Cynosport Moments Worth Celebrating
Handlers reflect on victories, comebacks and more.
This article was originally published in the December 2025 OVERview digital magazine.
Cynosport® handlers celebrated hard-earned victories, inspiring comebacks and the joy of watching their dogs excel on the national stage. Read some of their reactions below, and see all the podium winners here.
Cynthia Hornor, Maryland
“Cynosport 2025 was such a blast! I had a great time competing with my three dogs, and they all had some incredible runs. My youngest, Hero, who is a 3-year-old Shetland Sheepdog, made it into the 16” Steeplechase® finals and placed 6th, right behind some super speedy dogs!
Cynthia Hornor and Nimble (Great Dane Photos)
Truant, my 9-year-old Border Collie, really shone! He finished second in the 16”P Steeplechase finals and took third in the 16”P Grand Prix® finals. He was also the 16”P Strategic Games champion. He did great in the team events, coming in second in Team Snooker, first in Team Gamblers and second in both Team Standard and Team Jumpers.
I can’t leave out Nimble, my 7-year-old Border Pap! She had some amazing runs, winning both the 12” Steeplechase and Grand Prix finals for the second time. On top of that, she took first in Team Standard and Team Relay, with her team finishing 10th overall!
I also had the great thrill of watching my students do so well at the event. With over 14 years of teaching agility, it truly warms my heart to see so many students and their dogs succeed on their journeys in this great sport.”
Amber McCune, New Hampshire
“I am beyond grateful and honored to have won the 2025 Cynosport World Games Grand Prix of Dog Agility in both the 20” and 24” divisions. This journey has been nothing short of amazing, and I am so incredibly proud of my four-legged teammates, Prove-It and Shelby-Cobra! Their drive, focus and love of the sport makes me super excited for the future that lies ahead with them. A huge thank you to the United States Dog Agility Association and Purina® Pro Plan® for putting on such a world-class event.
24” Purina® Pro Plan® Grand Prix of Dog Agility®- Tournament Champions: 1st: Amber McCune and Prove-It; 2nd: Masatomo Wakabayashi and Lino; 3rd: Barb Davis and Brewsky (Great Dane Photos)
I ran five dogs in all classes at Cynosport. Yes, I know that sounds like a lot, but it’s just an everyday thing for me. I typically run more than that at my home trials, so five isn’t as stressful as you may think. I do have lots of help warming them up and cooling them down as that’s the most difficult part when you have that many dogs. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. All my dogs deserve a turn! I do this sport simply because they love it as much as I do, so if that means making myself run a little bit harder, then so be it.”
Barb Davis, Florida
“Cynosport 2025 was an unforgettable experience for us! Our 5-year-old Brewsky was in top form, winning the BiathlonSM jumping with a flawless run. He was the last to compete in Biathlon standard, and his effortless layering left me in awe. Brewsky clinched the overall win, and I was over the moon. His joyful spirit and need for connection kept us in sync through both Grand Prix and Steeplechase semifinals.
Cappuccino, my 6-year-old Border-Whippet, is a strong-willed competitor. While things didn’t always go smoothly, he shone in the Steeplechase semis, taking first place. Running both dogs in the finals with the crowd cheering was exhilarating! Cap’s distance skills and weave entries were on full display, and despite a wide turn after jump 10, he stayed with me. When he crossed the finish line in 31.71 seconds, I knew we’d won!
Jeff and Barb Davis with Cappuccino
My husband, Jeff, captured it all on video, then rushed down to celebrate with a giant hug and kiss. Winning the 20” class among such talented and skilled teams was a true honor and meant so much to both of us. A few minutes later, Brewsky was up, had a lovely smooth run and was in the lead with a few dogs to go. A couple of dogs posted better times but had a fault, and suddenly we won again! OMG! I was thrilled and felt incredibly blessed, especially after recovering from two surgeries 2 1/2 years ago. Brewsky capped the weekend with a Grand Prix bronze, making it three podiums for him.
Huge thanks to everyone who made this event possible, so many very nice and helpful people! Thanks to Purina for their generous support with lunch and swag and support of the event itself.”