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 AKC Agility League’s winter season.
The AKC Agility League recently concluded its ninth season of competition and honored its top teams and competitors. Team champions were named in each of the 10 divisions, including the League’s newest division for beginner dogs, Elementary. This season’s team champions of the Regulation Elementary division are all junior handlers!
“Congratulations to this season’s winners!” says Penny Leigh, Director of AKC Agility League. “Season nine’s participants brought their all and it was so exciting to witness their hard work. We can’t wait for next season!”
The League offers three 12-week seasons a year. Teams, composed of three to eight dogs, run six courses each season. There are three field/ring size divisions: Extended (100 X 100 min.); Regulation (70 X 100 min.); and Limited (50 X 70 min.) and five skill levels: Ph.D. (International); Senior (Masters/Excellent); Sophomore (Open); Freshman (Novice); and Elementary (Pre-Novice). The AKC Agility League is sponsored by Purina Pro Plan and AKC Pet Insurance.
This season’s team champions are:
Extended Ph.D. – Naughty Spots – The team captain is Jackie Morgan, and the team runs at a private facility in Powhatan, Virginia. Team members are:
- Holly Hale & Border Collie, Sagehill’s Promisekeeper
- Lauren Siegel & Dalmatian, CH South Wind’s Set Sail MX MXB MXJ MJS MXF T2B
- Lachelle Henderson & Border Collie, Jumpstart’s Picture Perfect AX MXJ
- Elizabeth Abate & Papillon, CH Heartworks Sprinkles on Top for Lycaena MX MXJ MXF
- Holly Hale & Border Collie, MACH Sagehill Spot on Blue by You MXS MJS
Regulation Ph.D. – NC Rising Stars – The team captain is Beth White, and the team runs at Rising Stars Canine Ranch in Oak Ridge, North Carolina. Team members are:
- Holly Dodge & Shetland Sheepdog, Himark’s Emily of the Pinelands AX AXJ MJP MFB MFP CGC TKN
- Holly Dodge & Shetland Sheepdog, Everything’s Jake in the Pinelands BN RN CGC
- Catherine Holmes & Border Collie, Joey Van Gogh
- Catherine Holmes & Border Collie, Saffron
- Brenda Vogel & Border Collie, Quicksilver Face On The Ten
- Catherine Holmes & Border Collie, Sloane Ranger
Regulation Senior – She Shed’s Supersonics – The team captain is Kevin Bottoms, and the team runs at Chicken Creek Agility in Frankewing, Tennessee. Team members are:
- Sheri Fastenrath & German Shorthaired Pointer, CH Halestorm’s Sweet Confection CD BN RI OA AXJ MXF CGC TKN
- Jennifer Yates & Border Collie, MACH RACH Double J Stars Aligned CDX BN GN GO RM2 RAE2 MXB MJG PJD MXP4 MXPB PADP MJP4 MJPB MFC TQX T2B4 FCAT2
- Butch Norckauer & American Water Spaniel, Beavercreek’s Regal Godiva MX MXJ MJB MFB RATCH
- Lindsey Barrows & Papillon, GCHG CH MACH12 PACH Aerilee’s Kitto Katsu MXC3 PAD MJC3 PJD MXP4 MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX OF T2B BCAT CGC TKN
- Jean Lavalley & Shetland Sheepdog, Apex Lady Luck MX MXJ MXF
- Frank Ferraiuolo & Border Collie, MACH Rival’s True Grit MXB MJS MXF T2B2
- Jane Snider & Papillon, GCH CH MACH3 PACH2 Starstruck a Sky Full of Stars MXC MJC MXP7 MXPS MJP7 MJPS PAX2 NF OFP
- Deborah Yost & Shetland Sheepdog, MACH6 PACH Jandale Tempest Winds a Whippin’ MXG2 PDS MJB3 PJG MXP5 MXPS MJP6 MJPS PAX
Limited Senior – The FASTDoggie Era – The team captain is Kara Mackenzie, and the team runs at FASTDoggie Agility in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Team members are:
- Thyra Powers & Border Collie, Deacon Powers ACT2 TKP
- Jennifer Bailey & Border Collie, TBC Jett Propelled RI HT AX OAJ AJP OF MFP BCAT ACT1 RATN DJ DN CGCA CGCU TKP VHMP FITG FTN
- Kara Mackenzie & Border Collie, Shining Bright Name in Lights AX AXJ OF
- Avadhan Larson & Miniature American Shepherd, Harvest Wind Celtic Rose FDC AX MXJ MJB MXF T2B FCAT FTI
- Kyla Harrison & All-American Dog, Rosie “Roosevelt” Harrison AX AXJ XF
Regulation Sophomore – Fancy Woofs – The team captain is Cassy Jansen, and the team runs at Grand Forks Dog Training Club in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Team members are:
- Cassy Janssen & Miniature American Shepherd, GCH CH 74 Ranch Barrel Aged n Smoked RN
- Jill Swingen & Miniature American Shepherd, Wigglebutt Sneak Attack OA OAJ OF DCAT ACT1J SIN SEN
- Lisa Smilonich & Labrador Retriever, Paragons Royal Vintage of Waterstone NA NAJ BCAT ACT2 ACT2J SWNE SWE SCEE SIEE SEAE SCM SEM
- Cheyanne Chaput & Border Collie, GW Whataflirt NA NAJ BCAT SWN CGC TKN
Limited Sophomore – Wheatfield Whippersnappers – The team captain is Patty O’Bleness, and the team runs at Four Paws Farm in Pullman, Washington. Team members are:
- Patty O’Bleness & Border Collie, Tonglen Lake’s Call Me Maybe Baby XF TKP
- Debra Sellon & Border Collie, Contact Point’s Pippa On The Palouse OAJ XF TKA
- Leah Morris & All-American Dog, Skye Without Limits
- Debra Sellon & Papillon, Sunara Ezekiel J Barkus AX AXJ NF
- Caryl Dotson & Border Collie, Buck Branch Chapel Hill Charmer
Regulation Freshman – Shining Stars in the Sip – The team captain is Sally Peters, and the team runs at Agility in the Sip in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Team members are:
- Kimberly Bosworth & Border Collie, P.L. Quinn
- Sally Peters & Golden Retriever, Trifecta’s Best of the Best
- Helen Burrows & Border Collie, Finn
Limited Freshman – Defying Gravity at FASTDoggie –The team captain is Kara Mackenzie, and the team runs at FASTDoggie Agility in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Team members are:
- Ruth O’Brien & Australian Shepherd, Maui
- Deanna Wyman & All-American Dog, Laika Buttaro
- Dianne Ekenberg & Australian Shepherd, Bear River
- Kevin Fertal & Golden Retriever, Fertal’s Juniper
- Heidi Enoch & Shetland Sheepdog, Colorado Breeze N Pepsi
- Leslie Fields & All-American Dog, Johnny Cash the Flash DCAT TKE
- Megan Lundberg & All-American Dog, Redshift Voyager RN NAP
- Jennifer Bailey & Border Collie, Shine on Among the Stars NF FCAT2 ACT2 ACT2J CGC TKN VHMP FITG FTN
Regulation Elementary – K9 Jr Handler Sit, Stay, Fit 4H Club – The team captain is Virginia Studdert, and the team runs at a private facility in Clayton, New York. Team members are:
- Hannah Studdert & German Shepherd Dog, Jeejee Von Den Sturmfalken CGC TKN ATT
- Riley Studdert & All-American Dog, Scarlet Tanger FDC CGC TKI ATT
- Hailey Fleming & All-American Dog, Willow RAE ACT1 CGC TKI ATT
Limited Elementary – Pikes Peak Prodigies at FASTDoggie – The team captain is Kara Mackenzie, and the team runs at FASTDoggie Agility in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Team members are:
- Mary Edwards & All-American Dog, Tully Edwards
- Tracy Slater & All-American Dog, Rocky Mtn’S Malligator
- Tate Fields & All-American Dog, Field’s Bear
- Alleah Baron & Portuguese Water Dog, Marshview OG Sizzling Shard of Olympus TKN
- Tyler Otwell & Pembrooke Welsh Corgi, Walkabouts Chasing Absolution BCAT
- Kyla Harrison & Border Collie, HCK White Widow BCAT
Enrollment is currently taking place for the AKC Agility League Spring/Summer Season which launches on May 12. The Spring/Summer Season is the last chance to qualify for the 2025 AKC Agility League Championship taking place September 26-28 in Pendleton, South Carolina. For more information, click here. Questions? Email AgilityLeague@akc.org.