TEAM USA Dogs and Owners Medal At Dog Agility IFCS World Championships in Italy
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Betty Weibel
440-543-8615 / bw@yp-pr.com
Photos Available Upon Request
TEAM USA Dogs/Owners Medal At Dog Agility IFCS World Championships in Italy
Plano, Texas—May 1, 2018—Twenty dog agility competitors from the United States traveled with their canine teammates to Milan, Italy, last week and represented the United States at the 2018 IFCS World Agility Championships. Russia dominated the final medal count with 36, followed by Canada with 9 medals and the United States with 6 medals.
The U.S. team won the Bronze Medal in the large dog division of the Triathlon, where scores were combined in standard agility, jumping and three-dog relay. Team members were Karen Holik with her Border Collie Zenn, Perry DeWitt with her Border Collie Verb and Ami Sheffield with her Miniature Australian Shepherd Pixel.
In individual competition, Team USA members earning honors included:
- Melanie Rock won a Bronze Medal in Individual Jumping with her Border Collie Puma
- Chip Gerfen won a Silver Medal in Individual Standard Agility with his Miniature Australian Shepherd Trudi
- Chris Tucci won a Silver Medal in Individual Snooker with his Border Collie Jungle
- Laura Pryse won a Bronze Medal in Individual Gamblers with her Border Collie Daredevil
- Kathy Wells won a Silver Medal in Individual Gamblers with her Border Collie Fargo
“We are proud of all of our competitors. They did a great job representing the United States and most of them placed well in the standings in numerous classes. Competition was very tough, and we had a great showing overall,” said USDAA Vice President Andy Hartman, who accompanied the team.
Representing 14 states, Team USA competitors included:
- California: Laura Pryse, Morgan Hill
- Colorado: Mary Dougherty, Colorado Springs
- Connecticut: Monique Plinck, Deep River
- Florida: Karen Holik, North Port; Kris Seiter, Naples; Chris Tucci, Naples
- Georgia: Richard Eggie, Columbus
- Maryland: Chip Gerfen, Takoma Park; Cynthia Horner, Ellicott City
- Michigan: Melanie Rock, West Bloomfield; Kathy Wells, Southfield
- Missouri: Alice Reinkemeyer, Waynesville
- Nebraska: Ami Sheffield, Omaha
- North Carolina: Pamela Reid, Climax
- Oregon: Jordan Biggs, Eugene
- Pennsylvania: Perry DeWitt, Philadelphia; Linda Womer, Gilbertsville
- Texas: Sangie Brooks, Garland
- Washington: Karen Beattie-Massey, Issaquah; Desiree Snellman, Sumner
Accompanying the team to Italy were coach Tracy Sklenar, of Callaway, Va.; assistant coach Andy Mueller, of Rochester, Minn.; manager Diann Gastley, of Frederick, Md.; massage therapist Ken Bain of Luling, Texas, and USDAA Vice President Andy Hartman.
Team travel was subsidized in part from the United States Association of Cynological Sports, a public charity under code section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, supporting amateur athletics in international competition.
Competition was streamed live on YouTube and will be available to view on demand sometime in early May. Additional information on the event is available on worldagilitychampionship.com.
The United States Dog Agility Association is the world’s largest, independent canine sports authority, dedicated to promoting the sport of dog agility as a recreational, family sport that fosters responsible pet ownership. For more information on the sport of dog agility, visit USDAA.com.
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