The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization, the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, is excited to announce the winners of the American Kennel Club Agility League’s summer season. The AKC Agility League recently concluded its fourth season of competition and honored its top teams and competitors. Team champions were named in each of the eight divisions.
The AKC Agility League is sponsored by Purina Pro Plan, YuMove and AKC Pet Insurance.
The League offers three 12-week long seasons a year. Teams run six courses each season. There are three field/ring size divisions: International (100 X 100 min.), Regulation (70 X 100 min.), and Limited (50 X 70 min.). There are four skill levels: Ph.D. (International), Senior (Masters/Excellent), Sophomore (Open), and Freshman (Novice).
“We are thrilled by the success of the AKC Agility League’s summer season,” said AKC Executive Secretary Gina DiNardo. “We are so thankful to all this summer’s participants and can’t wait for upcoming seasons.”
This season’s team champions are:
International PH.D. – Top Gun. The team is captained by JoAnn Burtness and sponsored by the Durham Kennel Club of Durham, NC. Members are:
- Laurence Gesquiere, Border Collie, Way2me Cyclone MX MXJ MJP2
- Susan Bankauf, Border Collie, Windy Blast Positronic Storm AX AXJ NF CGC
- Susan Bankauf, Border Collie, Windy Blast In Disguise RN MX MXJ NFP SWN SCA SIA SEA CGC TKI
- Laurence Gesquiere, Border Collie, Windy Blast Swirl My World Twister AX AXJ SWN SCA SIA SEA CGC TKP
- JoAnn Burtness, Bedlington Terrier, MACH5 Coventina’s Moondance; Ride Of The Valkyries RN FDC MXS2 PAD MJS2 PJD OF T2B ME CAX BCAT RATM TKI
Regulation Ph.D. – WestRover’s Speed Squad. The team is captained by Viveka Rosenberger and sponsored by WestRover Agility Club of Birmingham, AL. Members are:
- Sterling Wanninger, Australian Shepherd, Rowes Just Turnin AX AXJ CGCA CGCU TKA
- Jennifer Crisman, American Eskimo Dog, AGCH MACH4 Trinity’s Amazing Kekoa MXC PDS MJB2 PJS MFG TQX T2B5 FCAT CGC
- Viveka Rosenberger, Shetland Sheepdog, MACH3 Trinity’s Giddy Up Your Stuff MXC PAD MJC PJS MFS TQX T2B5 DCAT CGC TKN
- Beth Griffin, Border Collie, Wynn II RN AX AXJ MXF
Regulation Senior – Redline Growlers. The team is captained by D. Lynne Luckow and is sponsored by Redline Canine Training Center of Germantown, WI. Members are:
- Lynne Luckow, English Cocker Spaniel, Devongem Live For The Moment NA OAJ CGC
- Lynne Luckow, Border Collie, Redline This Girl Is On Fire
- Kimberly Wayne, Border Collie, Devongem Speed Indeed NA NAJ
- Kimberly Wayne, English Cocker Spaniel – Devongem It’s Show Time
Limited Senior – FASTDoggie Good Vibes. The team is captained by Kara Mackenzie and is sponsored by FASTDoggie agility school in Colorado Springs, CO. Members are:
- Tate Fields, Border Collie, Steel Perfect MX MXB MXJ XF
- Katherine Shogren, Belgian Tervuren, CH RACH Bijouluisant Starrcreek Blkcat Highvelocitymissile CDX PCDX BN RM2 RAE2 HIAd HSAdMsM MX MXJ MXF T2B CAA DCAT ACT1 SWA SEE SHDA RATCH DJ CGCA TKP
- Ryley Theien, All American Dog, Indigo:) NAJ
- Michelle Rubio, Miniature Schnauzer, Passport Paradox Happy Go Lexi MX MXJ XF CGC TKP
- Avadhan Larson, Miniature American Shepherd, Harvest Wind Celtic Rose OA AXJ OF BCAT
- Kyla Harrison, All American Dog, Rosie “Roosevelt” Harrison OA OAJ NF
Regulation Sophomore – Just Winging It. The team is captained by Penny Leigh and is sponsored by Durham Kennel Club in Durham, NC. Members are:
- Laavanya Sankaranarayanan – Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Chidambaram Fgfretrogene Chonksta Sankaranarayanan OA OAJ OF BCAT
- Pam Robbins – Border Collie – Mick XIV CDX RN HIBs HXAs OA OAJ OF TKN
- Kathy McLaren – Pembroke Welsh Corgi – Trifecta Unforgettable NA SWN
- Cara Triebel – Miniature American Shepherd – Bailey’s Mini Skye RN NAP OJP
- Penny Leigh – All American Dog – ZG Jammin’s Start Me Up AX AXJ OF
Limited Sophomore – AFDT’s Pizza the Action. The team is captained by Marilyn Paker and is sponsored by All Fours Dog Training of Chicago, IL. Members are:
- Constance White, Airedale Terrier, Connemara’s Bodacious Conjurer RN NA OAJ OF TKN
- Jason Libasci, Airedale Terrier, Connemara’s Weaving Like The Wind RN NA NAJ NF
- Ana Soskic, Dalmatian, Windy City Spots NA OAJ NF ACT2
- Laura Tom, Australian Shepherd, Thornapple Far Beyond The Stars OA OAJ XF
Regulation Freshman – SAC Sassy Pups. The team is captained by Kate Samuelson and is sponsored by Spokane Agility Club of Spokane, WA. Members are:
- Kate Samuelson, Border Collie, Mvr Midnight In Kona OF CGC TKN
- Debby Atencio, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Omega’Z Kinetic Energy BCAT CGCA CGCU TKI FITB
- Lisa Bays, Miniature American Shepherd, Chandrea’s Be Still My Heart RN NA NAJ CGC TKA
Limited Freshman – AFDT’s Blind Squirrels We’re Nutz. The team is captained by Ana Soskic and is sponsored by All Fours Dog Training of Chicago, IL. Members are:
- Dee Corboy-Lulik, Airedale Terrier, Connemara’s Missing Link ACT2
- Betsy Easton, Border Terrier, Faireview Leadoff Man ME SXE2
- Jason Libasci, Airedale Terrier, Connemara’s Lucky Charm RN TKN
- Matt DeSpirt, French Bulldog, Eloise Despirt
- Carol Glassroth, American Staffordshire Terrier, The Stormin’ Norman ACT2
The AKC Agility League Fall Season launches on Sept. 18. For more information, visit https://www.akc.org/akc-agility-league/. Questions? Contact AgilityLeague@akc.org.