Judges

Daniel Walz

Daniel has been actively involved in dog sports since 2003 and started his agility career in 2007. In 2017 his ambition to develop the sport and his own abilities led to a judge apprenticeship and in 2021 he was awarded FCI judge status.

His abilities were immediately recognized and has judged over 250 events since then. He has been familiar face in big international events, with European Open 2024 as a cherry on top. With World Agility Open 2026 still to come, who knows where the future will take this talented superstar!

Daniel loves to see talented handlers and well trained dogs navigate his fluid, soft, yet technical courses. He is always looking to highlight teams that are able to find the ideal line, whether it is achieved from the front or the rear.

Neil Ellis

Arguably the highest jumping judge of 2024 will grace us with his presence at Midsummer  2025! Neils' passion for agility is on display in everything he does. He is always all smiles whether it is judging at freezing temperatures, commenting at the world championships, or doing something special like Agility Nexus or Forever Agility.

Neil first got involved in agility at the age of 11, and has since created a career and life around the sport. Neil began judging at 15 years old, and has since established himself as a leading national and international judge over the past 16 years. Judging the Border Collie Classic & European Open in 2024 as well as the Senior World Championships in 2025, he has a strong eye for exciting and adventurous course design that remains safe and appropriate for dog and handler. 

Jordi Boix Baró

Jordi’s Agility journey began at the age of seven, and for the past 24 years, this sport has been his life. Competing across borders with his three dogs—two medium and one large—he’s proudly represented Spain seven times at the AWC and six times at the EO.

Agility is Jordi’s passion and what made him who he is today. This sport gave him more than just competition—it gave him love, lifelong friendships, and a global family. He’s hooked on competing and training, but analyzing every line and every move? That’s his true addiction. Ten years ago, this obsession inspired Jordi to become a judge. His career began in the UK, and three years later, he added Spain to his judging repertoire. Since then, he’s judged across Europe at FCI events, national tryouts, and major opens.

As both a judge and a trainer, Jordi strives to design courses that challenge handlers and dogs to reach top speed while maintaining safety and flow. His goal is to push the boundaries of agility—making it faster, more spectacular, and safer for everyone involved. For Jordi, agility is about passion, love, and chasing dreams. But the best moment? It’s after the final jump, when the dog and handler come together with joy in their eyes.

Juraj Ruza

You may know Juraj from his great events at Rose Speedlight Dog Camp. He brings so much more to the table than just his rugged good looks and fireman-like posture. 

This guy can do almost anything when it comes to agility. He is an active judge, competitor, organiser, team leader, coach and breeder. He is a frequent member of the Slovak National Team as a competitor and a regular guest as a judge in national championships and tryouts all over the world. 

Juraj has judged in 12 countries last year alone and in a total of 17 countries since he graduated as a national judge in 2019. He is very analytic and follows rigorously how the teams running his courses manage them.  

On his courses the most important values are safety and having fun which are achieved through fluent lines that test a combination of speed and technical skills.

Jari Suomalainen

Our wisest elder, Jari, started his agility career sometime between the paleolithic period and industrial revolution. With his broad experience (and immortality) he has been a great influence in Finnish and international agility as long as one can remember. Despite the burden of time he has managed to stay on top of the game, throughout the ages.

After graduating as a judge in 2012, he has been a regular sight in tryouts all over the world as well as national championships. His professionalism and expertise has led him to judge events like 2022 European Open and 2024 JOAWC.  

Jari vows on safety, space, flowing lines  and alternative routes on his courses. He challenges the handlers to be able to navigate and read the course and time their movements correctly.

"Remember to enjoy the time you have with your dog" -Jari-

Tobias Sjöberg

A party is not a party without our western neighbours! When the invitation to our Midsummer party dropped to his mailbox, the ink had barely dried on his judges card. He might be among the freshest of our judges, but has lived and breathed agility longer than many.

Tobias has represented Sweden numerous times in the World Agility Open and has had plenty of success in national championships. His courses have that special touch of action and flow.

No one leaves Tobias' ring cold. Whether its by running yourself exhausted or laughing untill your stomach aches, you will allways find ways to enjoy. Podium is for the rare few, who succeed in leaving everything they've got to the ring.

Christl Faltner

Christl a.k.a. Norways bundle of joy, brings a much needed addition of lady power to our party. Originally born in Austria, Christl is a one of a kind international agility goddess. Her ideas flow like the horn of plenty and find their places like magic on the canvas us regular folk call course design.

Christl conjures her safe and extaordinary lines through her wide understanding of different sizes, having handled dogs from Papillons to Belgian Shepherds. 

Still her compelling courses show no lack of challenges, speed and raw power. You are sure to find yourself exhausted, if your dog does not hold the skills needed to spare you.

Norway
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