Six crossbreed dogs are on their way to the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, after winning their class finals of the prestigious Scruffts Family Crossbreed Dog of the Year competition at Earls Court in London last weekend...
Going through to the grand final at Crufts are:
- Most Handsome Crossbreed Dog – Bailey (pictured above), owned by Nigel McManus from Helensburgh who said: “Bailey has done fantastically well, he is a real star. I can't believe we are going to Crufts. The whole Scruffts competition is fantastic, there are lovely crossbreeds out there and it is great that they are getting the attention they deserve and it is wonderful that the Kennel Club is running the Scruffts competition.”
- Prettiest Crossbreed Bitch – Sylvy, owned by Danni Holder from Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham. Danni said: “I am shocked, it was brilliant. It was a hard competition; there were so many cute dogs out there. Everyone is biased when it comes to their own dog and I obviously think Sylvy is the prettiest, but to win and of course meet Anthony Head too is amazing.”
- Golden Oldie – Willow, owned by Sheli Brown from Crewe, Cheshire who said: “I am absolutely thrilled for Willow, she is my oldest dog and is wonderfully calm around people and children and a great dog around puppies and other young dogs. I am so excited that we are going to Crufts, I had a brilliant day.”
- Child’s Best Friend – Lola and fifteen year old Amee Graham from Rawdalstown, Co Antrim. Amee said: “I am pretty amazed and speechless, I wasn't there to win. When they said her name, I was overwhelmed. We have had Lola since January after she was found wandering the streets eating out of bins. As soon as we saw her we feel in love with her and her wee face. Whenever I am upset she comes along and when I am ill she looks after me. She jumps on my bed and wakes me up for school.”
- Best Crossbreed Rescue – Wylie (pictured below), owned by Sarah Singleton from Bunford, Yeovil who said: “It is unbelievable for Wylie to win today; it is very poignant as it is Remembrance Sunday. It is amazing he has been through so much and now he is through the other side, he is a breed rescue champion.”
- GCDS Crossbreed Dog – Barney, owed by Mike Murray from Kenley, Greater London. Mike said: “I am quite shocked, it is amazing, he is a great dog. Crufts will be an experience, it will be brilliant, it is really weird to be going. Crossbreeds are great.”
The judges are all dog lovers and included high profile journalists, actors, dog behaviourists and presenters. They were: actor and star of Merlin, Anthony Head, dog behaviourist Sarah Fisher, Sunday Times journalist Marie Wolf, Nuts journalist, Simon Cunningham, Time Out London deputy editor, Nick Aveling, Your Dog editor, Sarah Wright and BBC London presenters and authors of “Barking Blondes”, Joanne Good and Anna Webb. All of the judges took into account the importance of dog training and responsible dog ownership, judging the entrants on good character, health and temperament as well as looks.
Above: Scruffts Child's Best Friend winner Amee Graham and Lola with judges Joanne Good and Anna Webb.
Scruffts caters exclusively for crossbreed dogs - dogs whose parents are of two different breeds, or a mixture of several breeds. The main ring at Discover Dogs showcased over 100 crossbreed dogs of all ages, shapes and sizes, in one of the following six Scruffts classes:
· Most Handsome Crossbreed Dog (6 months - 7 years)
· Prettiest Crossbreed Bitch (6 months - 7 years)
· Child's Best Friend* (6 months - 12 years)
· Golden Oldie Crossbreed (8 years or over)
· Best Crossbreed Rescue
· GCDS Crossbreed Class (for entrants that have a GCDS certificate at any level)
*Handled by a young person between 6 and 16 years of age inclusively
A total of 18 Scruffts heats took place at events throughout 2013 and saw nearly 1,200 dogs take part in the competition, raising over £6,000 for the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and each event’s chosen charity. None of the dogs left empty handed, as all competitors received James Wellbeloved treats and a copy of Your Dog magazine, the Scruffts media partner.
Scruffts is run in support of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, which has donated over £7m worth of grants to benefit the canine world since its inception in 1987. Its mission is to promote the improvement of dogs through charitable donations and helping to fund research into canine health problems.
To find out more about Scruffts please visit www.scruffts.org.uk, For more information on Discover Dogs, please visit www.discoverdogs.org.uk.
