From Thursday 14 – Monday 18 December, ten Kennel Club agility competitions, including The Kennel Club Agility Stakes and qualifiers for Crufts 2024, will take place at this year’s London International Horse Show, at London ExCeL.
The Kennel Club Agility Stakes finals, held in association with Skinner’s, are one of the world’s most prestigious agility competitions and are held at the Horse Show every year. The stakes will see five pairs of dogs and their owners crowned as winners across different categories – Small, Medium, Intermediate, Large, and Large ABC (Anything but a Collie). With just ten spots per final, all dogs and their handlers have had to work hard throughout the year to gain their place at heats, quarter and semi-final competitions.
New competitions for 2023 in the New Horizon Plastics London Arena at the ExCeL include three Crufts Semi-Finals, which will see dogs putting their best paw forward to gain a spot in the final, held at the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, in March 2024.
The New Horizon Plastics London Arena will also host finals of the Discover Dogs Small/Mixi Pairs Challenge and The Kennel Club Starters Cup.
The schedule for the competitions over the five-day event is as follows:
International Arena:
- Thursday 14 December – Large ABC Kennel Club Agility Stakes Final
- Friday 15 December – Small Kennel Club Agility Stakes Final
- Saturday 16 December – Intermediate Kennel Club Agility Stakes Final
- Sunday 17 December – Large Kennel Club Agility Stakes Final
- Monday 18 December – Medium Kennel Club Agility Stakes Final
The New Horizon Plastics London Arena:
- Thursday 14 December – Crufts Medium ABC Semi-Final
- Friday 15 December – Discover Dogs Small/Mixi Pairs Challenge Final
- Saturday 16 December – Kennel Club Starters Cup Final
- Sunday 17 December – Crufts Large Novice ABC Semi-Final
- Monday 18 December – Crufts Intermediate Novice ABC Semi-Final
Catherine Guiver, Head of Events at The Kennel Club, said: “We are excited to host The Kennel Club Agility Stakes again at ExCeL London and we are really pleased to be bringing another five agility competitions to the New Horizons Plastics London Arena for the first time this year.
“With a total of ten agility competitions, anyone visiting this fantastic London event is guaranteed to witness incredible displays of skill and dedication by both the dogs and their owners, both beginners and very experienced, in both arenas. We wish luck to all those competing and encourage visitors to go and soak up the atmosphere and excitement of these fast-paced and prestigious agility competitions.”
For those who want to learn more about getting started in agility or how to progress further in competitions, The Kennel Club will have a stand with experts on hand, number F190 in the Shopping Village.
More information about The Kennel Club Agility Stakes Finals can be found at: thekennelclub.org.uk/thekennelclubagilitystakes. Details about the additional Kennel Club agility competitions taking place can be found at: thekennelclub.org.uk/agilitydiscoverdogs
Tickets for the London International Horse Show can be purchased online at londonhorseshow.com.
