Fylde coast pooches and their proud owners basked in the glory of Crufts success following big wins at the national competition.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Mar 2018, 14:59 BST
Updated 16th Mar 2018, 16:00 BST
20180311 Copyright Flick.digital Free for editorial use image, please credit: Flick.digital Picture shows Joanne Blackburn-Bennett from Blackpool with Chilli a Pointer, who won Best in Group (Gundog) and was also the Best of Breed winner today, (Sunday 11.03.18), the fourth and final day of Crufts 2018, at the NEC Birmingham. Crufts is the world's greatest dog show and this year will see more than 21,000 healthy, happy dogs competing for the coveted 'Best in Show' title as well as taking part in the many other competitions that take place at the show, from Agility and Flyball to the hero dog competition Eukanuba Friends for Life and Scruffts Family Crossbreed of the Year. Crufts 2018 runs from the 8th to the 11th March at the NEC, Birmingham. Crufts is the perfect opportunity for dog lovers meet around 200 breeds of dog, find out how to go about getting a dog, and to find out about activities and competitions they can get involved in with their own dog. For further images, please go to: www.Flick.media/
Louis the doberman, Chilli the pointer and Al the poodle proved that every dog has his day at the show last week, bringing home an impressive haul of awards.
Chilli, who is owned by Heather Blackburn-Bennett from Poulton, won the Gundog Group title on Sunday and placed second in the Best in Show competition.
Heather said: “Chilli is a veteran – she is nearly eight-years-old and is our golden oldie. She just gets better and better with age. To get through the breed was an amazing achievement but to go on and win the Gundog Group is an absolute dream come true.”
Janette Gregson from Cleveleys with Crufts winner Louis
Four-year-old Louis, who is owned by health receptionist Janette Gregson, achieved two accolades, winning the ‘limit’ class and the Good Citizen Dog award.
He also won a reserve challenge certificate.
Janette, who lives on Ridgeway Drive, Thornton, said: “I’m so proud of him. We got loads of people coming up to us and saying they were pleased to see us.
“It’s just a hobby but it’s a nice hobby and he enjoys it because he likes the attention.
20180310 Copyright Flick.digital Free for editorial use image, please credit: Flick.digital Picture shows Tom Isherwood from Blackpool with Al a Poodle (Toy), which was the Best of Breed winner today, (Saturday 10.03.18), the third day of Crufts 2018, at the NEC Birmingham. A rescue Border Terrier who has completely changed his owner's life by helping her deal with complex mental health illnesses; a hearing dog who has become the 'ears' for his young owner and helped her reconnect with everything around her; a search and rescue dog who has spent his life working in adverse conditions to help find missing persons, from murder enquiries to a helicopter crash; an assistance dog who has become a lifeline for a lady with Ehelers Danlos syndrome and undertakes over 100 different tasks for his owner, from picking up the phone to loading and unloading the washing machine; and a Shih Tzu who taught himself how to be an assistance dog and has given unending support to his owner through serious illness and given her
“He’s got a fantastic temperament. He’s a very soft dog. He gets messy just like all the others do.”
And 14-month-old Al scooped the Best of Breed award on Saturday, and placed fourth in the Utility dog group overall.
His owner Tom Isherwood, of Moss House Lane, said: “It is really exciting. I have not had a winner at Crufts before, and to come fourth in the group is unbelievable.”
