Westminster Week Kicked Off at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
New York, NY (January 31, 2026) — Today, The Westminster Kennel Club welcomed nearly 500 dogs to its Canine Celebration, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Showstopping activities included the highly anticipated return of the Flyball Tournament presented by Pro Plan Veterinary Supplements FortiFlora, where twenty teams of top-performing dogs from North America competed in the high-energy sport that combines speed, agility, and teamwork. The 13th Annual Masters Agility Championship presented by Purina Pro Plan once again welcomed top-ranked purpose-bred and All-American (mixed breed) dogs to the competition.
Prove-It the Border Collie of Bedford, NH, with owner and handler Amber McCune won the 13th Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster. Prove-It, a three-year-old male, officially known as MACH2 Darkside’s It Wasn’t Me MXS MJS BCAT DJ, bested a field of 300 total Agility competitors over two rounds of competition under judges Ms. Heather Dickinson of Moss Point, MS and Mr. Daniel Wolfson of Palmetto, FL. After advancing to the Championship round of 50 finalists, Prove-It posted the fastest clean round of 29.81 seconds.
Five-year-old Iron Man (officially known as MACH Its High Flying Marvel MXB MJB MXF) of Montpelier, VA, with owner Carol Boggess and handler Merritt Speagle, was the Highest Scoring All-American Dog. Iron Man posted the fastest clean round of 29.60 seconds among 28 entrants to become the 2026 Top All-American Dog.
The second annual Flyball Tournament at Westminster welcomed 20 teams who participated in the relay-style team race, with winners emerging in three divisions:
The Westminster Kennel Club donates $5,000 to honor the winner of the Masters Agility Championship to the AKC training club of the winner’s choice or the AKC Humane Fund. A donation of $1,000 will also be made in the names of the Highest Scoring All-American Dog and the four remaining first-place dogs in their height classes.
The finals of the Masters Agility Championship were televised live on FOX on Saturday, January 31. For full results, visit westminsterkennelclub.org.
13th ANNUAL MASTERS AGILITY CHAMPIONSHIP IMAGES: LINK
Photo Credit: Bryan Bedder | Getty Images for The Westminster Kennel Club
SECOND ANNUAL FLYBALL TOURNAMENT IMAGES: LINK
Photo Credit: Olivier Kpognon for The Westminster Kennel Club
13th ANNUAL MASTERS AGILITY CHAMPIONSHIP VIDEOS: HERE and HERE
Courtesy of FOX Sports
The 13th Annual Masters Agility Championship and Flyball Tournament are part of Westminster Week, which is part of the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show presented by Purina Pro Plan. Westminster sees over 2,500 entries in conformation, with two days of Best of Breed judging from Monday, February 2 – Tuesday, February 3 held at the Javits Center, culminating with the Group and Best in Show competitions at New York City’s iconic Madison Square Garden.
For more information, be sure to follow The Westminster Kennel Club on social media to keep up on event news and special announcements. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
For more information, visit westminsterkennelclub.org.
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Established in 1877, The Westminster Kennel Club is America’s oldest organization dedicated to the sport of dogs. It hosts the iconic, all-breed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show — the second-longest continuously held sporting event in the United States, following the Kentucky Derby, and the longest nationally televised live dog show since 1948.
The Club’s mission is to enhance the lives of all dogs by celebrating the human-canine bond and promoting responsible dog ownership and breed preservation. Westminster advocates for purpose-bred dogs, recognizing that each breed carries a unique legacy that deserves to be taught, honored, and preserved.
Westminster Week centers around the prestigious conformation competition, open exclusively to elite dogs with Champion status, to compete for the coveted Best in Show title. Westminster’s Masters Agility Championship, alongside other canine skills competitions, welcomes dogs of all backgrounds — including mixed breeds — to showcase their speed, precision, and teamwork. Drawing top dogs, handlers, and judges from across the globe, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is an international celebration of canine excellence.
Learn more at westminsterkennelclub.org. WESTMINSTER. There’s only one.®
Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
Nestlé Purina PetCare creates richer lives for pets and the people who love them. Founded in 1894, Purina has helped dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives by offering scientifically based nutritional innovations.
Purina manufactures some of the world’s most trusted and popular pet care products, including Pro Plan, Purina ONE, Fancy Feast and Tidy Cats. Our more than 11,000 U.S. associates take pride in our trusted pet food, treat and litter brands that feed 46 million dogs and 68 million cats every year. Nearly 500 Purina scientists, veterinarians, and pet care experts ensure our commitment to unsurpassed quality and nutrition.
Purina Pro Plan is a leader in the advanced nutrition category, with more than 140 targeted formulas to help your pet thrive throughout every stage of life. It is also the food of choice for 18 of the past 19 Westminster Best in Show winners*. For more information, visit www.proplan.com or follow @ProPlan on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
Over the past five years, Purina has contributed more than $150 million towards organizations that bring, and keep, people and pets together, as well as those that help our communities and environment thrive.
Purina is part of Nestlé, a global leader in Nutrition, Health and Wellness. For more information, visit purina.com or subscribe here to get the latest Purina news.
*The handler or owners of these champions may have received Purina Pro Plan dog food as Purina ambassadors.
Media Contacts:
Allison Younger – The Westminster Kennel Club
ayounger@westminsterkennelclub.org
Alicia Mohr / Elyse Weissman – APEX PR
westminster@theapex-pr.com
