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As from 1st January the former Starters classes
will be replaced by grade 2. The new rules for this
grade are that the grade is:
"For owners, handlers or
dogs which have qualified out of Grade 1 but have not gained a first place
in an Agility Class or three first places in Jumping Classes at Grade 2 at
Kennel Club licensed Agility Shows, or elected to progress on points from
Grade 1. N.B. Owners, handlers or dogs previously qualified out of Grade
2 (Starters) are not eligible for this class."
The
former Starters courses were meant to be testing but
not too difficult for dogs and handlers that were relatively inexperienced.
It's difficult to say what the new classes will be like
but I think it's unlikely that you will see separate courses for grade 2
dogs at the smaller shows. The former Starters courses are more likely
to reappear as grade 1 and 2 combined classes. These will will be just
the same as the former Starters so that even if you have a grade 1 dog
you will be judged against grade 1 and grade 2 dogs. Some clubs are
running grade 1,2 and 3 graded classes which means that although you all run
the same course the dogs are judged in each grade and prizes are awarded for
each grade. This isn't quite the same as having separate
elementary and Starters classes as the courses will be the same for each
grade.
The descriptions of the courses
below are for the former Starters courses as we don't know yet how things
will pan out in 2007 and what the courses will be like.
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