Six hundred handler and dog partnerships will be invited to compete at the 1-TDC Invitational in Chicago, at the Canlan Sports facility in Barrington, IL, held from March 27th to 30th 2025.
Invitations to compete at the 1-TDC Invitational will be based upon results gained at UKI International Challenge Events (ICE), the US Open, Canadian Open or the West Coast Open.
The event is comprised of a WAO style Pentathlon, Biathlon and Games Challenge, culminating in a Blue Ribbon Final.
Byes will be awarded from the 1-TDC Invitational to the three UKI Opens for 2025 and 5 WAO spots will be awarded in the equivalent heights, allowing handlers to choose to represent their country or to run as a Wildcard in 2026.
RV information for the 2025 1-TDC Invitational can be found here.
For the next 3 years the event will take place at the Canlan Sports facility on the following dates;
27th - 30th March 2025
26th - 29th March 2026
25th - 28th March 2027
Qualification for the 1-TDC Invitational
The event will be open to 600 dogs.
- 110 partnerships will be invited from winning an Overall ICE.
- 390 partnerships will be invited due to their results at the
- Canadian Open
- West Coast Open
- US Open
- 80 dogs will be invited from a seeded random draw.
- 20 dogs will be invited from an international pool.
WAO Win on Spot.
In the 8”, 12”, 16”, 20” and 24” height categories there will be one win on spot to the 2026 World Agility Open for the partnership to compete in all 3 individual events.
The partnership may choose to run for their country at the WAO, thus gaining their country an extra dog in that height, or the partnership may choose to run at WAO under the Wildcard flag.
From the overall result in the Biathlon, the Games, the Pentathlon and the Blue Ribbon Final, using cumulative points, a points system will be used where first place equals 1 point, second place equals 2 points, third place equals 3 points, scoring down to last place.
The partnership with the lowest points total gains the Win on Spot.
Class Name | Summary of Class |
Biathlon | Jumping round and an Agility round with the results combined |
Games Challenge | Snooker round and Gamblers round with the results combined. |
Pentathlon | Two Jumping rounds, two Agility rounds and a Steeplechase round with the results combined. Faults are converted to seconds on a 1:1 ratio. |
Challenger Round | Agility class that is a one-off round for those that have not qualified for the North American Championship Final. The winner of this class gains a place in the 1-TDC Blue Ribbon Final. |
The 1-TDC Blue | Qualifying from the three events, Biathlon, Pentathlon and Games. The Final will be a one off agility class as a stand alone result. |
Byes to be Gained for Future Events
Biathlon Overall Winner
Winner in each height gains the following byes.
- Automatic bye into the UKI Stakes final at the West Coast Open 2025
- Round 2 bye at the Canadian Open 2025
- Guaranteed run in the Biathlon Agility at the US Open 2025
Pentathlon Overall Winner
Winner in each height gains the following byes.
- Automatic bye into the Masters Final at the US Open 2025
- Automatic bye into the Masters Final at the Canadian Open 2025
- Guaranteed run in the Pentathlon Steeplechase at the West Coast Open 2025
Games Overall Winner
Winner in each height gains the following byes.
- Guaranteed run in the Gamblers at the Canadian Open 2025
- Guaranteed run in the Gamblers at the West Coast Open 2025
- Guaranteed run in the Gamblers at the US Open 2025
The 1-TDC Blue Ribbon Final Winner
Winner in each height gains the following byes.
- Automatic bye into the UKI Stakes final at the West Coast Open 2025
- Guaranteed run in the Pentathlon Steeplechase at the West Coast Open 2025
- Guaranteed run in the Gamblers at the West Coast Open 2025
- Automatic bye into the National Final at the US Open 2025
- Automatic bye into the Masters Final at the US Open 2025
- Automatic bye into the Speedstakes Final at the US Open 2025
- Automatic bye into the National Final at the Canadian Open 2025
- Automatic bye into the Masters Final at the Canadian Open 2025
- Guaranteed run in the Gamblers at the Canadian Open 2025
ABOUT THE 1-TDC INVITATIONAL VENUE
Canlan Sports Lake Barrington is the leading sports complex in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, featuring an olympic-sized turf, 4 regulation sized sport-floor courts, volleyball and basketball courts, a walking/running track, training center, event rooms and full service, licensed food and beverage. Canlan Sportsplex is located at 28156 West Northpointe Parkway, Barrington, IL 60010.
Click here to visit the venue website
2025 1-TDC INVITATIONAL JUDGES
DAVE GRUBEL
First things first - Thank you to UKI for the opportunity to come back 12 years later from judging the 2011 inaugural US Open in California, and judging the 2023 event in Florida.
I started agility in 1999 with my first Australian Shepherd, Tahoe, along with my wife and her rescue Australian Shepherd, Chase. Currently I have two Aussies; my current competition dog, Elektra, who is 7 years old and my youngster, Tess, who is a year old. With Elektra's mom, Boca, I had the honor of representing Team USA (2013-2015 WAO and 2015 IFCS), with multiple individual class placements, winning Team Gold at WAO 2013 and 2014 and she was the silver medalist in the 2015 IFCS Individual All-Around. In addition, Boca and I were the 2013 UKI US Open National Champion.
I have been judging since 2004 for UKI, USDAA and ASCA. My international and national judging experience has included:
- 2009 & 2010 USDAA Cynosports World Games
- 2011 Inaugural WAO (England)
- 2011 Inaugural US Open
- 2022 WAO (The Netherlands)
When designing courses, I look to challenge the handler to be actively engaged and timely in their commands when handling through what should be obvious and fast lines for the dog. Please be ready to run!
Good luck everyone!!!!!
To view a sample of Dave’s courses, click here.
JAN EGIL EIDE
Jan Egil Eide has been competing in Agility since 1993 and started judging in 2000. He was vice world champion in 2008 and the winner of EO 2010. He has judged in 25 countries including several national champs and tryouts, and was one of the AWC judges in 2022 and a WAO Judge 2024
To view a sample of Jan’s courses, click here.
KINE EIMHJELLEN
I am an agility lover from Norway. I started my agility career with my Flat-coated Retriever 20 years ago. Now I judge, hold seminars and we have our own amazing agilitycenter in the South-East of Norway.
I am very passionate about dogs feeling of empowerment in the agilitycourse, that the lines makes sense for dogs and that the team get to show the skills that they have trained
To view samples of Kine's courses, click here.
MIKE WAGNER
My dog sports include Agility, Herding, and Obedience and I have been doing Agility since 1994. My first agility dog was a Siberian Husky, and my other dog, which I was doing herding with was a Border Collie. I thought to myself, why not try the herding dog in agility? Now 30 years later, Janet and I have had 15 Border Collies.
I have been judging for almost 20 years, including National and Regional events. My favorite thing about judging is traveling around the country and visiting with old and new friends. My second favorite thing about judging, is watching the different methods and techniques handlers use to attack the courses and figure out its challenges.
I continue to participate in seminars with the world’s top handlers to continue my education as a handler. Not only does my handling benefit, so do my course designs as I learn more and more about dogs’ paths and the challenges that I can offer on or near those paths.
This will be the first time judging the 1-TDC Invitational and I’m looking forward to seeing all the great handler and dog teams!
To view a sample of Mike’s courses, click here.
