NORTHERN VIRGINIA DOGS TO COMPETE
IN 15th ANNUAL AKC NATIONAL AGILITY CHAMPIONSHIP
APRIL 1-3, LEXINGTON, VA

Record-Breaking Entry of More Than 1,100 Competitors Vie for the Title of National Agility Champion!

Manassas, VA, 03/03/2011 - Ready. Set. Go! Lexington, Virginia, will soon be filled with the swiftest, most agile dogs in the nation vying for the top spot at the prestigious American Kennel Club® (AKC) National Agility Championship. Included will be a number of Virginia’s top dogs from the Mattaponi Kennel Club, an AKC all breed club, based in Manassas. 

Agility dogs and their handlers compete for the fastest, perfect run as they negotiate courses with jumps, weave poles, a see saw, and other obstacles. The dog with the best time and no faults or mistakes becomes the National Agility Champion. Dogs of all breeds will be competing, from Corgis and Poodles, to Border Collies and Golden Retrievers. For the first time, mixed breed dogs will take part. Jump heights range from 4” to 26.” A number of dogs have earned the highest AKC title of MACH – Master Agility Champion. Handlers range from Junior Handlers (under 18 years old) to handlers in their 60s and beyond.

Mattaponi Kennel Club members scheduled to compete are:

Eileen Ewins and MACH 2 James, 5th Ranked Papillon in Agility in 2010
Kayla Wieland - Junior Handler - and MACH Freeze, Cocker Spaniel
Kaindais Miller and Poodle Penny
Anke King and Belgian Malinois Wizzie, 11th Ranked Belgian Malinois in Agility
Alyssia Greiner with Border Collie MACH Zippity and Rat Terrier MACH Spring
Susan Kolster and Shetland Sheepdog MACH Jordan
Lisa Decker with MACH Bindi and MACH Monty, Jack Russell Terriers

The event is free and open to the public, April 1 - 3, 2011, at the Lexington Horse Park in Lexington, Virginia. Dogs from around the US have qualified during the 2009-2010 AKC agility season to earn the honor of competing at Nationals.

For the first time, AKC will use Twitter to publish real-time results, making AKC the first dog sport organization to use social media in this manner.  For more information visit http://www.akc.org/events/agility/.

Mattaponi Kennel Club, http://mattaponikennelclub.com, is an AKC all breed club that offers agility training and hosts conformation, obedience, tracking and agility events in Prince William County and Northern Virginia throughout the year.

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Media Contact:
Shirley Murphy 571-236-7944
Sherri Fries 703-241-1040
Publicity & Public Relations Chair
Mattaponi Kennel Club
Email: news@mattaponikennelclub.com
Website: mattaponikennelclub.com