Agility events are named by award type but do not differ much otherwise in practice. Ribbon trials are the most inclusive — you do not need to join any national organizations — but the award is just a ribbon. Championship events require NZ Kennel Club (NZKC) membership and usually offer cash prizes. Another type of competition is the link competition, which is sponsored by the National Agility Link Association (NALA). Open events are rare and can probably be ignored.

Ribbon trials
Open to all people (usually $2.50/dog/course run)
Always include Elementary courses.
Prize is a ribbon of some shape.

Championship events, AD/ADX Advanced (even if concurrent w/ ribbon trial)
Both handler and dog must be members of NZ Kennel Club.
Usually $5.00/dog/course run.
Cash/product prizes are offered.
May not include Elementary classes
Usually include Jumpers classes?
Open events (rare)
Run by societies that have registered with the NZKC as “Group, Multi-Breed, or Specialist Breed Societies” — in other words the society accepts only certain breeds (2.1.3, 2.2.2.3). These events are essentially the same as championship but no ‘challenge certificates’ are awarded (11.2).

Link Competitions: (officially a “novelty” competition)
Handler must be member of NALA (but NZKC membership is not necessary).
No further charges (but you have to be associated with an agility club).
Link competition is a monthly event in which members of clubs across the country run a predetermined course thus allowing them to compete with one another without all gathering in the same place. Course difficulty varies from Novice to Senior and may include standard agility or jumpers courses. Results are posted on the NALA website and in its monthly bulletin. See also our Link Competition page for course layouts and CCATS results. Awards are given to best clubs and best 50 dogs (top 10%?) each year.
(NALA also organizes a flygility link but CCATS does not currently participate in this event.)

shorter than 325 mm: Micro
326 – 430 mm: Mini
431 – 520 mm: Midi
taller than 520 mm: Maxi

Note: These height classes took effect July 2010.

All dogs of an agility class (see next) run the same course except that the height/length of jumps are adjusted for each size category. If 15 dogs of each size category are competing in a particular class, prizes will be awarded within each size category separately (i.e. there will be a 1st place, 2nd place, etc. for each size category.) [If Mini and Micro do not have 15 dogs each but they have 15 dogs together then these two groups are combined for award purposes.] In other words, it’s possible to have 1, 3, or 4 first-place (etc.) winners in each agility class, depending on how many dogs of each size category are competing in that class. [Sorry if this is confusing! – Ed.]

(Dogs must be 18 months or older to compete. They need to be remeasured to compete in Championship events after 2 years of age. Final measurement can be made up to 2 weeks before the dog’s second birthday.)

Agility courses are categorized into classes of increasing difficulty in terms of the number of obstacles, the types of obstacles, and the complexity of the course layout. Each judge design the layout of their course, so the actual level of complexity within a class can be quite variable. Dogs initially start in the easiest classes and graduate up to higher levels after achieving specific milestones as listed in this section. It is possible to get as high as Intermediate without winning any competitions but at least one clear win is necessary to enter the Senior class. Dogs typically qualify for and compete in two of the following classes at each event.
(Click here for pictures of the obstacles.)

Elementary B (usually not offered at championship events)
Qualifications: Dog and handler never won Elementary on a clear round nor placed in top 3 of any other class on a clear round, nor qualified for AD or JD (described below).
10-15 Obstacles including hurdles, brush jumps, tunnels (including collapsing tunnel), and long jump. (Note: jump height/length is set a notch below standard height/length)
Elementary A (usually not offered at championship events)
Qualifications: Same as Elementary B except that the handler may be experienced (having won with another dog, for example) or the dog may have won Elementary B. Note: a dog cannot compete in both Elementary A and B at the same event — instead the dog may compete in Elementary and Starters.
10-15 Obstacles adding 6 weaving poles (required but no weave faults)
Starters
Open to all dogs not qualified for Intermediate
13-18 Obstacles adding the hoop and 8-12 weaving poles (no weave faults — see 13.8.1)
Novice
Open to all dogs not qualified for Senior
15-18 Obstacles adding (elevated) dog walk, A-frame, crossover ramp (no crossover negotiation faults — see 13.8.4)
Intermediate
Must have had two wins in Starters or Novice
or One win plus three points
or Earned an AD certificate
15-20 Obstacles adding see-saw, asymmetrical spread jump, (wishing well)
Senior
Must have an additional three wins in Novice or Intermediate
or Two wins in Novice/Intermediate plus 3 points or an ADX certificate
or One win in Novice/Intermediate plus 6 points (or 3 points + ADX certificate)
15-25 Obstacles same as Intermediate

Notes:
Clear round means dog ran it with no faults such as knocking down or refusing a hurdle — see the scoring section, below.
Wins/points in ribbon trials do not count toward championship events.
Points are awarded for 2-6th place depending on the number of dogs competing in the class. If fewer than 75 dogs competed no points are awarded; for 75-100 dogs second place gets one point (see the official regulations for bigger shows).
The table obstacle was eliminated as a standard obstacle in 2010. It may still be used in “games” competitions.
(Wings, i.e. flaps attached outside the uprights, may be attached to hurdles)
(Hurdles, brush jumps and hoops must have at least 4 m run up before and after the obstacle. Long jump and spread jumps require a 6 m run up.)

Jumpers (Grades A, B, C)
Similar to standard agility but no contact equipment — dog walk, A-frame, crossover, see-saw — and no weaves. (C: 15-18 obstacles, B: 15-20 obstacles; C: 15-25 obstacles) [Jumpers A, only, may include asymmetrical spread jumps and the wishing well.] Historical note: The first championship-level jumper event in NZ was held 1-Jan-2009 as a result few dogs currently qualify for A-level.
Graduate out of Grade C: 2 wins, or 1 win+3 points, or 25 clear rounds (=JD)
Graduate out of Grade B: 3 wins in grade B; or 2 wins + 3 points or JDX; or 1 win + 6 points (or 3 + JDX).

AD
Open to all dogs – two clear rounds leads to the “Agility Dog” (AD) title. Four clear rounds leads to “Agility Dog Excellent” (ADX) title.
(Difficulty level is equivalent to Intermediate?)
Must be member of NZKC
Uses all obstacles listed above (18 per course? doesn’t use asymm. spread jump?)

ADX Advanced (ADXA)
Must have had four clear AD runs – leads to “Agility Dog Excellent Advanced” titles

Flygility aka Flyball (Beginners, Advanced, Intermediate; Individual or Team)
(New Zealand Flygility Dog Association = NZFDA)
(Don’t need to be NZFDA member?)
The dog runs unsupervised through/over standard obstacles to a pedal-triggered ball-tossing box. The dog then releases the ball by pressing the pedal, catches the ball and returns through the obstacles with ball in mouth. It may also be run by several dogs as a relay. (Jumps are generally lower/course is simpler than for standard agility courses.)
Web site: http://www.nala.org.nz/ndta/NDTA.htm, http://www.nala.org.nz/ndta/ndta_files/Introduc.htm, http://www.nelsondogs.org.nz/Flygility.htm (Nice photos), http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~mbutler/rules.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyball

Gamblers (a Games class run at NDTA 2009 = National Dog Training Assembly)
(Is described in agility regulations but is rarely offered.)
A bit of free-form agility (i.e. handler chooses obstacles in any order) followed by a short unsupervised run.

Snooker (another Games class)

Link Courses (National Agility Link Association = NALA)
See Types of Events, above; more of an event than an agility category. Course difficulty varies from Novice to Senior and may include standard agility or jumpers courses. Web site: http://www.nala.org.nz/ Need to be NALA member.

Courses are timed using digital clocks. The first and last obstacles are equipped with light-beam triggers: the clock starts when the dog (or handler!) breaks the beam on the first hurdle and stops when it crosses the last obstacle. A judge stands in the middle of the course to make sure each obstacle is navigated correctly and in the right order. A second person records the official time and the number of faults signaled by the judge. Note: the judge designs each course and determines a standard course time based on its length and complexity.

Agility and Jumpers competitions
The fastest dog having the least number of faults wins (fewer faults trumps faster dogs). The top dogs — in each size class if enough dogs competed — receive awards. All dogs having completed the course with no faults and within the Standard Course Time receive a clear-round certificate. Ribbons/prizes can be awarded to dogs who faulted if too few dogs completed with a clear round.
Link competitions
A score is computed by adding fault points to the running time. Subtract 5 for a clear run. Dog with lowest adjusted score wins, i.e. fewer faults do not necessarily trump faster dogs. Clubs also compete with each other: the club’s score is the sum of its top three performers. At the end of the year awards for top dog and top club are given out according to somewhat arcane rules (http://www.nala.org.nz/arules.html, 9a) that more-or-less correspond to counting the best 8 of 11 scores for each individual or club. Awards are given to the top club of the year and top 20 dogs.
Note: Weaves are judged as in Starters; crossovers are judged as in Novice, i.e. there are no faults in negotiating these obstacles as long as they’re ultimately negotiated correctly. Also Link courses do not have a standard course time, so there are no additional time-related penalties.

5.1 Faults:

Time faults: one point per full second over standard course time.

Refusal: 5 points for each refusal (3 refusals eliminates the dog)
When a dog once put at the obstacle then backs off or goes past and must be put at the obstacle again. If the dog refuses it must re-attempt that obstacle before it can go on.
Notes:
A refusal can easily turn into an elimination if, for example, the dog, having passed a hurdle without jumping it, now jumps back to rejoin the handler or if the dog/handler just skip the obstacle.
“Stubbornly” sitting in front of a hurdle is not in itself a refusal if the dog eventually jumps the hurdle without backing up!
It is possible to be penalized more than one refusal for a single obstacle if, upon returning to the obstacle, the dog refuses again .
Other faults: 5 points each (no upper limit)
Knock a bar off a hurdle, go through it or over the wings
Displace or break the hoop
Run through a long jump or cut its corner
Miss a contact
Go the wrong way on a crossover in Intermediate classes and above. (Note: if a dog sets three paws on the wrong ramp of the crossover it must continue all the way down the wrong ramp before trying again. Otherwise the fault becomes an elimination! 13.8.4)
Leave see-saw before the farther end touches the ground.
Handler deliberately touches the dog or equipment (including breaking the start/finish beam)
Note: on contact equipment the handler can turn a fault into an elimination by telling the dog to redo all or part of the obstacle because it missed the contact! (But note special case of crossover, above.)

5.2 Elimination (aka. Disqualification):

If the dog starts the course wearing a check chain or any collar other than that allowed under the regulations.
If the dog commences its run from outside the roped ring area.
Taking an obstacle out of sequence.
Taking the correct obstacle from the wrong direction. For the weave this means when the dog attempts to weave from the wrong end only.
Three Refusals during a round.
Outside interference during a run includes “double handling” but does not include cheering during a round.
Taking more than the maximum course time (150% of standard course time).
Running out of the ring out of control of the handler.
Fouling (vomiting, urinating or defecating) in the ring.
Harsh handling as determined by the judge. (examples?)

(Special Case: Reruns. If the judge allows a rerun because of timing or equipment failure or outside interference, etc. only the faults of the original run count on the parts of the course that are rerun.)

Judge: (designs the course). Stands in the middle of the course while it is run, and signals faults/eliminations to the scribe. Signs clear round certificates, and presents ribbons and certificates to placegetters.
Scribe/Timer (Scrimer): sits at a table near the start line. Records each competitor’s number, and faults, eliminations or clear rounds as signaled by the judge. For dogs that haven’t been eliminated, the Scrimer records the time the dog took to complete the course, with electronic timers providing the time.
Call Steward: stands near the start line with a list of competitors in running order, and ensures that competitors are present and ready when their turn arrives.
Jump Steward: stands at the outside of the ring and replaces bars knocked off the hurdles.
Lead Runner: carries the dog’s lead from start to finish line so that handlers can reattach the lead at the end of the run.
Show Manager: responsible for overall running of the day’s events, ensuring helpers are assigned to the various tasks, and the show runs smoothly.
(Additional officials, not immediately adjacent to the course, handle registration, record scores, print results and clear round certificates, etc.)

Each competitor is responsible for announcing themselves to the call steward, making sure that the scribe knows their number before starting the run, and confirming that both the scribe and judge have signalled that they may begin the run.

(Dog must be registered with NZKC, for these.)

Agility Dog (AD)
Two clear rounds in AD Classes
Agility Dog Excellent (ADX)
Four clear rounds in AD classes
Agility Dog Excellent Advanced
Bronze (ADXB)
ADX + Two clear rounds in ADX Advanced classes
Silver (ADXS)
ADXB + Two clear rounds in ADX Advanced classes
Gold (ADXG)
ADXS + Two clear rounds in ADX Advanced classes

Jumping Dog (JD)
25 clear rounds in Grade C jumping events or graduate out of grade C (or 10 clear rounds in B, if started in grade B)
Jumping Dog Excellent (JDX)
25 clear rounds in Grade B jumping events or graduate out of grade B

Flygility Dog – FD/FDX

Agility Milestone Certificates are awarded to NZKC members for 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000 clear rounds in ribbon and championship trials combined, including standard agility, jumpers, games, AD, and ADX Advanced classes.

Agility Champion (Ag.Ch.)
Won six Agility Challenge Certificates at least one of which was a first place,
under three different judges, obtained at least ten clear round certificates in senior classes at
Championship Agility Events and qualified ADX.
Agility Grand Champion (Ag.Gr.Ch.)
Won 20 Agility Challenge Certificates, at least ten of which are for first place, and qualified ADX GOLD.

(‘Agility Challenge Certificate:’ see 11.1.5 – Top level class win with a clear round; the number of certificates awarded at a particular competition depends on the number of dogs competing)