Breezy, Arrow, Diva and Mariah from the Santa Clarita Valley Dog Agility Club have made their pawprints in the Texas dirt at the Australian Shepherd Club of America National Finals alongside their human trainers, Charlene Lewis and Tammy Robinson.
Robinson is the primary trainer at the SCV Dog Agility Club while Lewis has taught the introductory classes since its opening in 2010. The club now has approximately 60 members.
Robinson and Lewis competed in multiple competitions to qualify for the international finals in which the top 60 agility Australian shepherds in the world are invited to race for the blue ribbon.
This was Lewis’ first time competing in the finals with her mother.
“My nerves were killing me,” said Lewis. “I competed a lot, but I’ve never been to finals. This is my first dog in finals … It was a lifelong dream because I watched my mother compete and my mom always wanted to be there …. This has been a huge, huge deal for me. I was on top of the world. Just to be here to qualify, just to be there … I couldn’t have been any happier.”
Lewis and her dog Breezy came home with 11th place in Standard Elite. She said that Breezy’s speed caused him to miss one of his jumps and the second-place spot.
“Really I was super proud of my dog,” said Lewis.
Robinson’s trio of dogs placed as follows: Mariah in 15th place in Standard Elite, Diva in 19th place in Standard Elite and Arrow in 9th place in Elite Veteran.
Arrow is Robinson’s prize dog with six top 10 placements in the finals. She has never won but placed second in 2021. This year was just as special because last year Robinson had almost lost her to an autoimmune disease.
Four club members followed the mother-daughter duo to Nationals shortly after.
Corey Benoit and his dog Taz placed first in the open division. Lewis and her dog Odin followed in fourth in the same division.
Despite being in heat and having to wear a diaper, Alycia Wise’s dog Abby placed first in the novice division.
Kim Koch’s Seamus followed behind, snagging the second-place spot in the novice division.
Cherri Preciado and her dog Mercy placed fourth in the same division.
“I’m extremely proud. It makes me want to cry right now,” said Lewis. “Just to see the smiles on everybody’s faces and to have watched all the hard work throughout the year.”
Robinson’s Arrow came back better than ever to race her way to sixth place in Nationals in the Elite Veteran division.
To see The Signal’s October feature on the SCV Dog Agility Club, visit tinyurl.com/3jv9b7uf.
