The Northern German town of Dortmund was the site of the recent 2002 Agility World Championships. AKC Agility Director and Team Leader Sharon Anderson, with Team Coach Dan Dege accompanied the largest American team to represent our country. Thirteen handlers and their dogs formed the three competition teams, and were joined for the festivities by over seventy supporters. This is the seventh year of AKC participation in this International event. In 1996 the team was comprised of just five dogs, and seven Team suppporters.

This year was the most successful to date for Individual accomplishments for the U.S Team. Erin Schaefer and her sheltie Jag, earned the first Individual gold medal to be won by an American, and also won the first place trophy in Individual jumping. Nancy Gyes with border collie Riot were first in the Individual standard.

In Team competition, the historically successful Small Dog Team won Silver for the second year in a row, as well as earning 1st place in Team Standard. The Large Dog Team won 2nd place in Team jumping

The International competition week began on September 29th with travel out of five U.S.cities direct to Frankfurt Germany, where they gathered for a 3 hour bus ride to Dortmund. Nerves relaxed when the dogs came out of "sherpas" and crates and were all determined to have arrived healthy and ready to play. Jet lagged team members spent Tuesday either resting or sight seeing around the ancient and picturesque city of Cologne. On Wednesday the team gathered to greet the arriving supporters who had traveled to share in their experience. The "Pep Rally" dinner that night was the first taste of international excitement for the team and their friends, and the actuality of the upcoming World competition was now beginning to seem real for everyone. The inspiring and patriotic evening is a rousing blend of "Rah, Rah, USA!" and a wonderful show of spirit and camaraderie towards team members and fellow Americans. The moments begin to take on an Olympian feel, and the uniqueness that can only be experienced by being an American in a foreign land and part of a very special and unique group. Standing in front of your fellow Americans and being introduced as one of the best your country has to offer, is a moment to be treasured by the team. Jubilation soon replaces the weighty reason why we have traveled this far, and frivolity fills the atmosphere. For the serious agility tourist, there is a lot of excitement yet to come, and everyone begins to anticipate the sporting event we have to come to be a part of.

On Friday morning the stands in the sports arena being to fill with fans from each of the 32 countries represented. The mood is electric, and the enthusiasts are dressed and painted in their nations colors. Each country has blocked off space in the hall to gather their boosters together. Friday begins with the parade of teams from each nation and all the formal pomp and circumstance you only see on TV at an Olympic opening ceremony. As team members we are emotional and feel honored to be walking as Americans, being applauded by our countrymen. As fans we can't wait for the competition to begin, to cheer for both our countrymen and the show favorites.

The U.S. fans are flanked in the grandstand by the supporters from Holland, dressed in orange, and the Belgians in their black, red and yellow. The French and the Dutch take turns blaring music and leading dances when the dogs are not running. It is World Cup Soccer with 32 teams. The Dog Olympics. A Frenchman dressed as a court jester guides us through the steps we perform from our seats. The Swiss ring their cow bells, the French blow their whistles, and someone from the states has an airhorn. The beat of the European music is infectious, and within hours we know the words and the moves to the most popular songs.

By Saturday afternoon you cannot walk out of the stands without humming the music, and moving your limbs in the dance steps. The team competition is finished and we have been victorious, the Mini dog team will stand on the Podium at closing tomorrow and be awarded the Silver Medal! Tomorrow is the individual finals, and we have multiple chances to medal. We go to our hotel inspired and hopeful.

As the fans pile into the stands Sunday morning, the atmosphere is different. This is the day the World Champions will be crowned. Competitors and their dogs are warming up. They are stretching, jogging, and massaging their dogs. Dreaming of medals. Full of anticipation and trepidation. The dogs are quick and exciting to watch. There are handling techniques to discuss and breeds we have never seen before. The Americans are triumphant in the end. Erin will bring home the gold medal, but we all bring home the bigger prize. The memories and friendships to last a lifetime. The awards ceremony is emotional. They play the National anthem of the winning countries with handlers and dogs together on the podium. We stand proudly and listen to our own, and see the tears and smiles of the victorious.

Nancy Gyes is an agility instructor from San Jose, California. She and border collie Riot are the 2001 National Champions. She has been on 6 of the 7 AKC World Teams. 96 to 99 with Scud. 2001/ 02 with Riot.

Large Dog team from left,
Chris Parker & Mayhem, Linda Kipp & Jessie, Nancy Gyes & Riot, Elicia Calhoun & Suni, Jen Pinder & Static


Elicia Calhoun & Suni, Nancy Gyes & Riot, and Linda Kipp
Winning the 2nd place trophy for Team Jumping

The Swiss ring their cowbells and the French blow their whistles; someone from the United States toots an airhorn. The beat of the music is infectious, and soon we know the words to all the latest European pop songs. The mood is electric, and the fans are festooned in their national colors—the Dutch are in orange, the Belgians in their traditional black, red, and yellow. A Frenchman dressed as a court jester encourages the crowd to dance in their seats. No, this isn't World Cup Soccer. More like the Dog Olympics.

Competitors from 32 countries had gathered in the Northern German town of Dortmund with one thing in mind: To turn in the performances of their lives at the 2002 Agility World Championships, held October 4–6. The thirteen agility handlers and their dogs (including me and my Border Collie, Riot) that make up the American team touched down in Frankfurt, Germany on September 30. Accompanied by AKC Agility Director and Team Leader Sharon Anderson and Team Coach Dan Dege, we were the largest U.S. contingent ever. Forming three competition teams (Small-, Medium-, and Large-Dog), [JUST TO CLARIFY: WE AREN'T CALLING THEM THE "MINI" TEAM, ETC?] we were joined in Germany by more than 70 friends and supporters. This is the seventh year of AKC participation in this International event, and we've come a long way: In 1996, the team was comprised of just five dogs and handlers and seven intrepid devotees.

Jet-lagged team members spent the next couple of days resting, and sightseeing around nearby Cologne, an ancient and picturesque city. Tuesday evening's "Pep Rally" dinner ushered in the reality and excitement of the upcoming World competition for our friends and us. Being Americans in a foreign land, and part of a very special group, is an experience treasured by the team, and a sense of elation filled the air. On Friday morning, the stands in the tk arena [NAME OF ARENA?] steadily begin to fill with fans. Each of the 32 countries represented has blocked off space for their respective boosters. At the "parade of teams," nations displayed a formal pomp to rival an Olympic opening ceremony. By Saturday afternoon, the team competition is completed and we have been successful—the Small-Dog team will stand on the podium at tomorrow's closing ceremony and be awarded the Silver Medal! Sunday is the Individual finals, and we have multiple chances to medal. We head back to our hotel inspired and hopeful.

As the fans pile into the stands on Sunday morning, the atmosphere is different—there is a palpable charge. This is the day the World Champions will be crowned. Competitors and their dogs warm up. Handlers are stretching and jogging; they massage their dogs. There are handling techniques to discuss and unfamiliar breeds to check out. The dogs are quick and breathtaking to watch.

In the end, this year proved to be the most successful to date for Individual competition for the U.S. Team. Erin Schaefer and her Shetland Sheepdog, Jag, earned the first Individual gold medal ever won by an American—the result of their cumulative high score in the Jumpers and Standard [DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENS IN THE STANDARD CLASS?] classes. They also took the first place trophy in Individual Jumpers class. Riot and I came in first in the Individual Standard class. In Team competition, the historically successful Small-Dog Team brought home the silver for the second year in a row, as well as earning first place in Team Standard. The Large-Dog Team captured second place in Team Jumping.

The awards ceremony is emotional. The national anthems of the winning countries are played, while handlers and dogs stand together on the podium. We pose proudly and listen to our own, and share the tears and smiles of the victorious.