Meet the Winners of the 2023 AKC Agility Invitational

The 18th annual AKC Agility Invitational, Presented by YuMOVE saw some of the most agile dogs in the country. The competition aired on ESPN2 on Sunday, December 24, and took place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on December 16 and 17 as part of AKC National Championship week.

Agility winners were crowned in different height divisions: 8 inch, 12 inch, 16 inch, 20 inch, and 24 inch. Dogs raced around predetermined obstacle courses and work with their handler to navigate the course the fastest without fault. The dogs with the fastest, cleanest runs, were the winners in their height divisions.

8-Inch Regular/Preferred Division Winners

First Place

The dog and handler team that came in first place in the 8-Inch division at the 2023 AKC Agility Invitational was Cavalier King Charles Spaniel “Dot” AGCH MACH29 Kayangee Dorothy Parker MXS8 PDS MJC9 PJS MFG TQX T2B5 CGC, owned and handled by Antonia Rotelle. Rotelle and Dot ran a clean run, finishing with a time of 28.99 seconds. Dot was one of six agility dogs that Rotelle ran at the AKC Agility Invitational.

Second Place

In second place in the 8-inch division was Pembroke Welsh Corgi “Maverick” AGCH2 MACH34 Croswynd Making Mavericks MXC8 PDB2 MJB9 PJB2 MFS2 TQX T2B11 CA THDN CGC TKP DN40571905, owned and handled by Sally Slade. The team ran a clean run, with a time of 30.63 seconds.

Third Place

Swedish Vallhund “Saga” MACH3 RACH Sunfire’s All Eyes On Me CDX BN RM6 RAE3 FDC MXB2 PDS MJS2 PJD MFS TQX T2B4 FCAT CGCA TKI, owned and handled by Madison LeRoy, came in third place in the 8-inch division. LeRoy and Saga ran a clean run, with a time of 30.97 seconds.

Fourth Place

Boston Terrier “Ripple” came in fourth place. Ripple “AGCH MACH8 Jo-Clem Songs To Fill The Air RA MXB3 PDS MJS3 PJS MFG TQX T2B5 CA FCAT TKN” is owned by Julie Haddy and handled by Dan Haddy. The team ran a clean run, with a time of 32.23 seconds.

12-Inch Regular/Preferred Division Winners

First Place

The winner of the 12-inch division at the 2023 AKC Agility Invitational was Shetland Sheepdog “Venture” AGCH MACH6 Taylormade Inspired Adventure MXG2 PDS MJG2 PJS MFG TQX T2B5. Venture is owned by Linda Robertson, and was handled by Jean Lavalley. Lavalley and Venture ran a clean run, with a time of 31.22 seconds.

Second Place

In second place in the 12-inch division was Poodle “Ty” CH AGCH2 MACH19 Eaglehill Right On Tyme CDX BN GN RM RAE MXG5 PDC MJS6 PJC MFS2 TQX T2B10 BCAT CGC TKA, owned and handled by Cathi Winkles. The team ran a clean run with a time of 31.50 seconds.

Third Place

All-American Dog “Dusty” MACH2 Cosmic Rayn Of Stardust MXS MJG XF DCAT, owned and handled by Sonja Davis, placed third in the 12-inch division. Davis and Dusty had a clean run, with a time of 31.53 seconds.

Fourth Place

Placing fourth in the 12-inch division was Boston Terrier “Spiffy” MACH4 Widget’s Sharp Dressed Man MXC PAD MJG2 PJS MFS TQX T2B5 CAX FCAT3 DMA DS ASA HDM CGC TKI, owned and handled by Stacy Price. Price and Spiffy had a clean run, with a time of 33.89 seconds.

16-Inch Regular/Preferred Division Winners

First Place

The winner of the 16-inch division at the 2023 AKC Agility Classic was Border Collie “Trinity” CH MACH11 Tenja’s First Atomic Dog MXC3 PAD MJC3 PJD OF, owned and handled by Roger O’Sullivan. The team had a clean run, with a time of 28.01 seconds.

Second Place

Cocker Spaniel “Bristol” MACH2 Bristol The Pistol Morris MXC MJG T2B3 CGCA, owned and handled by Ron Morris, placed second in the 16-inch division. Morris and Bristol ran a clean run with a time of 31.16 seconds.

Third Place

Placing third in the 16-inch division was Dalmatian “Atty” MACH16 Riverside’s N Onsengeltje Athena MXS5 PDS MJG6 PJS MXF T2B6 CA CGCA, owned and handled by Tod Herbert. The team had a clean run, finishing with a time of 33.49 seconds.

Fourth Place

Coming in fourth place in the 16-inch division was Rat Terrier “Jyn” CH MACH4 Dos Rebellions Are Built On Hope Nbt @Nhk FDC MXC MJC MFB TQX T2B BCAT ACT2 ACT2J CGC TKA, owned by Monica Jones and handled by Don Jones. The team had a clean run, with a time of 34.93 seconds.

20-Inch Regular/Preferred Division Winners

First Place

The winner of the 20-inch division at the AKC Agility Invitational was German Shorthaired Pointer “Mia,” owned and handled by Beth Janos. Mia MACH3 Ehrenvogel Wings Of Hope’s Wanderin’ Free CD RN JH MXC MJB2 MXF T2B BCAT DM DS and Janos had a clean run with a time of 28.68 seconds.

Second Place

Placing second was Australian Shepherd “Lily” GCH MACH9 Starstuff Wild Flower MXS3 PDS MJG3 PJG MFB2 TQX T2B7. Mia and owner-handler Andrea Boucher ran a clean run, finishing with a time of 30.37 seconds.

Third Place

Golden Retriever “Bounce”, handled and owned by Lois L. Williams, placed third in the 20-inch division. Bounce GCH2 MACH26 Watermark’s Good Vibrations MXS7 PDC MJS8 PJC MFB3 TQX T2B11 and Williams finished with a time of 31.30 seconds, and had a clean run.

Fourth Place

In fourth place in the 20-inch division was Australian Cattle Dog “Cady” MACH6 Cady’s New Departure UD OM1 BN RE HT MXS2 PDS MJS2 PJS MFS TQX T2B4 BCAT SWE SHDE CGC. Cady, owned and handled by Helen Springut, finished with a clean run with a time of 31.76 seconds.

24-Inch Regular/Preferred Division Winners

First Place

The winner of the 24-inch division at the 2023 AKC Agility Invitational was Whippet “Rake,” owned and handled by Jennifer Smith, Rake MACH3 Cogshalls Wylie Rake Of Lanruvi MXC MJS2 and Smith ran a clean run, with a time of 28.86 seconds.

Second Place

Flat-Coated Retriever “Granite” MACH7 Stormwatch Nor’Easter VCD2 BN SH MXS2 PAD MJG2 PJD DS CGC, owned by Joseph Juza, took home second place in the 24-inch division. Handler Amber McCune and Granite ran a clean run with a time of 30.80 seconds.

Third Place

Placing third in the 24-inch division was Labrador Retriever “Nolan” 3 MACH2 Triple Threat’s You Ain’T Seen Nothing Yet BN RN MXG MJB2 MFB TQX T2B2 BCAT DS DJ AS. Nolan is owned and handled by Bridget M. Kennedy, and the team ran a clean run with a time of 34.27 seconds.

Fourth Place

German Shepherd Dog “Cinder” took home fourth place in the 24-inch division with owner/handler Joe Sheridan. Cinder MXP24 MXPB3 PDSP MJP24 MJPB3 PJSP PAX9 MFPC TQXP T2BP6 and Sheridan had a clean run, with a time of 34.65 seconds.