A well-established handler with her dogs Roman and Rollins in the sport, Zona also is the lead trainer at The Northern Border, a training facility in Washingtonville where she instructs dogs and handlers at all experience levels as well as coordinates the venue’s dock diving events.

During an International Dog Sports’ dock diving qualifier held July 18-20 at the facility, more than 17 dogs earned invites to the 2025 dock diving championship.

Pending IDS’ approval, they include:

— Velocity (based on the dog’s speed): Andy and Wendi.

Sprout, a 1-year-old English Pointer, catches and retrieves the bumper during a heat Friday. Sprout hails from Canada, where is lives with owner/handler Sara Gomes, who made the trip to the Northern Border for the competition that included 58 dogs. For their final show of the season, the Northern Border is hosting a fundraising show to benefit the charity who helped with the care of Sprout’s father during his final days battling cancer. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

— Eclipse Level (based on the dog’s ability to grab the bumper): Cseze, Tug, Zara, Cabernet and Roman.

–Horizon Level (based on the distance traveled after the dog initially leaps off the dock): Tracer, Papango, Andy, Poppy, Piper, Jax, Cseze, Wendi, Cowboy, Fizz and Sprig.

Zona’s dog Rollins, a member of the Superstar ranking, topped his fellow colleagues in the Velocity and Eclipse bubbles as well as a second-place finish in the Horizon category, after coming up one inch short behind the winning dog Razz, a border collie who also earned a championship invite.

The Washingtonville-based facility saw 58 dogs in competition. Many performed their personal bests.

A good number of dogs already earned their invites before this weekend’s competition.

Angie Smith, of Atwater, tosses the bumper for Josey, a 2-year-old Australian Cattle Dog in one of her qualifying jumps Friday at The Northern Border training facility in Washingtonville. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

The fun continues at The Northern Border as the facility hosts its last event of the season at the end of this month.

Zona said the IDS That’s A Wrap will be held Friday, Aug. 22, through Sunday, Aug. 24, and be a weekend filled with raffles (both 50/50 and basket), giveaways, duck diving in addition to dock diving and plenty of special rosettes and other personalized gifts for competitors.

The event is a benefit for Blue Skies, which assists with providing hospice care and end-of-life solutions for pets.

She explained that Sprout, an 1-year English pointer whose father passed recently after a long battle with cancer.

It will be Sprout, who will pick the duck, bearing the winner’s ticket number, from the pool at the conclusion of the event for the 50/50. While half of the proceeds go to the ticket holder, the other 50 percent goes to Blue Skies.

Shaelynn Gibson, of Garrettsville, looks on as her 5-year-old American Staffordshire-Boxer Mix Zara secures her invitation for the International Dog Sports dock diving championship being held in September. Gibson’s Zara was among the dogs advancing from the Washingtonville qualifier held July 18-20. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

Zona encourages families to come down and enjoy the high-flying sport of dock diving.

Due to limited seating options, it is strongly encouraged spectators to bring their own folding chairs.

Food trucks will be on hand during the weekend hours, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, follow The Northern Border’s Facebook page.