International Agility Festival 1

The Kennel Club’s International Agility Festival reaches its tenth anniversary this year and to celebrate the success and popularity one of the largest agility events in the world, it will be even bigger and better in 2014. Once again taking place at the idyllic venue of Rockingham Castle, Leicestershire, the International Agility Festival has been extended to four days, starting on Thursday 7th August and running until Sunday 10th August. The principal sponsor of the festival will once again be CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds for the second year running. A number of exciting changes have been made to ensure that the four days of the festival are action packed. This includes Championship Status being granted to the festival for small, medium and large dogs, taking the total number of Championship agility show societies to 27 for large dogs and 26 for small and medium dogs. As well as Championship classes, for the first time the event will also feature the Olympia semi-finals, a Special International Class and more standard classes.

Obedient dogs around the UK are being asked to join a Guinness World Record attempt for the 'Largest Simultaneous Dog Stay' organised by the Kennel Club on Friday 8th August at 6pm at the International Agility Festival. The Kennel Club is calling for dogs that are able to stay for two minutes or more to take part in the Guinness World Record attempt with their owners at the International Agility Festival in Rockingham, Northamptonshire for the festival's 10thanniversary. The stay is two minutes and dogs can either be sitting or lying down in the upright position, i.e. not on its side or back. The record will be attempted by a group of dogs and handlers and will be measured by the number of dogs. People are able to compete with more than one dog. Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: "In celebration of the International Agility Festival's 10th anniversary we are hoping to break the record. The current record is 627 dogs and we are calling for those who are sure their dog is able to do the two minute stay to get involved." "No matter what your dog takes part in, whether that is agility, showing, obedience or working trials, we would like you to take part to promote the benefits of well-trained dogs and responsible dog ownership." The Kennel Club International Agility Festival, which is kindly supported by CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds, will feature around 2,500 dogs of all types, sizes and experience levels competing across 15 agility rings, with dogs jumping and weaving their way around the various courses. The festival is the world's largest agility festival and sees competitors from all over the world travel to compete.