2009 World Agility Championships

World Team Departing for Austria

The AKC/USA Agility World Team is on its way to Austria to start its run for the gold at the FCI Agility World Championships.

Thirty-six nations will be represented at the event Sept. 18-20 as the world’s best agility dogs vie for medals in team and individual competition. The team members will arrive in Dornbirn, Austria, over the weekend and will get in practice time next week before the event starts Friday. The competition takes place in the Dornbirner Messe indoor soccer stadium.

"We are fielding a great team," said Andy Hartman, AKC Director of Agility. "We expect the competition to be exciting and look forward to putting our best foot forward in Dornbirn."

I Love Dogs.com sponsors the AKC/USA Agility World Team and is selling supporter t-shirts on its website – www.ilovedogs.com.

The team is comprised of 12 dogs and handlers. They are divided into three four-dog teams by jump height – Mini Team (14-inches), Midi Team (18-inches) and Maxi Team (26 inches).

Twenty-five percent of the 2009 team is new, but the team also includes veterans of international competition. Marcus Topps and Border Collie, Juice, and Marcy Mantell and Shetland Sheepdog, Wave, earned individual gold medals in 2008 and will be returning to defend their crowns.

Team members worked diligently over the summer towards making their dreams of medals come true. They met for two team practices in Wisconsin and California and communicated via e-mail with Coach Nancy Gyes.

"Team members have been running courses and drills from the two judges we will compete under at the event, and I think they are definitely up to the challenge," Gyes said.

Stay posted to the AKC website for updates on the team and the World Championships!!

Marcus Topps of Texas and Border Collie, Juice