The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization that is the world’s largest registry of purebred and mixed-breed dogs – and a leading voice for canine welfare and responsible ownership, is thrilled to announce the winners of the third annual AKC Agility League Championship. The championship took place September 26th through September 28th at T. Ed Garrison Arena in Pendleton, South Carolina, bringing together League teams from around the country for fun, fellowship, and top-notch competition.
“It’s such a joy to see all the League’s participants come together to compete in person,” says Penny Leigh, Director of AKC Agility League. “The teams and the dogs always give it their all.”
During regular season, participants compete in a recreational format on a home training field while sharing the experience with competitors around the country and earning regional and national rankings. The league championship is an opportunity for teams to meet in person and compete on the same playing field. This year’s entry more than tripled since the first championship with more than 90 teams, each composed of three to eight dogs, and competitors traveling from around the country, including Alaska, Louisiana, Wisconsin and New York.
The event featured classes for all levels of dogs from Novice through International This was the first year that the Championship included the Elementary class for pre-novice dogs, and an all-junior handler team, members of a New York 4H club, placed third in the team competition. The event also offered fun team contests, including the Best Team Shirt and Best Decorated Crating Area. Judges were Rebecca Schnulle of South Carolina (Senior & Freshman), Carol Mount of New Jersey (PhD – courses designed by Ashley Deacon), and Abbie Hanson of South Carolina (Sophomore and Elementary). The top three teams were honored in each division: Ph.D. (International-style courses), Senior (Masters courses), Sophomore (Open courses), Freshman (Novice courses), and Elementary (Pre-Novice courses). The top dogs in each jump height class were also honored in each division.
The 2025 Team Champions were:
Ph.D. Class
Champion – WestRover’s Speed Squad: Too Fast to Forecast
Captain is Beth Griffin, and they are based at WestRover Agility Club in Alabama. Team members are:
- Viveka Rosenberger & Shetland Sheepdog, AGCH MACH5 Trinity’s Giddy Up Your Stuff MXS2 PDS MJS2 PJS MFC TQX T2B7 DCA
- Andrea Samuels & Papillon, Starstruck The Voice Of Reason MX MXJ MXP
- Viveka Rosenberger & Shetland Sheepdog, MACH Stonehaven Stuck On You MXB MJB PJD MXF TQX T2B2 BCAT TKI
- Viveka Rosenberger & Papillon, Kisu’s Backfield In Motion AX MXJ XF T2B BCAT
- Beth Griffin & Border Collie, Wynn RN MX MXJ MFB T2B
PhD 2nd Place – Coastal Collies PHD – Captain Lisa Nurminen – South Carolina
PhD 3rd Place – The Mixed Nuts – Captain Nikki Hall – West Virginia
Senior Class
Champion – Greased Lightning at Golden Acres
Captain is Kat Baumler, and they are based at Golden Acres Dog Training in Ohio. Team members are:
- Deborah Scheel & Papillon, AGCH MACH13 Nanken My Mcqueen For A Day MXB4 PDS MJS5 PJS MFC2 TQX T2B5 CA
- Melanie Robison & Shetland Sheepdog, Apex Swish And Sway My Stuff MX MXB MXJ MJB XF T2B BCAT SCN SIN CGC TKN
- Kat Baumler & Papillon, MACH2 Aerilee’s King Of Mischief MXG MJC XF DCAT CGC
- Jennifer Masterson & All American Dog, MACH Breezyblue’s Master Of Luck MXS MJG MFS T2B3
- Sharon Anderson & Border Collie, Perfect 10’s I Gotta Feeling AX AXJ NF
Senior 2nd Place – Connect to Run! Wave Runners 1 – Captain Paula Kvarnberg – Florida
Senior 3rd Place – She Shed’s Supersonics – Captain Kevin Bottoms – Tennessee
Sophomore Class
Champion – Just Winging It
Captain is Pam Robbins, and they are based at Durham Kennel Club in North Carolina. Team members are:
- Susan Smith & Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Loula Gypsy Cowgirl AX AXJ OF ACT1 ACT1J
- Vicky Gillow & Shetland Sheepdog, Moonglow Luminescent Eclipse CD RE OAP OJP ACT1 ACT1J
- Roger Akers & Shetland Sheepdog, Stowhill Test Of Time NA XF ACT2J
- Pat Wallace & Shetland Sheepdog, Wistwin Riptide NA OAJ XF ACT2J
- William Jones & Belgian Malinois, Quetzal ACT2J
Sophomore 2nd Place – Coalmine Canines – Captain Nikki Hall – West Virginia
Sophomore 3rd Place – WestRover’s Team2Beat: EFS – Captain Ashley Driskell – Alabama
Freshman Class
Champion – Earning Our Wings
Captain is Pam Robbins, and the team is Durham Kennel Club in North Carolina. Team members are:
- Laura Martinez & Parson Russell Terrier, Deep Creek Blackbird ACT2 ACT1J CGC
- Susan Smith & Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Loula Gypsy Cowgirl AX AXJ OF ACT1 ACT1J
- Vicky Gillow & Shetland Sheepdog, Moonglow Luminescent Eclipse CD RE OAP OJP ACT1 ACT1J
- Pat Wallace & Shetland Sheepdog, Wistwin Riptide NA OAJ XF ACT2J
- William Jones & Belgian Malinois, Quetzal ACT2J
Freshman 2nd Place – Team 4 Motley Crew – Captain Mary Alyssa Lyttle – Tennessee
Freshman 3rd Place – Running Dogs – Captain Kim Matson – Virginia
Elementary Class
Champion Team – Little Dreamers
The captain is Margaret Bojko, and they are based at Dream Acres Agility in Wisconsin. Team members are:
- Margaret Bojko & Border Collie, Our Gang’s Spread The Rumor ACT2 CGCA CGCU
- Mary Flanderka & Border Collie, Hola Flanderka
- Tina Grubor & English Cocker Spaniel, Redline Mali
Elementary 2nd Place – Learning to Fly – Captain Pam Robbins – North Carolina
Elementary 3rd Place – K9 Jr Handlers Sit, Stay, Fit 4H Club – Captain Virginia Studdert – New York
All the results, including the individual dog placements, may be found in the Event Documents here. The AKC Agility League’s Fall Season kicked off on Sept. 17. Winter Season Enrollment launches in mid-December. For more information, contact AgilityLeague@akc.org.