Dog trainer from Twinstead, near Sudbury, ‘over the moon’ to represent Team GB for second time at Senior Open Agility World Championships

The world stage beckons for a veteran dog trainer after she qualified to represent Great Britain in a global competition for a second year running.

Jacqui Wood said she was ‘over the moon’ to be representing Team GB again, at the 2025 Senior Open Agility World Championships in Portugal this summer.

Alongside her five-year-old border collie, Chase, she will go for the top prize in the large height category, in the 55-65 age bracket, at the tournament, which is aimed at older canine handlers.

The qualification means back-to-back appearances at the championships for Jacqui, who runs Ace Agility training school in Twinstead, and has 40 years of experience in the field.

Having competed at the inaugural event last year with Shetland sheepdog Quiz, she said that Chase, her dog this time around, had been tipped for championship success from an early age.

“I’m elated, because I’m taking a very young and strong dog with me,” Jacqui told the Suffolk Free Press. “I’m over the moon.

“I’ve had him since he was a puppy. I bought him from the other side of the country. A lot of people told me he would be a world-class championship dog, but I wasn’t sure at first.

“He was a pandemic puppy, and he comes from a lineage of sheep-working dogs, but then he got the bit between his teeth for agility.

“It was brilliant when I competed last year. It’s a totally different competition to what we’re used to in this country.

“I’m feeling nervous excitement. You’re going out there to represent your country, and you’ve got to do the best you can on a huge stage.

“I’m very excited, with that nervous energy that normally produces good adrenaline, which is what you need.”

Jacqui also paid tribute to the owners at Cobb’s Farm in Twinstead for allowing use of their land to run Ace Agility, and to her sponsors at Linkswood Vets and Suffolk Chiropractic Services.

Alongside training for her own competition, she has continued to help young handlers to reach major competitions.

This year alone, three handlers and six canines from Ace Agility qualified for Crufts, and achieved high finishes in their respective categories, including one first-place ribbon.

Hazel Crane, who works at Ace Agility, said everybody at the school was proud to see Jacqui competing on the big stage.

“In the past, Jacqui has concentrated on training her clients to qualify for Crufts and, over the years, she has produced juniors in every category,” said Hazel.

“Jacqui also works with people who have disabilities, so that they can do agility with their dogs, and she has trained a para-agility world champion twice.

“She believes that agility is for everyone, and has many clients that are on the autistic spectrum and have ADHD. Her motto is ‘we will make it work’ and she does.

“Over the years, she has spent so much time achieving so much for everyone else, she did not think about qualifying herself, until one of her clients suggested it last year.

“Jacqui will be spending the next few months putting in as much training as possible around her very busy job, and is excited to be travelling to Portugal to represent her country.”