Nordic open hoopers 2026
Nordic Open Hoopers is an annual open competition organised by Northern Lights Hoopers in Finland. In addition to competing for the Nordic Open titles, handlers in the Open class also competed for places on Team Finland for the 2026 World Hoopers Open Championship (WHOC), which will be held in Slovenia this year.
This year's event attracted competitors from Finland, Estonia and Sweden. Alongside the Open classes, Nordic Open Junior offered less experienced teams an opportunity to compete under the same international-inspired format.
A total of 8 small dogs and 33 open dogs were entered in the Nordic Open classes this year. The event also featured a Junior class, with 10 small dogs and 18 open dogs competing. In addition to the competition, seminars led by the event judges were held on Saturday evening and Monday, providing participants with further learning opportunities throughout the weekend.
International Judges
This year's judges were Alfonso Sabbatini and Susanna Coletto from Italy.
Alfonso Sabbatini is an international Hoopers judge, instructor and competitor. He is also the founder of the World Hoopers Open Championship (WHOC), giving him a unique perspective on the development of the sport worldwide. In 2025, he won the WHOC World Championship with his Border Collie, Jack Sparrow.
"The WHOC was born from one of my ideas and has grown into a project that continues to develop beyond all expectations." Alfonso Sabbatini
Susanna Coletto is also an experienced judge and instructor. She runs a training centre in Italy and actively teaches Hoopers both at home and internationally. In 2025, she earned a silver medal at WHOC with her Border Collie, Zefy.
Both judges praised not only the technical level of the competition but also the atmosphere surrounding the event. Alfonso highlighted the quality of teamwork and the attention paid to the dogs' well-being, while Susanna was particularly impressed by the sportsmanship and positive attitude of the competitors.
"I was especially impressed by the quality of teamwork, the mutual respect, and the attention given to the dogs' well-being." Alfonso Sabbatini
Competition Format
The competition followed a WHOC-inspired scoring system. Each team started with 200 points per course, with points deducted for faults. Each class had two runs. Final rankings were based on the combined score from both courses, with time used as a last tiebreaker when necessary.
The Nordic Open format rewards consistency across multiple runs rather than focusing solely on a single clear round. A mistake on one obstacle does not automatically end the possibility of a strong overall result, which creates a different competitive dynamic compared to national hoopers’ rules in Finland.
The organisers also adapted some aspects of the competition format to local practices. One example was the reward policy, which allowed handlers to reward their dogs before and after their runs inside the ring. While rewards were not permitted during the performance itself, the rule helped create a dog-friendly competition environment while maintaining the integrity of the competition.
Nordic Open Junior followed the same basic principles but with slightly shorter distances and a larger handling area, providing a gradual pathway towards Open-level competition.
What Kind of Courses Were Seen?
The competition took place in a spacious 40 x 50 metre arena, allowing the judges to design flowing courses with longer obstacle distances.
The courses were carefully adapted to both size categories and competition levels. While the overall flow remained similar, the small dog courses featured slightly more technical elements to create an appropriate challenge. Handlers faced a variety of discrimination challenges, often involving multiple barrels positioned to test commitment, obstacle focus and line management at considerable distances from the handling area.
The courses rewarded dogs that could maintain their lines independently while responding accurately to information from the handler. One particularly interesting feature on the final course was the use of a three-hoop wave obstacle, creating an additional layer of challenge for both dogs and handlers.
"I was impressed by the high standard of competition, not only among the large dogs but also among the small dogs." Susanna Coletto
Event Livestream
The event was livestreamed on YouTube. If you would like to watch the courses and competitors in action, you can find the recordings at the following timestamps:
Nordic Open Junior A 32:32
Nordic Open Junior B 2:18:56
Nordic Open A 4:57:45
Nordic Open B 7:49:01
More Than a Competition
Perhaps the strongest message from both judges was not about scores, rankings or technical performance. They spoke about community. Competitors from different countries came together to share the same passion, support one another and celebrate the sport. For Susanna, this spirit represented the very essence of Hoopers. As Hoopers continues to grow internationally, events such as Nordic Open demonstrate how competition and community can successfully come together in a single weekend.
"Sport has no borders. When you are surrounded by people who share the same passion and the same values, you will always feel at home." Susanna Coletto
Happy Hoopers - for hoopers handlers and coaches
Happy Hoopers is a site designed for hoopers enthusiasts and coaches. Here you’ll find information about the sport, ideas to inspire your training, and insights that go a little beyond hoopers itself. All with the goal of helping you and your dog enjoy the journey together.
The site was founded by Tiina Wikström, a hoopers instructor, coach trainer, and mental performance coach. Tiina is passionate about supporting handlers and coaches in creating positive, motivating, and enjoyable training experiences for both dogs and humans.
Whether you’re just starting your hoopers adventure or you’re an experienced trainer looking for fresh perspectives, Happy Hoopers is here to spark your creativity and keep your sessions fun and purposeful.
Learn more: www.happyhoopers.fi
