Chatsworth Country Fair 2010
Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th September
Dog Agility
Situated near the house wall: Friday and Saturday only
And in the Grand Ring on Saturday at 4.30 pm
Organised by Graham and Luke Taylor, and sponsored by Alpha Feeds
Once again we are delighted to return to Chatsworth at the end of a busy Agility summer. Agility was created as special canine attraction at Crufts in 1978. Since then competitive events have been held worldwide with the UK providing champions who take on, and regularly win against, world class competitors.
Today the UK continues to set World Agility standards and dogs compete at Agility as far afield as New Zealand, America and Singapore. Selection to the British Team was hard fought back in the summer and the GB team continues to excel in Europe. Most other countries train a wide variety of breeds of dogs for Agility; in the UK, the black and white predominates, commonly called a working sheepdog or more properly, if it can prove its parentage lines, the Border Collie. Fast across the ground, more easily trained than most other breeds and able to turn on a sixpence, some of the UK’s leading Agility dogs will be in evidence during the day.
The equipment used is specially designed fences, weave poles, contact equipment (a bit of the dog must touch a white bit!), tunnels and tyres all built to safe and exacting Kennel Club specifications. Dogs incur 5 faults for any knockdown, missing a contact or any other mistake the judge sees. The judge indicates faults by raising his hand. All the dogs compete against the clock and scores are assessed to declare a winner.
Friday’s event is open to all grades and sizes of dogs with Saturday’s events open to all large grades of dogs. This year’s events are kindly supported by Alpha Feeds, a family owned business, based in Retford, North Nottinghamshire, which produces a range of top quality food for all working, sporting and racing breeds. Each day’s finale is a Pairs Competition; 2 dogs, and at least one handler and not too many rules to bring the day to a close with Alpha awards through the day for the best dogs.
Beacon Agility Dog Training Club are once again your Agility hosts at this year’s show. Competitive events are held countrywide and the club holds regular classes throughout the year. Weekly training sessions ensure a well-trained, fit dog and do seek further information if you would like to train a dog to take part in future Agility events.
Alpha Feeds - 1st for performance and 1st for success -wish all Agility competitors good luck today.
Our ring is situated just in front of the magnificent Chatsworth House and is surrounded by refreshment wagons, comfort facilities and the Bar!
The perfect place to meet and plan your day at the Country Fair !
Grand Ring on Saturday at 5.30 pm
We haven’t had Dog Agility in the Grand Ring at Chatsworth for a long time, and this is what we think will happen ...
A Team Relay, with a handler from each of two teams of ten dogs competing over a circular course in the same ring at the same time. You should see one dog chasing the other and the slower dog must give way. When the first dog has completed its round the second dog from that team starts after a baton change. At the baton change all team members, i.e. two dogs and two handlers must be behind the start line. One team wins after all the team members have completed the course. And all against the clock. Confused? This is potential mayhem and we don’t envy the judge. The rules are at least known to the participants, and the Judge's decision is final.
This will be followed by a Singles Knockout, which is an individual competition on a knockout basis on similar course. 16 dogs knocking out to 8, then 4 etc. The knockout system continues until we have a winner. It should be rather easier for the crowd to follow the winner through to the conclusion!
It will all become clear on the day, and we expect some fast action and a few laughs. The ability and training of these dogs is phenomenal, and there is continuous dog agility of course all day on Friday and Saturday just over the road from the Grand Ring.