The AKC National Championship Week, presented by Royal Canin, is already a jam-packed canine extravaganza. This year, the event, held at the Orlando County Convention Center, had a new addition: the inaugural AKC RACH Invitational. Dogs with their AKC Rally Championship title were invited to compete in this event, which took place on December 12 and 13 as part of the AKC National Championship. Also taking place as part of this event were the Best Bred-by-Exhibitor competition, the AKC National Owner-Handled Series Finals, and the AKC Royal Canin National All-Breed Puppy and Junior Stakes, the AKC Agility Invitational, and the AKC Obedience Classic, with junior events in each sport. Junior events include Junior Showmanship Finals, AKC Juniors Classic, and AKC Junior Agility Competition.
See the winners of the first-ever AKC RACH Invitational below. There were 72 different breeds represented at the event, from 36 different states across the nation. Over the two-day event, teams competed in three rings to determine the top 50 teams that would move on to the Semi-Finals on day two. From there, the top 20 teams were announced after competing in another three rings. These 20 teams competed in one ring to determined the 2024 AKC RACH Invitational Champion and top 10 teams.
Winner of the AKC RACH Invitational
Taking home not only the title of AKC RACH Invitational Champion, but also the first-ever winner of the competition, is Daniela Flores and her Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, “Dizzy.” Flores and Dizzy (CH MACH RACH Dochara Spun A Royal Flower UD RM3 RAE3 MXS MJS MXF T2B DCAT CGC TKI) will be going down in history, beating out 139 other teams over the two-day event.
“This is an incredibly meaningful award. I’m honored to be in the presence of some of the best teams in the country competing for this rosette,” Flores says. “We’ve worked really hard.”
AKC RACH Invitational Final Placings
First Place
Daniela Flores and her Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever “Dizzy” (CH MACH RACH Dochara Spun A Royal Flower UD RM3 RAE3 MXS MJS MXF T2B DCAT CGC TKI) took home first place to be crowned the first-ever AKC RACH Invitational Champions. The Topeka, Kansas team scored a perfect score of 300 points.
Second Place
Tulsa, Oklahoma team Christopher Medlock and “Smidgen” the Golden Retriever took home second place. Smidgen, RACH6 Miss Smidgen Lady Wigglebottom CDX BN GO RM12 RAE12, who is owned by Christopher and Cheryl Medlock, got the second-highest score with 295 points.
Third Place
Ronda Dillard and “Reba” the Pembroke Welsh Corgi placed third overall. Reba, GCH CH MACH RACH Croswynd’s Aruba Arriba CD BN RM2 RAE2 HT FDC MXB MJB MFB TQX T2B DCAT CGC, is owned by Dillard and Elizabeth Woodman, and the team from Nevada, Kansas recieved a score of 294 points.
Fourth Place
Poodle “Louis” and Amanda Faulkner from Iva, South Carolina came in fourth place. Louis (RACH2 Oneandonly Wonderful World CD RM4 RAE4 OA NAJ DCAT CGCA TKA FTN) and Faulkner scored 294 points.
Fifth Place
Cary, Illinois team Kelly Winkie and Pomeranian “Flint” came in fifth place. Flint (RACH3 Tiny Tots Batten Down The Hatches CD BN RM6 RAE6) and Winkie scored 293 points.
Sixth Place
Lori McCartney of Bullhead City, Arizona and “Roy” the Australian Cattle Dog came in sixth place. Roy (GCH CH OTCH2 RACH Sugar N Spices Royalty UDX3 OM5 RM2 RAE3) and McCartney scored 293 points.
Seventh Place
Duluth, Minnesota team Alice Daddario and “Nessie” the Vizsla came in seventh place overall. Nessie, RACH Menny’s Monster Of Fish Lake UD OM1 VER RM2 RAE2 JH AX AXJ XF BCAT CGC TKA, is owned by Mike and Alice Daddario, and the team received a score of 287 points.
Eighth Place
Manchester, Connecticut team Carol Perkins and Whippet “Ace” came in eighth place. Ace (MACH RACH Foxhunt Fiesta CDX BN GN RM3 RAE3 MXS MJB XF) and Perkins scored 281 points.
Ninth Place
In ninth place was Kissimmee, Florida team Deborah Neufeld and “Daisy,” the Danish-Swedish Farmdog. Daisy (RACH Coolibah’s Secrets And Surprises CDX PUTD BN RM3 RAE3 RC FDC DCAT CGC TKE ATT) and Neufeld got a score of 279 points.
Tenth Place
To round out the top 10 was Ixonia, Wisconsin team Kerry Klokow and Shetland Sheepdog “Wyatt” in tenth place. Wyatt (RACH2 Blue Heavens Silver Star II CD GN RM5 RAE5) and Klokow took home a score of 276 points.
Get Involved in AKC Rally
Looking to get involved in a team-driven dog sport that anyone can do? If the AKC RACH Invitational has inspired you to try the sport with you dog, there’s no better time to get started. Started in 2005 AKC Rally is a fun family sport that all dogs, purebred or mixed-breed, can compete in.
It’s a great place for people and dogs who are new to dog sports to start, and will help strengthen your bond as a team while challenging you and your dog. You and your dog navigate a course of 10-20 different signs which give instructions for a skill that is to be performed. Check out an AKC Rally course near you to get started!
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