AGILITY

What is Agility?

It's fast, furious and a great favourite with competitors and spectators alike. Your dog does not have to be a pedigree dog to compete, but it must be registered with the Kennel Club - either the Breed Register or the Activity Register. There are a minimum of 16 obstacles allowed under Kennel Club Regulations, such as straight forward hurdles, long jump, tunnels, weaving poles, "A" frame, dog walk and a see-saw.

Agility requires the dog to be under the handler's control at all times. Agility classes are run against the clock to ensure that handlers do not take their dogs round the course at a walking pace in the hope of ensuring a clear round.

The setting of a reasonable course time, together with the careful design of the course, allows the dog and handler to show their skill at control and speed.

Agility can become a real addiction. It's fun, friendly and keeps you and your dog in tip-top shape. Most people's first insight to Agility comes from the coverage of Crufts each year and the agility competitions held in December in conjunction with The International Horse Show at London's Olympia. The setting of a reasonable course time, together with the careful design of the course, allows the dog and handler to show their skill at control and speed.

There are over 300 licensed Agility Shows held annually, not to mention the numerous special sponsored events which take place nationwide.

There is no set answer as to which breeds of dog are considered suitable for Agility. Any dog of sufficient size and fitness can traverse all the regulation obstacles, and you will see from watching the various Agility competitions at Crufts that there is a wide variety of breeds competing, each with their differing builds and sizes.

If you decide that Agility is a suitable activity for you and your dog, your next step is to receive some expert training.

Membership and Fees

Annual Membership

£10.00 per year club membership (January - December). Membership is to be paid by the end of January for the full year and includes all members/dogs of same family.

(Click here for Membership Form and Member Benefits & Expectations

Class Fees

Outdoor Classes: £40.00 per 4 week block at Foxhills Field, Scunthorpe

All 4 week blocks must be paid for on week one.

What we expect from our club members;

Your dog needs a reliable recall

A commitment to reward based training

Your dog is safe to be off lead among distractions and not be a nuisance to other dogs and handlers

Class Information and Training Times

NOTE: Please arrive before the start time of your class to help with set-up. Thank you.

Summer Training April - September 2026

Starters

Instructor: Wendy Benson

Class Duration: 2hrs (maybe split into 2 groups)

Location: Outdoors, Foxhills Field

Day: Monday

Arrive / Set-up: 5.30pm

Class Start Time: 6.00pm

Max. in Class: 7 dogs

This class teaches groundwork which lays the foundation for agility. Includes the start of basic handling techniques and introduces the contact equipment.

Three Plus

Instructor: Jane Blackwell

Class Duration: 2hrs

Location: Outdoors, Foxhills Field

Day: Tuesday

Arrive / Set-up: 12.00pm

Class Start Time: 12.30pm

Max. in Class: 7 dogs

This class teaches groundwork which lays the foundation for agility. Includes the start of basic handling techniques and introduces the contact equipment and weaves.

Novice

Instructor: Wendy Benson

Class Duration: 2hrs

Location: Outdoors, Foxhills Field

Day: Thursday

Arrive / Set-up: 5.30pm

Class Start Time: 6.00pm

Max. in Class: 7 dogs

This class progresses the principles learnt in the previous class and puts them into sequences. Also teaches the statrt of walking a course. Continues with work on the contact equipment and progresses the weaves.

Intermediate

Instructor: Di Shepherd

Class Duration: 2 hrs

Location: Outdoors, Foxhills Field

Day: Tuesday

Arrive / Set-up: 5.30pm

Class Start Time: 6.00pm

Max. in Class: 7 dogs

This class teaches more handling techniques and continues to progress all elements of walking a course, understanding the dogs line and determining which handling option is best/appropriate for each partnership. Continues with work on the contacts and weaves

Advanced

Instructor: Marilyn Murphy / Jane Blackwell

Class Duration: 2 hrs

Location: Outdoors, Foxhills Field

Day: Tuesday

Arrive / Set-up: 9.30am

Class Start Time: 10.00am

Max. in Class: 7 dogs

We progress the advanced handling techniques and look at fine-tuning all aspects of running full courses. Includes course evauation/ handling options and fault analysis.

Meet our Trainers

Jane Blackwell (KCAI Accredited Agility1st Trainer)

2025 finds Jane still teaching and still enjoying passing her knowledge onto her students. As a trainer, Jane finds it very rewarding when she sees her students achieve something - whether it's at training or when competing at a show. To be able to put into practice the skills they have learnt and build on their relationship with their dog is huge. For us, it's all about having fun, and for our dogs, it's just an enjoyable game where they are rewarded with their favourite toy or treat.

Jane and Cinnamon have now reached their goal of getting to Grade 7. Their training is on-going and Jane loves learning new skills which she can pass onto her students. Zola, Jane's first agility spaniel, is now 13.5 and enjoys slower walks and some trick training.

Wendy Benson

Wendy started with a love of dogs from an early age. At 17 she began her obediene career with SOATC. She owned and competed with GSD’s At this time, the club got its first agility equipment, (nothing like the equipment we have now!) Wendy ‘had a go’ at agility but decided it would never take off and much preferred obedience!! Fast forward 30 years… Wendy got a mini labradoodle and got into flyball and agility with Lunar, who took her to G7. She has also spent many years fostering and rehoming dogs. She is keen to share her agility knowledge so everyone can enjoy the world of agility. Wendy is currently competing with her Toy Poodle, Faze - a journey full of challenges that she says has made her a far better handler/trainer. Thinking outside the box is now her new norm. Wendy feels her greatest achievement has been to relax and enjoy her agility journey, no expectations, just fun.

Di Shepherd (KCAI Accredited Agility1st Trainer)

Di's background was in horses but she started agility with her Patterdale Terrorist, Scruff, in 2009 when she gave up eventing. She was quickly bitten by the agility bug and despite there only being a few classes for small dogs at that time, she got to grade 6 before eye issues cued her early retirement. She became interested in the training side of agility, so with the support of SOATC, she completed the Agility First Instructor course and passed the exams to become a qualified trainer. She has been an trainer at SOATC ever since! She has 4 spaniels (yes, she is mad!) ranging from grade 7/champ to her baby dog who is just starting on her agility journey.

Di says she loves training as much as competing so takes as many opportunities as she can to train with top level handlers and trainers in order to improve her techniques and skills and can hopefully enjoy sharing this knowledge with her class.

Mirella Ballestracci (KCAI Accredited Agility1st Trainer)

Mirella started doing agility in 2013 with her Dalmatian Morgan and soon found that working as a team was so much fun and made their bond even stronger. She now runs her boys Kirby and Gibson in Grade 7.

Mirella and the boys have also achieved IMDT Grade 4 and KC Good Citizen Dog Scheme.

In 2018, she started her Agility1st Trainers Course and in January 2020 passed her practical exam and is now an acredited Agility1st Trainer. She finds it so rewarding helping other handlers and dogs learn new things together from foundation work and all the way through to competing.

Mirella always tells her students;
Dream it ** Believe it ** Achieve it

Wendy Benson

So Are We Any Good?

We are proud to say, yes we are. We have members who have representated England in European Open Agility Championshps / FCI and WAO's and have won at Crufts.

General Information

Always bring small, tasty treats and a favourite toy.
Always keep your dog on a lead unless the instructor says otherwise.
Be aware of other dogs and owners, respect their distance for safety's sake.
Always clean up after your dog – bin provided near the gates.
It is wise to arrive early to exercise and toilet your dog before class. Try not to feed your dog a meal before training.
No bitches in season please – but do attend class yourself if you can!
Dress for the weather - most training will take place outdoors.
Reward based methods only – NO Harsh handing, no full check chains or physical punishment etc. allowed.
Parking available - please ensure access for all other cars in both classes - and access to the field must be available at all times for emergency services if required.
As our trainers are volunteers, they may change for each class dependent on availability.

We appreciate your cooperation to make classes as safe and as fun as possible. Thank you.