The Kennel Club Olympia Agility Stakes

We are delighted to announce our support of one of the most important showcase events for agility in the UK – the Kennel Club Olympia Agility Stakes.

The collaboration between the Kennel Club and Skinner’s from January 2014 will ensure this event continues to remain a top class competition, where the country’s most talented agility dogs and handlers vie with each other in qualifying heats at agility shows across the country, to gain a coveted invitation to compete at the Olympia final.

Skinner’s will be taking over from GWF Nutrition, who will continue their four year support of the competition until the end of the year. Skinner’s, who also include GWF Nutrition’s Joint Aid in some of their dog foods, have a complete product range for all life stages and to meet the energy requirements for dogs of all ages and breeds. This is vital for agility dogs, who work hard throughout the year and who need a high quality diet that provides all the nutritional benefits to compete at the top level.

Will Delamore, Sales & Marketing Director for Skinner’s, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside the Kennel Club on this prestigious event. I remember going to Olympia as a child myself and the excitement and fun we had, so we are really looking forward to meeting and supporting more handlers and their dogs. We use the phrase “Supporting your Sport” and have run the Skinner’s 7’s Agility Competition for the last two years, so we are pleased to be even more involved in supporting agility through the Kennel Club Olympia Agility Stakes.”

The reason for the Olympia International’s popularity is its unique blend of top class competition and amazing displays, mixed with its very special Christmas atmosphere. The crowd is entertained by a wide range of displays, from the Household Cavalry to Shetland Pony Racing. Dog agility started at Olympia in 1979, just one year after its introduction at Crufts and has evolved into a top class competition, encompassing five separate finals, with the UK’s most skilled handlers and dogs qualifying and competing each year. In audience exit polls the dog agility finals now vie with the main show jumping class as the most memorable part of each performance.

Olympia features a separate agility final on each of its five days, offering handlers the chance to compete in front of an audience of ten thousand noisy supporters:

KC Olympia Medium Agility Stakes – for grade 3 – 7 medium dogs

KC Olympia Small Agility Stakes – for grade 3 – 7 small dogs

KC Olympia Large Agility Stakes – for grade 6 – 7 large dogs

KC Olympia Novice Agility Stakes – for grade 3 – 5 large dogs

KC Olympia Large ABC Stakes – for grade 3 – 7 large dogs This is Anything But a Collie and excludes working sheepdogs, Collies and their crosses

The launch of this new association will be at Crufts on the Skinner’s stand and agility enthusiasts are invited to come along to the stand to find out more about this new initiative. Skinner’s is the perfect partner for our canine agility athletes and the Skinner’s stand will be visiting many of the qualifying heats throughout the year.