JUNIOR & SENIOR
AGILITY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2026
SENIORS
Important information for team leaders & starters
As judges of the SAO, we welcome...
Alexander Beitl (GER)
I have been passionate about dog sports since 1994, training puppies, obedience, and agility dogs. Since 2000, I have been teaching abroad and have gained valuable international experience, learning from many talented handlers around the world. I have represented Germany several times at the FCI Agility World Championship and the FCI European Open. Since 2011, I have proudly served as the head coach of the German National Agility Team. Agility has truly become my life – as a handler, trainer, and judge. I started judging in 2006 and became an international agility judge in 2010. To date, I have judged more than 570 competitions, including over 290 abroad. Some of the major events I have judged include the FCI World Championship in Liberec, the European Open, the Norwegian Open, the American & Caribbean Championship, as well as numerous national championships such as the German Championship, German Classics, B.A.C.K., Gotor Cup, Moravia Open, Finnish Open, HAM, and Luxembourg Open. I love designing smooth and flowing courses that challenge both handlers and dogs. My courses reward precise timing and good understanding of the dog’s line. For me, solid basic agility training is the key to success – in every competition and on every course. It is a great honor to judge the SAO 2026, and I am looking forward to offer the agility handlers exciting and challenging courses.
Philipp Glur (CH)
My agility journey began in 1995 with a Flat Coated Retriever that I took over from my sister. Even back then, I discovered my passion for dog sports. In 1999, I entered the competition scene and increasingly enjoyed the organisation, training, and sporting challenge that agility offers. At the age of 14, I completed the TKAMO trainer education, laying the foundation for my later work as a trainer. At 19, I founded my own dog school, which I ran alongside my main profession for many years. In 2018, I began my judge education (officially active as a judge since 2020), and since 2019, I have been a member of TKAMO, the Swiss association for agility. From 2008 to 2019, I also coached the Swiss Junior National Team, supporting many young talents on their sporting journey. Experience in Organisation & Sport Throughout my many years in agility, I have organised numerous competitions – from small regional events to major championships, including: • 4× Swiss Championship • 1× Junior European Championship • Many additional regional, national and international events Senior Agility Open 2026 It is a great honour for me to judge the Senior Agility Open 2026. I am especially looking forward to many experienced handlers, beautiful runs, and an event filled with enthusiasm, fairness, and joy for our sport.
Mark Fonteijn (NL)
During my Agility career sinds 2000, i use my experience of my work life to get the best out of my students and making them reach the impossible for them. I teach the positive way with different rewarding methods. My priority in Agility is to have fun, but I can also be very competitive when necessary . When I compete with my dog, I want to get the best out of it, but not at any cost. My dogs health stands prior to anything else, physical health as well as mental health. Whether I am on the course or one of my students or friends, I always try to comment the positive. I judge since 2013 and i try to get the best out of every team by building fluent courses with a lot of speed and skills. It is important to me that the dog has any independence and the handler keeps in motion. The difficulty of the course must be felt by the handler but be easy on the dog. I like to challenge the teams by giving them many choices on my courses. My ambition has always been to judge the big FCI competitions. I was one of the judges privileged to judge the European Open in 2019 in The Netherlands which makes me extremely proud. Its a honor for me to judge the SOA in 2026 In Mannheim Germany. I wish all participants good luck and, above all, lots of fun.
Dirk Kuschnierz (GER)
I am delighted to be judging at the Senioren Agility Open (SAO) 2026 in my home country. From July 10 to 12, 2026, I will have the privilege of accompanying this special event – a great honor and a real highlight of my career as a performance judge to date. The SAO stands for fairness, sportsmanship, and the special team spirit that defines our sport. How it all began My journey in dog sports began in 2008 when I joined HSV Bochum-Südwest. After just a few training sessions, it was clear to me that agility is more than a hobby—it's a passion! I competed in tournaments for many years with my Mini Australian Shepherd Copper and had the opportunity to experience some unforgettable moments. Today, I compete in performance class A3 medium with my three-year-old Sheltie bitch Jaybe. I am also just starting the first steps in agility with my young bitch Vida – a wonderful reminder of the joy and enthusiasm of the early days. From runner to judge In addition to actively participating in the sport, I was fascinated by the creative side of agility from an early age. In 2012, I began designing my own training courses, and in 2015, I decided to train as a DVG performance judge for agility. I have been judging for the Westfalen Regional Association since 2016 and have also been an FCI performance judge for agility since 2023. I design courses that are fair, fluid, and fun to run. I make sure that the lines for the dogs are clear and that there are several options for the handlers to lead their dogs—this way, each team can find its own way. When runners say after the run, “That was really fun – but I had to think!”, that's the best praise for me. Looking forward to the SAO 2026 The Senior Agility Open 2026 is a very special tournament for me. I find it impressive how much joy and passion the senior teams bring to the start line – this spirit is simply contagious. I'm looking forward to exciting runs, creative teams, and lots of familiar faces. I wish all starters fair runs, lots of success, lots of fun – and that famous bit of luck that sometimes makes all the difference.
