So you’ve been training for a few months and you’ve decided to have a go at your first ribbon trial … but which classes are you actually supposed to enter?
Agility and Jumpers Classes
We have two types of agility competition in New Zealand. “Jumpers” courses only contain tunnels and jumping obstacles, including the tyre and long jump. “Agility” courses which also include the weaves and contact obstacles – dogwalk, Aframe, crossover, and seesaw. At most shows there will be a mix of agility and jumpers classes offered.
Jumpers classes were introduced in 2010 and have a fairly straightforward progression system. There are three levels – C, B, and A. Your dog will only be eligible to compete in one level at a time. You will start out in Jumpers C.
Agility classes have been around for over 30 years now, and the graduation system has become quite complicated as agility has grown. There are four “standard” agility classes that are offered at champ shows – Starters, Novice, Intermediate, and Senior. At ribbon trials there are also two levels of Elementary classes specially designed for newcomers. You can enter two consecutive levels of agility classes.
Elementary B
This is officially an “agility” class but it doesn’t actually contain any weaves or contacts. Elementary B courses consist of 10 to 15 tunnels and jumping obstacles. They are intended for handlers and dogs who are both new to agility competition.
You can compete in Elementary B until either you or your dog achieve one of the following. Remember that any results you achieve with someone else’s dog will count!
- Won 1st place in an Elementary class on a clear round
- Placed 1st to 3rd in one of the higher agility classes (Starters through to Senior) on a clear round
- Earned two clear rounds in AD classes
- Earned 2 wins or 25 clear rounds in Jumpers C at champ shows
Elementary A
Elementary A is similar to Elementary B except that the course includes six weave poles. In fact, it’s usually the same course, with a jump swapped out for the weave.
This is the class where experienced handlers start with their new dogs. If you are new you may not ever compete in it, as most of the ways of graduating out of Elementary B will also make your dog ineligible for Elementary A. The main exception is if you graduate by winning Elementary B.
You can’t enter Elementary B and Elementary A at the same show. If you are still eligible for Elementary B but your dog is weaving well at club and you’d like to have a go at a course with six weave poles in it, you might like to enter Elementary A instead.
Dogs can compete in Elementary A until they have:
- Won 1st place in Elementary A on a clear round
- Placed 1st to 3rd in one of the higher agility classes (Starters through to Senior) on a clear round
- Earned two clear rounds in AD classes
- Earned 2 wins or 25 clear rounds in Jumpers C at champ shows
Starters
Starters courses can be up to 18 obstacles long and will include a full set of 12 weave poles. If you are eligible for Elementary you are also eligible for Starters, and you can enter them both at the same show. If you haven’t taught your dog to weave yet but you want another run, you could enter Starters and just keep going past the weave to the next obstacle.
Starters is the first of the “standard” agility classes that are offered at champ shows as well. I’ll write more about how to graduate out of Starters at a later date, but the main ways are by winning Starters or Novice at least once (usually twice), or by going clear in two AD classes.
Novice
Novice courses can also be up to 18 obstacles long, and can include weaves, Aframes, dogwalks and crossovers. They will usually have a few more corners than a Starters as well.
You will technically be eligible to enter Novice at your first show. However, you can’t enter Elementary and Novice at the same show. Unless you’ve finished training your contacts and you and your dog are running courses very well at club, it’s a better idea to enter Elementary and leave Novice for another day.
There are a few ways to graduate out of Novice, but they all require at least one win (usually two or three) at Novice level or higher.
Jumpers C
Jumpers C is the easiest of the jumpers classes. The course will be up to 18 obstacles long, and will only include tunnels and jumping obstacles. Most people enter Jumpers C at their first show.
You can graduate out of Jumpers C by winning (usually two wins) or by earning 25 clear round certificates at this level. I’ll discuss Jumpers graduation in more detail at another time.
Now I’m Even More Confused! What Should I Enter?
- If your dog can’t weave very well – enter Elementary B and Jumpers C. Consider entering Starters if you want another run, and just skip the weave poles.
- If your dog weaves at club most of the time – enter Elementary B, Jumpers C and Starters. You could enter Elementary A instead of Elementary B if you particularly want to run a course with six weave poles instead of twelve.
- If you’ve finished training your contacts, your dog is running full courses well at club, and you don’t mind giving up your chance at Elementary glory – enter Jumpers C, Starters and Novice. It’s very rare for new handlers to do this, but sometimes more experienced handlers will skip Elementary because they would rather practise their contacts in the ring.
Non-Competitive Runs
At some ribbon trials the club will accept non-competitive entries (sometimes called no-points runs). This means that you can pay the entry fee and run the course, but you are not eligible for any ribbons or certificates if you happen to do well. At larger shows (particularly in the North Island) the club may choose not to accept non-comp entries as they already have plenty of entries and don’t want the show to finish too late.
If you’ve finished training your contacts and non-comp entries are an option, you could use this to run Elementary and Novice at the same show. Or if you’re still in Elementary B but you also want to do the Elementary A course with six weave poles, that’s an option – but remember, only one of your runs will count for a ribbon!