Please click on the picture below for a bio about each of the 2027 Judges and sample course plans:
I started more than 20 years ago, in Ibiza, with a Boxer… never imagining how far this sport would take me. From the very beginning, running at WAO became a dream. With time, I had the chance to live it as a competitor, and after a lot of work I achieved something that once felt impossible: the Triple Crown, winning gold in Games, Biathlon, and Pentathlon. Today, after more than two decades in agility, I can proudly say that I’m part of the best sport in the world. My excitement and passion are even stronger than on the first day, because every moment I live on the field is shared with my dogs… and they are the true reason behind everything, the ones who give meaning to this journey and make our sport exist.
I felt there was only one last crown left to experience: judging my favourite event. And in May 2027, I will close a very special circle for me, living the WAO from a different place, but with the same emotion as always… enjoying every run, every team, and every dog stepping onto the field.
My name is Roman Lukáč and I’m 34 years old. I was born in Bratislava (Slovakia) and I live there for my whole life. In 2014 I completed Masters study at University of Law in Bratislava and nowadays I’m working as a lawyer in one Slovak law firm.
Agility career
It is possible to say, that I was “born“ to agility, as my parents established this special sport in Slovakia, when I was a child. I started my agility career when I was 7 years old with our family dog Tomi – breed Lhasa Apso. For my 10th birthday, I got the most beautiful present from my parents, my first Border Collie named Baileys. I represented Slovakia with her in 2004 for the first time at Agility World Championship in Italy. In following years, I have been competing at Agility World Championship and European Open many times, later on I also have been a team leader and team assistant. During my career of handler, I have been competing and training in all height categories with our dogs or dogs of my friends. Nowadays I’m enjoying agility with my 9 years old Border Collie named Metaxa and each year I am also organizer of many agility competitions together with our club. I have been Slovak delegate of FCI Agility Commission since 2015 with the motivation to help improve worldwide agility.
Judging career
I became an agility judge at the beginning of the year 2012 and from this time I have been trying to improve myself in judging and also course designing. Until today I had possibility to judge outside Slovakia in 28 other European countries, Canada, USA and Indonesia. In 2016 I was judging Junior European Open (nowadays JOAWC) as a home judge and in 2025 I was judging European Open in Portugal. Excepting the basic conditions of course designing, which are for me the accordance with the rules and the safety, I’m trying to design kind of challenge for handlers and their dogs. I’m always the most satisfied with courses, that let handlers to solve situations with different handling option and at the same time to enjoy speed and fluency while showing all different skills of the team.
I feel honoured to be part of the judging team of the World Agility Open 2027 and look forward to meeting all competitors on the agility field there 😊
I am an international agility judge with many years of experience in the sport, supported by a strong background as both a competitor and trainer. I have been active in dog sports since 1985 and started agility in 1996 with my Brittany Spaniel—an experience that quickly turned into a lifelong passion. Since then, I have competed with several dogs of different breeds across all height categories. This broad competitive experience strongly influences my judging, giving me a deep understanding of handling lines, course flow, and the needs of both dogs and handlers.
I became an agility judge in 2003. After judging nationally in Germany for several years, I began judging internationally in 2011. Since then, I have judged tryouts and championships in almost all European countries, as well as events in Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, Mexico, Colombia, the USA, and Canada. My judging highlights include officiating at the European Open 2023 in Denmark and the Agility World Championship 2025 in Sweden.
I am very much looking forward to judging the WAO 2027 and am confident it will be an outstanding and memorable event.
Class Judges 2027
Class Judges will judge the 2nd and 4th heights in the following classes:
Pentathlon Jumping 1, Pentathlon Agility 1, Snooker, Pentathlon Jumping 2, Pentathlon Agility 2 and Biathlon Jumping.
Please click on the picture below for a bio about each of the 2027 Class Judges.
I've been competing in agility since I was very young, around 6 or 7 years old. My parents have been training agility since 1994, so I grew up surrounded by dogs and dog training. I have trained and competed with a lot of different dogs, from terriers to border collies to bichons. Currently I compete with my border collies, Sundae and Fig, and my working cocker spaniel, Bramble.
As well as judging and competing in agility, I am also a full time agility coach, based at my venue Celestine Dog Training in Bristol, England. This every-day immersion in agility with all different levels of dogs and handlers, as well as course designing nearly every day is so important to me, because it makes sure that I'm never out-of-touch with competitors, or out of practice with course design.
I began judging in 2012, and since then I've judged at various events across the world. These include such events as the World Agility Open in 2023, the Korean Agility Open, the Canadian Open, and the US Open in Florida, alongside a number of different national team try-outs in Spain, Germany, England and Finland, among others.
I'm honoured to be returning to the World Agility Open as a class judge in 2027, and excited to watch some of the very best agility in the world from the best seat in the house.
I started dog sports at Jack Russell field trails in 1996, which included Agility. Both of our JRTs won multiple National Field Trial Events through their careers. My 2nd JRT was Bailey, and we repressed the USA internationally 3 times culminating in winning the overall IFCS World Championship in 2008. I stepped out of agility in 2009 when we lost Bailey, who was my one in a lifetime heart dog. About 10 years ago, a great friend suggested I try judging, and with a few AMAZING mentors, I LOVE judging! I also enjoyed serving as the USA WAO Team Manager from 2019 through 2022.
In 2020, I completed the Global Judging program and received my International Global Judging Accreditation. I have been honored and truly enjoyed judging local trials, Regionals, Cups, Classics, Festivals, the first two UKI Dash trials, the Inaugural UKI West Coast Open, and the US Open multiple times.
I live in rural Pennsylvania on a small farm with my wife Sally of 40 years, who was my high school sweetheart beginning in 1982. Together we rescue goats, sheep, donkeys, cats and dogs - many that come to us with challenging situations or health concerns, that need a loving forever home.
I am truly honored and excited to be judging with such an esteemed and fun group of judges. I enjoy designing fast, flowing, and challenging courses that the dogs love. I wish all the competitors and teams the best of luck at the 2027 World Agility Open!
Natalie studied Animal Behaviour and Welfare at The University of the West of England and currently lives in Gloucestershire with her partner, son and smooth collie.
Natalie has been involved with the sport of agility for 18 years and has taken part in most of the major UK finals. She was a member of Team England in 2013 with her Shetland Sheepdog, Agility Champion Quiksilver Shooting Star.
Natalie qualified as an agility judge in 2012 and has officiated at events across the globe. Some of her more prestigious appointments include:
Discover Dogs 2022
French Championships 2022
Junior Open Agility World Championships 2023
Canadian Open 2023
World Agility Open 2024
Alpine Open 2024
Crufts 2026 (main ring judge)
Crusts 2027 (championship judge)
Natalie is delighted to have been invited back as an assistant judge at The World Agility Open 2027.
