KC Rally is one of the newer dog activities and is a fun way to develop the bond with your dog. Our trainers are actively involved as competitors, officials and judges and bring that passion and experience to our training. We love to see our members improve and succeed – whatever your Rally goals, we can help you to achieve them.
What is Rally?
Rally was originally developed in America from the AKC Obedience Exercises and was adopted by the Kennel Club in 2012 with the first KC rally competition held in April 2013.
Rally shares some of the skill set with Competitive Obedience, Agility and even Heelwork to Music while offering a unique set of challenges to dog and handler.
Each Rally course is made up with a set of numbered exercise signs, which each dog and handler navigate in order. I
If you have been to companion classes with your dog you will have encountered some of the Level 1 (entry level) exercises such as sit at heel, dog in the down and walk around, turns both to the left and the right and recalls. As you progress through the levels you will encounter more advanced exercises such as weaving between distractions or directing your dog over a jump. Heelwork and positioning are not as defined as in Competitive Obedience – in Rally your dog needs to be on your left side within arm’s reach
Rally is growing in popularity as more people discover this fun way to build on their initial training and grow their bond with their dog.
Training nights
We train on Monday nights at the Kennel Club Building in Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, and offer training for Beginners through to Level 6, which is the highest competitive level, in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.
Our in-person classes are very popular, please contact us for information and availability
If you can’t get to us in person then we also offer occasional workshops and online training opportunities.
Trainers
Our trainers are all actively involved in KC Rally, we all love to share the experience we have gained as successful competitors and officials. We are all qualified KC Rally Judges. We draw on our wide range of experience and knowledge, combined with our passion for Rally to help dogs of all breeds, shapes, and sizes develop the key skills needed to excel.
Rachel Bradley
Rachel, our Head Trainer, is a Kennel Club Accredited Instructor for Rally, KCAI (R).
She has been involved in Rally since 2009 & competed at one of the earliest practice Rally Trials in 2010 as well as at the very first KC Rally Competition in 2013 . Rupert went onto gain his RL6-Ex at Nuneaton 2015 where he won the L6 class.
Rachel’s Finnish Lapphund, Eeva, retired with her RL5. Currently Rachel is working her Duck Tollers – Orsa, in Levels 5 and 6 and bringing on her youngster, Nia.
Rachel judges KC Rally to Level 6 and is also an experienced Chief Steward. She is a KC Accredited Rally Judges Trainer and is a member of the KC Rally Working Party.
Rachel was honoured to judge the Inter-Regional Rally Competition at Crufts 2018.
Tony Lewenz
Tony has been involved in Rally since 2012 and made his competition debut at Royal Wootton Bassett in 2013. He quickly progressed to become both a trainer and a judge. Cassie, a Duck Toller, was his first competition dog and he took her all the way to her Level 6 title.
Tony judges all Levels and judged the Inter-Regional Rally Competition at Crufts 2021. He is also a well respected Chief Steward.
Tony and Cassie were on the Crufts DA Rally Display team from 2015-17 and were also regulars on the Rally part of the Obedient Dog display team at the Caravan Show.
Tony is currently training his youngster, Gimli, and looking forward to competing him in Rally.
Claire price
Claire has been involved in Rally since 2013 and soon started to help train other handlers, progressing quickly to running her own classes. Claire and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Lola, gained their first Rally Qualifier at Royal Wootton Basset in 2014 and have their RL2 title.
Claire has competed Lola in the Introductory class in Obedience where they were placed and they were delighted to be part of the Obedient Dogs display team at the Caravan Show 2016. Since Lola has retired Claire has borrowed Rachel’s Orsa to compete in Obedience. They qualified for the KCGCDS Special Pre-Beginner Stakes Semi-Finals at Discover Dogs in 2019. They came 3rd in their Pre-Beginners round at Forest Oak in February 2020, winning themselves out of the Introductory class.
Claire is a qualified Level 6 KC Rally Judge and Obreedience Judge. She is also a sought after scribe and scorer.
Kate Wykes
Kate fell into Rally in 2014 when she turned up to cheer on club mates at a match and was chucked in at the deep-end to make up the numbers – she was hooked and hasn’t looked back since, taking both her girls, Meg and Star, to Level 6. Kate and Star recently gained their Rally Warrant, a superb achievement and we are very proud of both of them.
Kate and Star represented the Midlands at Level 6 in the 2020 Inter-Regional Rally Competition at Crufts 2020. She is the current Midlands Inter-Regional Rally Team Manager leading the Midlands to victory in 2024.
Kate is a qualified KC Rally Judge and brings a wealth of experience from Agility and Working Trials as a competitor, judge and show manager.
LEANNE WARD
Leanne has been involved in Rally since 2016. Leanne looks after our social media.
Leanne and Brodie were Reserve for the first Midlands Inter-Regional Rally Team at Crufts 2017 and have their Level 1 Excellent title. Leanne is qualified KC Rally Judge.
Brodie is now retired but enjoyed life as a well-rounded sighthound having agility, scent work, Hoopers and Disc Dog in her repertoire.