The FCI took its first small step on the topic of the new size categories at the last commission meeting last weekend. It has asked the member states to come up with proposals for possible new scenarios and submit them by September. In September, traditionally after the Agility World Championship, is the next time where the commission meets again. The member states were also asked to come up with a solution for handling the size categories at the three major FCI tournaments, the Agility World Championship, the European Open and the Junior Open Agility World Championship.
While the majority of the submitted proposals are likely to be similar to the system currently used in most countries with two additional size categories, the question of how to handle the three major tournaments in the future is more open. There are various arguments in the room. On the one hand, they don’t want to drag the events out even further, but this is hardly avoidable with two or at least one additional category. There is also the sporting devaluation of a world championship title. On the other hand, there is also the fact that everyone has to be given the same opportunities if new sizes are introduced. In other words, all sizes officially recognized by the FCI must be able to win corresponding titles.
A majority of the countries that have already made changes themselves currently rely on a class between Medium and Large, as well as a new class for extra small dogs. In some cases this has proven to be successful, in some cases there are still very few starters. From a health perspective, it is a necessary step. Especially if you want to offer a sport for every dog. However, a change is not expected until 2023. Nevertheless, it is a first step for the FCI, which is careful and considerate about the topic.
Gold Rush Competition 2024
ProsecCup 2024
May I say the new heights are indeed a step forward especially for the very small dogs ..I would also ask the FCI to “oblige” the competing countries to choose a larger choice in the dog breeds competing..The Border collie is slowly taking over agility ..watching the Cat.C becomes boring..This subject was mentioned many years ago but unfortunately was never adopted. Limiting the B.C would let us see many good dogs as before…Beauceron Boxer Dalmatien..Berger Allemand..Berger Australien.. Golden retriever salutations Maureen Longley
Not sure where to send my idea, so I’ll publish it here before I forget it 😉
I though of the following solution for handling the size categories at the three major FCI tournaments, the Agility World Championship, the European Open and the Junior Open Agility World Championship:
Team competition, I envision it like this:
-Each country presents a team of 4 dogs.
-Only Top 3 runs for each country is counted (like it is now, worst performance is dropped).
-Here is the kick…Each country could have the freedom to select their 4 dogs from any jump height (but they have to have at least 2 different jump heights represented). It goes to strategy and to give a chance to present a team to countries that don’t have dogs in every jump height.
– First all the countries run a Jumping course, same for all jump heights and team members. Course design will have to take into account that all jump height dogs will be running it.
– Only the Top 10 teams run the Agility course, same course for all jump heights and team members. Course design will have to take into account that all jump height dogs will be running it. It’ll take a little longer to change jump heights in between dogs, but with enough volunteers it could be done fairly quickly.
-Twist: countries could choose to present different dogs for their Jumpers and Agility runs.
-For countries that don’t have dogs in at least 2 different jump heights, could be allowed to present a team of at least 3 dogs in any jump height they have.
For Individual Competition:
-May be having only 3 different courses, and then combining jump heights for walking it and running it. For Jumping round it would be: (walk, walk, run, run), for Agility round it would be: (walk, walk, run, celebration of champion, run, celebration of champion)
Just my .02 😉 Hope they make sense
Hello Silvina
Thank you for sharing your idea with us. I think we will write in the next weeks an article about this topic and we will for sure also discuss about your idea there pr at least parts of it. Its something completly new, but it sounds interesting.
Wow, inspiring when people think out of the box!! I like it!?
Even the idea(s) sounds first may a bit strange, its still a good point to start with 😀 May there will be more ideas, and then people start to connect things from this and other ideas together. Thats really cool to just be free and think out of the box! 🙂