Here are the rules for the European Open. Remember, this is an FCI event so you'll see rules similar (if not the same) as the FCI World Championships.

Regulations for the European Open 2009

The European Open 2009 is an Agility competition which is officially recognised by the FCI and is based on the FCI-Agility regulations of 2007. The competition is OPEN to all dogs, with or without pedigree. Dogs have to be in possession of a record book or a license issued by a National Member Organisation of the FCI or a National Organisation with a close relationship to the FCI. All National Member Organisations of the FCI or National Organisations with a close relationship to the FCI are invited to participate in this event. For logistical purposes the number of competitors has to be limited to approximately 650 dogs. Of these a maximum of 50% may be in the category “Large”.
All countries showing an interest in participating, will receive an allocation of 32 dogs (max. 50% in Large). Based on their support in previous years, the following countries have higher allocations:
Netherlands (as organizing country) 60, Germany 36, Italy 36, Switzerland/FL 36, France 36, Austria 36, Belgium 36, Luxembourg 36 (all max. 50% Large).

Each National Organisation has the right to nominate competitors to the extent of the available allocation and to send the entries to the organiser at the latest by May 15th, 2009. A list of reserve dogs and handlers may be attached to the entries. The reserve may take the place of an original entry, should the original competitor have to scratch. The reserve may also be allocated an entry in case of available entries spots after closing of entries. If countries choose to have a selection process, this must be OPEN to all dogs (with or without pedigree).
A list of all those countries choosing to send entries through their respective National Organisation will be published separately. Countries in which the national qualifying results will only be available after the closing date, have to let the organisers know before May 15th, 2009 how many entries they intend to send. In these cases no late additional entries can be added. A complete list of all competitors needs to be handed in by latest end of June 2009.

Competitors of all other countries may send their entries – as before – directly to the organiser between April 15th and May 15th. If the allocation of a country is filled further entries of that country will be put on a waiting (reserve) list.
The organisers will check how many entries are still available after the first closing date (May 15th, 2009), resulting from countries not fully filling their allocations. Any available open entries will be offered to those countries which have an additional demand for more entries, viz. all countries with a waiting list.

All countries are requested to nominate a Team Leader. Any and all communication between the organisers and the country will be done through the Team Leader. Each Team Leader is asked to bring a flag and a CD with the national anthem of the respective country with him.

European Open – Individual Competition

The Individual Events take place on July 25th, 2009 and are held in the categories Large, Medium and Small.
In the Individual Events an Agility round and a Jumping round is run in all 3 height categories. Both rounds are scored separately for faults and time for all competitors.

The first 20 placed competitors in both the Agility as well as the Jumping round will have qualified for the Final. Where a Team qualifies for the Final in both the Agility as well as the Jumping round, the worse of the 2 scores will be scratched and the next ranking Team in that class will move up until all 40 places have been filled for the Finals.

In addition, all competitors of every country will be ranked separately for each round in each height category. The best team (handler + dog) of each country in each height category gets as many points as there were competitors of that country in that height category, the second best team one point less, the third best team two points less and so on. An elimination is scored with 0 points. The total points gained of both runs combined determine the internal, country-specific selection order for the EO Final. In the case of a tie the Agility-run will break the tie, in the case of a further tie a draw will decide.

The top team from each country and each height category qualifies for the EO Final, provided they have not qualified in one of the both “Top 20” already. In that case the next highest qualifier of that country will qualify for the Final, provided that the total number of points is more than “0”. The qualification for the Final is not transferable to another team.

Further the EO Winners of 2008 in all 3 height categories (Large: Silas Boogk and „Back“ - Germany, Medium: Silas Boogk and „Caja“ - Germany, Small: Susanne Prier and „Unique“ - Denmark) have qualified for the EO Finals of 2009, without imposing on their country’s number allocation.
The EO Final is an Agility round at A3 level.

The running order in the Final is determined as follows: • First the winners of the country qualifiers. They will start in reverse order of their Individual Agility round. That is the fastest qualified team will run last, irrespective of the number of standard faults they had. Qualifiers to the Final without a valid time from the Individual Agility round will run first. • The 40 Qualified Teams from both Jumping and Agility in reverse order and alternating (i.e second to last will be the winner of the Jumping round, and last the winner of the Agility round) • The EO winner of the previous year will run last at the Final.

The winners of the Final will be the “European Open – Individual Winner 2009” in their respective height category.

European Open – Team Competition

The Team Events take place on July 26th, 2009 and are held in the categories Large, and a combined Medium/Small.
he total number of competitors per country in the Team Event is limited by the number of competitors in the Individual Event. The number of competitors in the height category Large is limited to 50% of the total number for each country.
A Team in the height category Large consists of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4 handler and dog teams. A Team in the height category Medium/Small consists of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4 handler and dog teams, whereby the composition of Small and Medium dogs is not prescribed.

Mixed Country Teams may also compete (one Team composed of handler and dogs from different countries).
For the EO-Team Event one Agility round and one Jumping round will be run.

For each round competitors will be ranked according to faults and time. The first placed handler and dog will receive points according to the number of competitors in that round (= number of Teams x 4), the second placed handler and dog team will receive one point less, the third placed team 2 points less and so on. A disqualification receives 0 points.

The points of the 3 best runs of each Team will count towards the Team result for both rounds (= sum of points received).
The Team with the highest point score after both rounds will be the “European Open Team Winner 2009”.
In the case of a tie, the points of the 4th Team member will be taken into consideration. In case of a further tie the highest Individual score will count.

Entry Fees
The entry fees will be published on the official website of the organisers. For Juniors up to 15 years a 50% discount applies.

Prize Giving Ceremony
Prize giving for all events will be held on July 26th, 2009 after the completion of the Team Event.
The prize giving for the EO-Team Event will be held first. The 3 top placed Teams in both height categories, Large and Medium/Small, will be announced and the anthem of the winning country will be played. Should the winner be a „Mixed Country Team“, the European Anthem will be played.

Thereafter the prize giving for the EO-Individual event will take place. The 3 first places of both the Agility and the Jumping rounds in all height categories will be announced (without national anthems). This will be followed by the prize giving for the top 3 places in each height category of the Final round (the National Anthems of the winning countries will be played).
To conclude the ceremony the flag of the EO will be handed over to the organising country for the following year.
These notes on procedures are only valid for 2009 and may be changed for 2010 if needed.