Flying Through Fall: AKC Agility League Announces Season Champions

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 AKC Agility League’s fall season.

The AKC Agility League recently concluded its 11^th season of competition and honored its top teams and competitors. Team champions were named in each of the ten divisions/skill levels. For the first time in a single season, one state – Alaska – delivered four of the top teams. For the third season in a row, the team Shed’s Supersonics of Tennessee won the Regulation Senior division, the largest League class.

The League offers three 12-week long 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 continued success of the AKC Agility League is a testament to the team members and canine athletes that give their all every season,” says Penny Leigh, AKC Agility League Director. “Congrats to this season’s champions!”

This season’s team champions are:

Extended Ph.D. – Living the Agility Dream – The team captain is Gabrielle Melton, and the team runs at a private facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Team members are:

-       Pam Moore & Poodle, MACH Karbits Casey Jones the Brave Engineer MXB PAD MJS PJD MFB T2B TKN

-       Sally Moses & Belgian Malinois, Malinger’s Mountain Fig NA NAJ NF

-       Elaine Robinson & All-American Dog, Robinson’s Grace NA NAJ MXP2 MXPB MJP2 MJPB XFP T2BP

-       Katherine Watson & Border Collie, MACH2 Norwood Exquisite Timepiece MXC PAD MJC PJD MXP MJP MFG TQX T2B3 T2BP

Regulation Ph.D. – Sunny with a Chance of Collies – The team captain is Ashley Wooten, and the team runs at Erable Field in Columbus, Ohio. Team members are:

-       Jenna Strayer & Border Collie, Inflight Merde SWN CGCA

-       Jason Johannes & Border Collie, Rival’s Beat You to the Top of Pike’s Peak MX MXB MXJ OF CGC

-       Ashley Wooten & Shetland Sheepdog, Erable Love at First Light AX AXJ OF BCAT CGC TKN

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 AX MXJ MFB CGC TKN

-       Jennifer Yates & Border Collie, AGCH MACH PACH RACH Double J Stars Aligned CDX BN GN GO RM2 RAE2 MXB MJG PJ

-       Butch Norckauer & American Water Spaniel, Beavercreek’s Regal Godiva MX MXJ MJS MFS RATCH

-       Lindsey Barrows & Papillon, GCHG CH MACH12 PACH3 Aerilee’s Kitto Katsu MXC3 PAD MJC3 PJD MXP7 MXPS MJP8 MJPB PAX OF T2B BCAT CGC TKN

-       Jean Lavalley & Shetland Sheepdog, Apex Lady Luck MX MXB MXJ MJB MXF

-       Frank Ferraiuolo & Border Collie, MACH Rival’s True Grit MXS MJG MFB T2B3

-       Jane Snider & Papillon, GCH CH MACH3 PACH3 Starstruck a Sky Full of Stars MXC MJC MXP9 MXPG MJP11 MJPS PAX2 NF OFP

-       Jacqueline Albright-Kehoe & All-American Dog, Hold My Beer, Watch This AX MXJ XF BCAT ACT2J

Limited Senior – Homemade Pickles – The team captain is Ana Ford, and the team runs at Windy Ridge Farms in Clarkson, Kentucky. Team members are:

-       Ana Ford & Miniature American Shepherd, Schnepp’s Lil Red Hot Lava @ Windy Ridge CD RE MX MXB MXJ MJB OF T2B BCAT

-       Sarah Ford & Miniature American Shepherd, Windy Ridge High and Mighty RN OAJ NF CGC

-       Sarah Ford & Miniature American Shepherd, MACH WHF Little Bitty Hazelnut RE MXB MJB OF T2B2 BCAT SWN SCA SEA SBA CGC

Regulation Sophomore – Sourdough Starters – The team captain is Michelle Steed, and the team runs at a private facility in Ketchikan, Alaska. Team members are:

-       Michelle Steed & Shetland Sheepdog, Chasing Ch’Aak’ of Desert Meadow RN NAP NFP TKI FITG

-       Scott Milner & Shetland Sheepdog, Divedancing Dakl’Aweidi of Desert Meadow NJP NFP TKI FITG

-       Michelle Steed & Shetland Sheepdog, Gardengate Cermel Rainy Day Eyre RN ACT2 ACT2J TKI VHMP FITG

Limited Sophomore – Splashdown’s Sophomore Woof Pack –The team captain is Nanci Miller, and the team runs at Splashdown Dog Sports in Bainbridge, New York. Team members are:

-       Victoria Anderson & Australian Shepherd, Rising Star’s Auggie RN NA SWA SEE CGC TKI

-       Nanci Miller & Border Collie, Windy Ridge March to the Highlands SWN SIE SEE SBA TKI

-       Susan Watson & Border Collie, Orla O’Shea FDC NA NAJ TKN

-       Victoria Anderson & Australian Shepherd, Propwash Elsmere Rosie SWN SCA SEA CGC TKI

Regulation Freshman – Blue Ridge Runners – The team captain is Nikki Hall, and the team runs at Their Place in Morgantown, West Virginia. Team members are:

-       Darlene Schumacker & Papillon, Tresor’s There’s Only One of B&D NA NAJ OF FCAT FTN

-       Lindsay Jojannes & All-American Dog, Johannes’ Annie SWE CGC

-       Cheryl Dennis & All-American Dog, Sophia of Tyrone

-       Sue Botsford & American Eskimo Dog, Sierra the Chancellor DCAT

-       Beverly Sanders & Cocker Spaniel, Silverhall Hit List FCAT CGC TKI FITB

-       Deborah Dubois & Border Collie, Focused Intensity’s Close on Your Heels, Shaymus OF TKN

-       Beverly Sanders & Cocker Spaniel, Beachstone’s ‘Hunny’ Comb FCAT2 CGC TKN FITB

Limited Freshman – No Bars Left Behind – The team captain is Tabitha Plambeck, and the team runs at TDT Dog Sports in North Pole, Alaska. Team members are:

-       Heather Agustines & Australian Shepherd, GCH CH McKinley’s Somethin’ Special RA FDC THDA CGCA CGCU TKP

-       Heather Agustines & Australian Shepherd, Mt Woods Big Money Player RN THDN CGCA CGCU TKA

-       Tabitha Plambeck & Border Collie, Mawlch Ygrette RN DCAT CGCA CGCU

Regulation Elementary – Raindogs – The team captain is Michelle Steed and the team runs at a private facility in Ketchikan, Alaska. Team members are:

-       Ellen Ryan & Shetland Sheepdog, Blue Heavens James Fenimore ACT1 ACT1J

-       Rachel Walton & Border Terrier, Sunkist Shoulda Seen ‘Em Comin ACT1 ACT1J

-       Michelle Steed & Shetland Sheepdog, Gardengate Cermel Rainy Day Eyre RN ACT2 ACT2J TKI VHMP FITG

Limited Elementary – Shining North Stars – The team captain is Dianne Marshall, and the team runs at House of Fly in Fairbanks, Alaska. Team members are:

-       Brooklyn Banning & Rottweiler, Son of Carthage

-       Karen Ricks & Border Collie, On Target’s Hot Stuff Mauna Loa

-       Carolyn Vaught & Poodle, VIP Very Important Poodle De Yupendi RE NAJ BCAT

-       Dianne Marshall & Border Collie, 5H Zing BCAT

AKC Agility League’s 2026 winter season launches on January 12^th. For more information, click here. Questions? Contact AgilityLeague@akc.org.

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Posted by Liz on Jan 7 2026. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.