The teams are going head to head! The first-ever AKC Agility Team Challenge has crowned its winner, after a thrilling bracket competition. Learn more about the event, part of AKC Celebrates USA 250, which took place at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on June 7.
The Agility Teams
Each team was put together at random to represent a city, including Philadelphia, the home base for the competition. Members of the teams came from all over — not just these cities. Each team featured two Small dogs, two Medium dogs, and two Large dogs, with breeds ranging from purebreds to All-American Dogs.
Boston
If there were another name for Boston’s team, it’d be The Border Collies! Four Border Collies competed as part of team Boston, two in the Medium dog runs and two in the Large. “Typo,” handled by Amber McCune, and “Tuna,” handled by Nick Carlton represented the Large dogs. “Zazu,” handled by Miki Shannon, and “Raven,” handled by Mari Jo Reese represented the Medium dogs. Poodle “Skye,” handled by Han Yu and Rat Terrier “Ruthless,” handled by Michelle Kiernan made up Boston’s Small dogs.
Boston’s members were largely not from the East Coast. McCune and Carlton are from New Hampshire; Kiernan and Shannon from California; Yu from Illinois; and Reese from Pennsylvania.
Chicago
Chicago’s Small dogs were represented by two Shetland Sheepdogs: “Superstar” handled by Abigail Beasley and “Happy” handled by Diane Patterson. The Medium dogs were Manchester Terrier “Kipsey” handled by Inez Pennington and All-American Dog “Iron Man” handled by Carol Boggess. The Large breed dogs were represented by “Kit” the Border Collie, handled by Sally Connell, and “Xcel” the Working Kelpie, handled by Erin Stumler.
The teams from Chicago came from across the United States. Beasley from Ohio, Patterson from Connecticut, Boggess from Virgina, Pennington from Missouri, Connell from California, and Stumler from Indiana.
Nashville
Nashville’s team had two Border Collies representing. For Small dogs, “Loki” the Papillon, handled by Kat Baumler, and “Dutch” the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, handled by Antonia Rotelle competed. “Minute” the Shetland Sheepdog handled by Susan Bintliff and “Lit” the Border Collie handled by Jill Tice represented the Medium dogs. Labrador Retriever “Nolan,” handled by Bridget Kennedy and Border Collie “Zoom-Zoom,” handled by Andy Winther ran for the team in the Large dog class.
Baumler is from Ohio, Rotelle from Pennsylvania, Bintliff from New Jersey, Tice from New York, Kennedy from Florida, and Winther from Massachusetts.
New York
New York’s team was represented by two Border Collies and two All-American Dogs — and two dogs named “Rose!” The Small dogs were represented by “Clover” the All-American Dog, handled by Jennifer Masterson and “Rose” the Miniature American Shepherd, handled by Jeri Frye. The Medium dogs were Shetland Sheepdog “Monty,” handled by Viveka Rosenberger, and All-American Dog “Betelgeuse,” handled by Bridget Thomas. Border Collies represented New York’s Large dogs: “Kyber,” handled by Geoffrey Nieder, and “Rose,” handled by Jeremy Schultz.
New York’s team members also didn’t have many East Coasters. Masterson is from California, Nieder and Frye from Missouri, Rosenberger from Alabama, Thomas from Florida, and Schultz from Michigan.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia was playing on their home turf. “Finn” the Papillon, handled by Jesse Westover and “Wizard” the Shetland Sheepdog, handled by Beth Bond made up Philly’s Small dogs. Border Collie “Surprise,” handled by Jenn Crank, and Pumi “Boo,” handled by Christine Brew, made up the Medium runs. “Cosmo” the Viszla, handled by Sam Chew, and “Toqui” the Border Collie, handled by Ann Hills, represented the Large dogs in runs.
A few members of Philly’s team hailed from Pennsylvania. Westover and Bond are both from PA, Crank from Ohio, Hills and Brew from California, and Chew from Washington.
Washington D.C.
Washington D.C’s team featured two Poodles and two Border Collies, along with one All American Dog and an English Springer Spaniel. The Small dogs were “Nimble” the All-American Dog, handled by Cynthia Hornor, and “Maui” the Poodle, handled by Tammie Gigstad. The Medium dogs were “Rigby” the Poodle, handled by Lisa Suttner and “Fern” the English Springer Spaniel, handled by Jenny Kroll. The Large dogs were Border Collies “James” and “Dude,” handled by Brenda Kelly and Daisy Peel respectively.
The D.C. team members were also from across the country. Horner is from Maryland, Gigstad from Nebraska, Suttner from New Jersey, Kroll from Indiana, Kelly from Texas, and Peel from Oregon.
The Champion Team
After a thrilling head-to-head with Team Chicago, Team Boston took home the win as the first-ever AKC Agility Team Challenge Champion.
Teams competed in preliminary rounds to decide placements for Quarter Final and Semi-Final Rounds before the Final. In the Quarter Finals, team Philadelphia beat team New York, and team Boston beat team Nashville. Philadelphia competed against team Chicago in the Semi-Final Round, which Chicago won. Boston and Washington D.C. competed in the Semi-Final round, crowning Boston winner. In the high-stakes battle for the top prize, Boston went to beat Chicago. See all scores and placements for the AKC Agility Team Challenge here.
How Does Agility Work?
Agility requires athleticism, concentration, training, and, most of all, teamwork for the dog-human team. The handler directs the dog through a predetermined pattern of obstacles, including jumps, tunnels, and weave poles, while racing against the clock. They must complete the course as perfectly as possible within a specific amount of time—meaning no skips or misses on obstacles.
Agility is a timed and a fault sport, meaning teams gain or lose points based on several criteria. Each team starts out with 100 points. Points are deducted for every penalty: for example taking an obstacle out of sequence, displacing a panel on a jump, or leaving the pause table too soon. Teams also lose points if they exceed the time set for running the course. But you don’t have to memorize all of the rules to enjoy watching the fast-paced sport.
Agility Team Challenges are a unique take on standard agility competitions, so the rules and scoring differ slightly.
