Hoopers Inclusive
What is Hoopers?
Hoopers is a dog sport that combines elements of agility and obedience, designed to be accessible and enjoyable for dogs of all ages, sizes, and abilities. Unlike traditional agility, Hoopers focuses on flowing movement and natural dog behavior, making it particularly suitable for:
- Senior dogs
- Dogs with physical limitations
- Young dogs still developing
- Dogs who prefer ground-based activities
- Handlers of all ages and abilities
Key Features of Hoopers
- Low Impact: No jumping or climbing required, making it gentle on joints
- Inclusive: Suitable for dogs of all sizes and abilities
- Handler-Friendly: Minimal running required from handlers
- Mental Stimulation: Challenges dogs' problem-solving abilities
- Bonding: Strengthens the relationship between dog and handler
Course Elements
A typical Hoopers course includes:
- Hoops: Large, ground-level hoops that dogs run through
- Tunnels: Flexible tunnels for dogs to navigate
- Barrels: Large, stable obstacles that dogs can go around
- Gates: An obstacle in which the dog traverses on the opposite side to the handler
Benefits of Hoopers
- Builds confidence in dogs
- Improves handler-dog communication
- Provides mental and physical exercise
- Creates a positive training environment
- Offers a fun, low-pressure competitive outlet
At Hoopers Inc(lusive), we believe in making this wonderful sport accessible to everyone. Our approach focuses on the joy of participation and the bond between handler and dog, giving them the freedom to tackle the course in the handling style that suits the team, not in a prescriptive manner rather than strict competition rules.
Who we are
Hoopers Inc(lusive)
Hoopers, by its very design, is a sport which has traditionally aimed at inclusivity.
Many of you will be aware that we have long pondered the reason for a steady shift away from such inclusivity, and towards a prescriptive approach as to how a dog must be handled to achieve success.
At Hoopers Inc(lusive), the primary aim will be to level the field, enabling dog/handler combinations to progress whatever their handling style, and have their skill rewarded fairly.
The welfare of the dog is paramount, and we actively embrace dogs and handlers with additional support needs.
Our committee members bring a wealth of experience and expertise to Hoopers Inc(lusive). Each member is dedicated to promoting inclusivity, fairness, and the highest standards of dog welfare in our sport. Below you'll find our current committee members and their roles. Feel free to reach out to any of them with questions or concerns related to their area of responsibility.
| Role | Name | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | Julia Connett | Leadership and strategic direction |
| Vice Chair | Liz Spain | Support and deputy leadership |
| Secretary | Alli Slipszenko | Administration and documentation |
| Treasurer | Julie Sherlock, Bobbie Shaw | Financial management |
| Compliance and Policy Officer | Jeni Aston | Regulatory compliance and policy |
| Designated Safeguarding Lead | Liz Spain | Welfare and protection |
| Deputy Safeguarding and Grievance Lead | Jeni Aston | Support for designated leads |
| Public Relations and Awareness Underrepresented Groups | Janet Measham, Andy Partridge | Strategic communication and inclusivity |
| Equipment Compliance and Maintenance Lead | John Leeds, Bobbi Leeds | Equipment maintenance and records |
| Publications Manager | Jeni Aston | Content and materials |
| Diversity and Inclusion Lead | Laura D'Allen | Inclusion and diversity |
| Award Manager | Lyra D'Allen | Awards and ceremonies |
Committee Members
Chair
Name: Julia Connett
Duties:
- Providing leadership and direction to the committee
- Responsible for ensuring the committee achieves its objectives
- Steer committee meetings to ensure that they're efficient and productive
- Make sure everyone is fulfilling their individual responsibilities
- Act as a signatory for the committee
- Ensure the committee is focused on good governance
- Primary spokesperson for the committee
- Leading meetings
- Agenda planning
- Providing team support
- Representing the organisation externally
- Report on issues or noted themes brought by other committee roles
- Receive reports from other key roles such as finances and spending
- Prepare agendas for appropriate equipment spending
Vice Chair
Name: Liz Spain
Duties:
- Supports the chair in their role
- Perform the duties of the chair when the chair is unable to do so
- Have an understanding of the responsibilities of the chair and work in conjunction with the producing of minutes
- Work in conjunction with the chair leading meetings, assisting with agenda planning, providing team support, and representing the organisation externally
- Leading meetings
- Agenda planning
- Providing team support
- Representing the organisation externally
- Report on issues or noted themes brought by other committee roles
Secretary
Name: Alli Slipszenko
Duties:
- Detailed note taking during meetings
- Creating and managing the permanent record
- Correspondence and liaison with other committee roles and recording
- Documentation of each meeting in the form of meeting minutes
- Prepare the annual reports and record any changes
- Liaise with other key roles and maintain records of grievances, breaches in safeguarding
- Attend and record grievance meetings
- Work with the treasurers in producing annual financial statements
Treasurer
Name: Julie Sherlock, Bobbie Shaw
Duties:
- Manages the financial records
- Manage incomings and outgoings for each event
- Authorise expenditure for organisation essentials
- Ensure that everyone understands the financial position of the organisation
- Provide annual financial statement
Compliance and Policy Officer
Name: Jeni Aston
Duties:
- Ensuring the organisation follows all relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies by actively monitoring activities
- Identifying potential risks
- Developing and implementing compliance policies
- Conducting training programs in conjunction with other relevant committee roles
- Managing non-compliance issues
- Safeguarding the organisation's reputation, mitigating legal risks by maintaining ethical business practices
- Policy development: creating and updating internal policies and procedures that align with legal requirements
- Conducting regular risk assessments to identify areas where compliance issues might occur
- Investigating and reporting any potential compliance violations
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Name: Liz Spain
Duties:
- Protects children and adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
- Prevent harm and respond to concerns
- Assess need via communicating with relevant groups to understand their needs
- Investigate concerns and allegations
- Report concerns to the relevant authorities
- Work with the compliance and policy officer to develop and implement safeguarding policies
- Support the committee through information sharing and training
- Monitor any safeguarding issues, trends and update the committee
- Make referrals to relevant agencies
- Work with other agencies upon the identification of safeguarding issues
- Give evidence in court if required
- Work within the principles of recognising, responding, reporting, recording and referring
- Liaise with the secretary upon the receipt of any safeguarding issue identified or received
Designated Grievance Lead
Name: Laura D'Allen
Duties:
- Be the point of contact for any grievances received
- Inform the Chair and Secretary if a grievance is received and copy them in with any correspondence / meeting minutes
- Respond to the complainant in writing as per policy guidelines
- Investigate any grievances received
- Keep records of any persons spoken with
- Keep the complainant informed of the status of their grievance throughout the investigation process
- Respond in writing to the complainant with the outcome
- Produce outcome reports to be sent to the chair for approval
- Bring to the committee lessons learned and suggestions for improvement / prevention of a repeat of the grievance
Deputy Safeguarding and Grievance Lead
Name: Jeni Aston
Duties:
- To support the designated lead with all aspects of their role
Public Relations and Awareness Underrepresented Groups
Name: Janet Measham, Andy Partridge
Duties:
- Develop strategic communication practices to promote understanding, positive representation, and advocacy for groups that are often excluded or underrepresented in our sport, which may include: children; people of colour; LGBTQ+ individuals; people with disabilities; people with learning disabilities; people who are not neuro typical; people with mental health issues
- Ensure the organisation works in a way which removes stereotyping and promotes inclusivity
- Build genuine relationships with those groups with the aim of understanding their concerns, perspectives and barriers to the sport
- Tailor communication strategies to resonate with the specific groups and the experiences of them
- Actively challenge harmful stereotypes, misinformation and discrimination at events
- Ensuring inclusive communication practices
- Recognise the diverse experiences and needs within marginalised groups and actively encourage participation in events and within the committee
Equipment Compliance and Maintenance Lead
Name: John Leeds, Bobbi Leeds
Duties:
- Ensuring that all equipment within the organisation is properly maintained through regular inspections by the trainers or the lead
- Supporting the maintaining of equipment and ensuring it adheres to organisation specifications and is safe
- Preventive maintenance: carry out inspections to identify potential issues before they become major problems
- Address issues that arise during its use at events
- Follow organisation regulations and ensure any equipment made or purchased falls within this
- Maintaining records of: equipment held; equipment purchased; repairs required; equipment disposed of; create a priority list of equipment; wish list of desired equipment
Publications Manager
Name: Jeni Aston
Duties:
- Production of materials: content development ensuring all published content aligns with the organisation's brand and objectives
- Acting as the central point of contact for all aspects of creating and releasing publications, whether print or digital
- Developing editorial content creation
- Reviewing and editing content for accuracy, style, and consistency
- Managing the distribution of publications across various channels, including print and online platforms
Diversity and Inclusion Lead
Name: Laura D'Allen
Duties:
- Oversee the organisation's inclusion and diversity efforts and initiatives
- Advise the committee on best practices to promote and foster diversity and establish an inclusive and welcoming organisation
- Work with the compliance lead to develop information sharing around diversity and inclusion
- Actively encourage diversity within the organisation committee and its target audience
- Investigating concerns or reports related to discrimination or harassment at events
- Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of Diversity and Inclusion themes
- Liaison with the secretary around the maintaining of information and records about diversity and inclusion
- Monitor diversity and inclusion policy and feed into annual policy review
Award Manager
Name: Lyra D'Allen
Duties:
- Support the end of class scoring
- Participate in award ceremonies
- Hand out rosettes and trophies
- Ensure all rosettes and trophies are correct
- Maintain a fair approach to awards for non-qualifying runs
Hoopers Inc(lusive) Policies and Rules
Welcome to the Hoopers Inc(lusive) Rules and Regulations section. Our comprehensive rulebook outlines everything you need to know about participating in Hoopers Inc(lusive) events.
The rules have been carefully designed to promote inclusivity while maintaining high standards of safety and fairness for all participants. They cover important topics including:
- Registration requirements for dogs and handlers
- Show rules and procedures
- Progression system and points
- Class structures and special categories
- Equipment specifications and course design
- Conduct expectations and welfare guidelines
Search by document name or words inside PDFs. Use the search below to find and open rules and policies.
We encourage all participants to familiarize themselves with these rules before competing. If you have any questions about the rules, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Ask Fraggle
Ask our policy assistant anything about Hoopers rules, safeguarding, diversity, or how to report a concern.
🐾 Open Ask FraggleEvent Diary
Upcoming and recent hooping events.
| Date | Event | Venue / Location | Status | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Mar 2026 | March Show | Buckfastleigh | Open | |
| 26 Apr 2026 | April Show | Buckfastleigh | Draft | |
| 24 May 2026 | May Weekend Show - Day 1 - Camping if required | Buckfastleigh | Draft | |
| 25 May 2026 | May Weekend Show - Day 2 - Camping if required | Buckfastleigh | Draft | |
| 21 Jun 2026 | June Show | Buckfastleigh | Draft | |
| 19 Jul 2026 | July Show | Buckfastleigh | Draft | |
| 23 Aug 2026 | August Show | Buckfastleigh | Draft | |
| 27 Sep 2026 | Finals | Buckfastleigh | Draft | |
| 18 Oct 2026 | October Show | Buckfastleigh | Draft |
Please note that our venue is a shared sports club facility, and other sporting events may be taking place alongside our show. When necessary, clear separation between events will be in place. A dedicated parking area will also be available for handlers with reactive dogs.
Contact
Send us a message
Contact Information
For any inquiries or to get in touch with Hoopers Inc(lusive), you can either use the form or contact us directly:
Email: info@hoopersinclusive.org
We look forward to hearing from you!