Wildcard Entries
Qualified individuals who are not on their country's team, or who are from a country that hasn't entered a team, may apply for Wildcard entry. The WAO Committee can offer up to 5 (five) wildcard places per jump height to individuals who the WAO Committee believes have demonstrated world-class potential; for example, competitors who have placed in the top three of their country's National finals in the last two years or competitors who have competed internationally in the last two years.
Wildcard competitors whose applications are accepted may run under their country's flag as an additional dog for that country in the individual events if invited to do so by the country's team manager. In this case, however, Wildcard competitors may not be used in the Team Pentathlon. Wildcard competitors not running under a country flag will run under the WAO flag, and there will be a WAO Wildcard Team Manager.
The 2011 WAO Gold, Silver, and Bronze medallists in each height of the Individual Agility Pentathlon, Agility Biathlon, and Agility Games events are automatically invited to the 2012 WAO to compete as Wildcards in the event for which they won a medal in 2011 (for example, the 2011 Agility Biathlon medallists are automatically invited to compete in the 2012 Agility Biathlon).
In addition, the Individual Gold medallists from the previous year in each height of the following championship events are automatically invited to the 2012 WAO:
- FCI Agility World Championships
- European Open
- IFCS Agility World Championships
If a 2011 medal winner also qualifies for his or her country's 2012 WAO team, then the medal winner is eligible to run in any events for the team, but will run as a wildcard entry in the event for which the medal was earned. Therefore, that team will have an extra dog competing in that event. For example, if the 2011 Agility Biathlon 300mm Gold medallist is from the USA and she makes the 2012 USA team, she will run in the 2012 Agility Biathlon as a Wildcard. Team USA will still be able to run 3 (three) dogs in the 300mm jump height.
