutland Showground. 

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