Heidi Vania of Anchorage and her Shetland sheepdog Ice helped the American Kennel Club/USA Agility World Team to a 12th-place finish in the Agility World Championships in Rieden, Germany, Oct. 1-3.
Vania, the first Alaskan to make the U.S. team since the world championships began in 1996, helped the three-person U.S. small-dog team to second place in the jumper's course competition by taking Ice through the run in 31.25 seconds. That was the second-fastest time on a team that included two-time national champion Dee Anna Gamel of Alpharetta, Ga., and her sheltie Kelsi (33.01) and four-time world team member Marcy Mantell of Foster City, Calif., and her sheltie Wave (30.14).
That left the Americans well positioned for a medal in the combined category, but Vania and Ice were penalized when Ice went off-course on the standard course. Vania said she gave Ice unclear directions, and he chose a tunnel instead of a required dog walk. The error dropped the team to 12th in the 27-team international field.
Members of the Alaska agility community welcomed Vania and Ice home at a world team celebration in Palmer on Saturday.
Daily News staff
sports@adn.com