More than 180 dogs and 80 handlers from across South Africa descended on Milnerton’s Theo Marais Sports Ground last weekend for the prestigious KUSA (Kennel Union of Southern Africa) Classic Cape Town 2025 Dog Sport Weekend.
The event, running from Friday 31 October to Sunday 2 November, showcased the country’s top canine athletes competing across six demanding disciplines.
With more than 500 entries across four shows, the weekend featured high-energy competitions including flyball, agility, obedience, rally, carting and dog jumping, each testing different aspects of canine athleticism and the crucial bond between dog and handler.
Fast and furious flyball
The weekend’s most electrifying sport was flyball, a high-speed relay where teams of four dogs race over hurdles, trigger a spring-loaded box to release a tennis ball and sprint back. Cape Furr Fly took the championship title, followed by Furrytail Flying Foxes and Furrytail Flying Fires.
Agility and dog jumping champions
Agility, which challenges dogs to navigate complex obstacle courses including jumps, tunnels, weave poles and contact obstacles like the A-frame and seesaw, saw strong Cape Town representation. In the Small category, Raine (Jenny Mitchell) claimed Reserve National Champion (second place), while Siia (Annaret Meintjes) took the Intermediate National Championship. No Large-category champion was crowned as no competitor achieved a clear round.
Siia is the champion in Agility: Intermediate, and reserve national champion in Dog Jumping: Intermediate.
Dog jumping, a uniquely South African sport that predates traditional agility, features shorter courses without contact equipment. Local competitors excelled here too, with Ri (Leandré van der Merwe) the National Champion in Intermediate, and Sinna (Melanie de Klerk) National Champion in Large.
Precision and partnership
The weekend also celebrated the precision sports of obedience and rally dog. Obedience trials test dogs on exact commands including heeling, retrieving, and scent work. Dawn Crawshaw and Parker from Gauteng claimed the national title. Rally dog, which sees handler-dog teams navigate courses with up to 20 different instruction signs, was won by Shannon Hall and Lucy from KZN.
Carting, where dogs pull carts through obstacle courses at varying speeds, saw Gauteng competitors dominate with Norena Sattlegger and Rosie winning Standard, and Louise Thompson and Troy claiming the Mini category.
Local results
Cape Town Winners:
Agility Small: Reserve National Champion – Raine (Jenny Mitchell)
Agility Intermediate: National Champion – Siia (Annaret Meintjes)
Dog Jumping Small: Reserve National Champion (second) – Raine (Jenny Mitchell)
Dog Jumping Intermediate: National Champion – Ri (Leandré van der Merwe); Reserve Champion – Siia (Annaret Meintjes); Third – Zen (Leandré van der Merwe)
Dog Jumping Large: National Champion – Sinna (Melanie de Klerk); Third – Roman (Samantha Dore).
The event was supported by 22 judges, 25 stewards, scribes, and timekeepers, ensuring smooth competition across all disciplines.
Sponsor support
Organisers thanked the sponsors who helped make the weekend possible. Royal Canin, specialising in tailored pet nutrition, served as the official KUSA Classic Cape Town 2025 sponsor.
Other sponsors included We Love Pets online magazine, Lewis’ Fugly Friends (Cape Town-made dog toys), Vondi’s pet nutrition, Pet Heaven online store, Ricky’s Pet Products, Cotton Cove personalised items, Lekker Barkery handmade treats, Lickimat slow feeders, Best Budz Groomers, and Absolute Pets.
Photo galleries
Flyball
Agility and Dog Jumping
Photos: Carina Roux
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