Belgium on the International Agility Stage
Belgian handlers compete at the World Agility Open, the IFCS World Agility Championships, IMCA and the FCI Agility World Championship. Here's how each team is selected, which Belgian organisation runs the selection, and what Belgium has won.
For a small country, Belgium punches well above its weight in international agility. Belgian handlers take part in several "world championships", and that word means different things depending on who organises the event. Each one has its own rules, jump heights and selection route, and each is linked to a different Belgian organisation.
This article explains the main international events, how Belgian teams are chosen and what Belgium has won. For the organisations themselves, see Agility in Belgium: The Complete Guide.
Which Belgian organisation leads where?
| International event | Organiser | Belgian route |
|---|---|---|
| World Agility Open (WAO) | WAO organising committee | DSAB try-outs |
| World Agility Championships (WAC) | IFCS | VOE selections |
| International Mixbreed Championship in Agility (IMCA) | IMCA | VOE selections |
| FCI Agility World Championship (AWC), European Open (EO), Junior and Senior Agility Open (JAO, SAO) | FCI | KKUSH Section 4C selections |
The World Agility Open and DSAB
What the WAO is
The World Agility Open is an international event with five world titles: four individual and one team. According to the WAO's classes page, they are:
- Pentathlon: two agility rounds, two jumping rounds and speedstakes, with faults added to time.
- Biathlon: one jumping and one agility round.
- Games: snooker and gamblers, scored on points.
- Team: two agility and two jumping rounds plus a team relay. Each team must include at least one dog from each of the five height divisions.
- Junior Championship: combines the three individual events for junior handlers.
The WAO uses five jump heights (250, 300, 400, 500 and 600 mm) instead of the FCI's four categories (WAO heights). The event has been held in Ermelo, Netherlands, every year since 2022, and the 2027 WAO is planned there for 12–16 May 2027. Belgium hosted the event in 2012 (WAO previous years).
How Belgium selects its WAO team
The WAO lets each country appoint a country manager to run a selection process the WAO approves. For Belgium, the country manager listed on the WAO country managers page is Thora Van Der Stock, and the try-outs are organised by DogSport Agility Belgium (DSAB). The rules for WAO 2027 (selection document) are:
- Eligibility. Handlers must be Belgian citizens, have a Belgian birth certificate, have a parent or grandparent born in Belgium, or have permanent resident status. Each dog must have run at least two DSAB competitions (not counting try-outs) in the 12 months before the try-outs, entering every discipline on the day.
- Try-outs. These are scheduled for 10–11 October 2026 at Barelhof Sport Horses in Destelbergen. Over the weekend each dog runs two jumping rounds, two agility rounds, a gamblers and a snooker.
- Scoring. In each class, the top 12 earn points, from 15 for first place down to 1 for twelfth. Jumping and agility runs only score with 10 faults or fewer, and games runs need at least 20 points.
- Places. In the overall try-out ranking, first place earns the pentathlon, biathlon and games. Second place earns the pentathlon and biathlon, third the pentathlon and games, and fourth the biathlon and games. The manager and coach choose the relay team on site.
- Money. Try-out entry fees, minus costs, pay the Belgian team's WAO entries. A handler who withdraws after WAO entries close owes €150 per dog in compensation.
- Commitment. The combination of handler and dog is fixed, handlers wear the Belgian team outfit, and every team member must attend the vet check.
Belgium's WAO record
According to the WAO medal tables, Belgian handlers won 12 WAO medals between 2011 and 2026: 2 gold, 3 silver and 7 bronze. The most recent years were:
- 2023: 1 gold, 2 silver
- 2024: 1 bronze
- 2025: 1 silver, 2 bronze
- 2026: 2 bronze
The IFCS World Agility Championships and VOE
What the WAC is
The International Federation of Cynological Sports (IFCS) organises the World Agility Championships (WAC). The IFCS says competitions that restrict entry by breed or pedigree can't be considered sport, so mixed breeds and dogs without papers compete on equal terms. Medals are awarded in individual classes such as jumping, agility, gamblers and snooker, and in combined titles such as Individual All-Around, Biathlon and Triathlon, across several height divisions.
The IFCS lists the Cynological Society V.O.E. as its member for Belgium. In practice, the Hondenfederatie V.O.E. vzw selects and sends a Belgian team each year. VOE holds WAC selection competitions across its season, which are marked on the VOE sport calendar. Its WAC selection on 26 September 2026 was open to VOE members only (VOE events agenda). If you want to be considered, ask the VOE agility secretary about the current selection criteria.
Recent WACs and a Belgian medal
- The 2025 WAC was held in Givrins, Switzerland, and the 2026 WAC in Godella, Spain (IFCS past championships).
- At the 2026 WAC, Thibault Van den Broecke and Syna (BEL) won silver in the Individual All-Around, 400 mm division (IFCS medallists).
- The 2027 WAC will run from 27 April to 2 May 2027 in Magnago, Italy.
IMCA: the International Mixbreed Championship in Agility
VOE also holds selections for the IMCA, which is held together with the ParAgility World Championship as "IMCA-PAWC". The 2026 edition took place from 26 to 30 August at Onley Grounds in the UK (event listing). The VOE calendar marks the IMCA selection events. Because it's held in Great Britain, IMCA is the event where travel paperwork matters most. See Competing Abroad from Belgium.
The FCI events and KKUSH
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale runs the Agility World Championship (AWC), the European Open (EO), and the junior and senior events. In February 2025, the FCI renamed the junior and senior events from JoAWC and SoAWC to JAO (Junior Agility Open) and SAO (Senior Agility Open) (Section 4C). Belgium's FCI member is the KKUSH, and its agility Section 4C runs the selections.
What you need to know:
- Selection. There are selection weekends each spring, with three weekends for the AWC. The criteria are published as "selectievoorwaarden" on the Section 4C regulations page.
- Pedigree. FCI international competitions are only for dogs over 24 months with an FCI-recognised pedigree. Under the Belgian regulation, Grade 3 dogs with a pedigree are eligible for international championships (regulation, PDF).
- Nationality and residence. Non-Belgian handlers must meet the FCI rules. The KKUSH adds a further condition: at least the last three years of permanent residence in Belgium, and a postbox doesn't count as an address.
- Record. According to agilitynow.eu's medal table, Belgium won 8 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze medals at FCI agility world championships from 1992 to 2024. That puts it seventh in the all-time table.
- Hosting. Belgium hosted the AWC at Sentower Park, Opglabbeek, from 1 to 6 October 2024 (Royal Kennel Club report).
The FCI rules themselves are explained in FCI Agility Rules Explained.
Thinking about an international team?
- Choose the event that fits your dog. Mixed breeds and dogs without papers can aim for the WAO, WAC and IMCA. The FCI events need an FCI pedigree.
- Plan a year ahead. DSAB requires DSAB competitions in the 12 months before its try-outs. VOE selections run through the season, and the FCI selections take place in spring.
- Budget realistically. Travel, accommodation, entries and team kit add up. DSAB explains how its try-out fees fund the WAO entries. Ask the other organisations about their arrangements.
- Sort your paperwork early. Pet passports, rabies vaccination timing and, for Great Britain, tapeworm treatment all take planning. See Competing Abroad from Belgium.
- Look after your dog. Championship weeks are long and intense. See Fitness, Warm-Up and Injury Prevention.
