CATCHING UP ON CRUFTS

THE GREATEST INTERNATIONAL DOG SHOW

TEXT: AMELIA CAMPBELL-HORNE

If you are as dog-obsessed as we are, then you have likely heard of Crufts, the largest and greatest international dog show in the world! It has been hosted annually in the United Kingdom since 1981 and is organised by The Kennel Club. This year's event took place from March 6th to 10th at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham (UK) and was attended by over 155,000 people!

Crufts is primarily a conformation championship for dogs but includes various other dog competitions, including agility, obedience, working dogs, flyball and even heelwork to music! Thousands (we are not exaggerating) of dogs with their owners and handlers show off in front of adoring crowds, and if there isn't something to watch, Crufts also includes an impressive trade show, where you will come across every dog-related service and goods that you could imagine!

DID YOU KNOW?

The Kennel Club is the UK's largest organisation dedicated to protecting and promoting the health and welfare of dogs.

The most coveted title on offer is that of 'Best in Show'. Over the four days, dogs are judged against their own breed according to how true to breed standards they are; the best of each breed then compete against each other for the Best in Group title. The seven breed groups are Gundog, Hound, Pastoral, Terrier, Toy, Utility and Working. The seven Champions from each of these groups then compete to be crowned the overall champion and take home the title (and mammoth trophy) for 'Best in Show'.

HISTORY OF CRUFTS

Crufts was named after its founder, Charles Cruft. Charles was a general manager at a dog biscuit manufacturer and, in this role, travelled across the United Kingdom and overseas, attending dog shows. Through this, he recognised the need for high-quality dog shows and, in 1886, held his first dog show, the 'First Great Terrier Show', which incorporated 57 classes and welcomed an incredible 600 entries! The first show that took on Cruft's name was 'Cruft's Greatest Dog Show', which was held five years later in 1891. It was the first show to which all breeds were invited, and 2000 dogs competed!

CRUFTS 2024 -BEST IN SHOW

From one man's dream, Crufts has grown exponentially, and this year 24,000 dogs from 220 breeds competed for the title of Best in Show! The seven breed group winners were a Weimaraner (Gundog), a Basset Griffon Vendeen (Hound), an Australian Shepherd (Pastoral), a Jack Russel Terrier (Terrier), a Papillon (Toy), a French Bulldog (Utility), and a Leonberger (Working).

This year, the title of Best in Show went to the three-year-old Australian Shepherd (Pastoral), Brighttouch Drift The Line Through Dialynne, aka 'Viking'. It was the first time since 2006 that an Australian Shepherd had won the title. The Reserve Best in Show went to the nine-year-old Jack Russel Terrier, Original Master's Voice Lovesong Monamour, aka 'Zen', who had come all the way from Japan to challenge for the title!

SCRUFFTS 2024

The Scruffts Family Crossbred title is a crossbreed-only competition and is a great way for individuals to spend time with their dogs and their families. This competition emphasises fun, but also aims to highlight the importance of responsible dog ownership. The judges of this class focus on health, good character and temperament.

Hundreds of dogs attempted to qualify for this competition by participating in qualifying heats

around the UK in 2023. The top 23 made it through to the semi-finals, and the four finalists were:

• Most Handsome Crossbreed Dog: Buck, a Lurcher/Saluki cross, owned by Eve Norton, from Battle, East Sussex.

• Good Citizen Dog Scheme: Marnie, a mixed breed, owned by Lyn Freeman, from Harlow, Essex.

• Golden Oldie Crossbreed: Diesel, an Airedale Terrier/Labrador cross, owned by Claire Whitehead from Barlborough, Derbyshire.

• Prettiest Crossbreed Bitch: Violet, a Patterdale/Lakeland Terrier cross owned by Catherine Dolan from Chorley, Lancashire.

The 13-year-old Diesel stole the judges' hearts and won this year's Scruffts title!

THE KENNEL CLUB HERO DOG AWARD AT CRUFTS 2024

Dogs are nominated by the public for this title in the year leading up to Crufts through the Crufts website. These four-legged heroes can be nominated for the following categories:

• Extraordinary Life of a Working Dog – Those who have shown extraordinary qualities working in the army, police force, RAF, airport, search and rescue, etc.

• Hero Support Dog – Celebrating all support and assistance dogs, from medical detection dogs to therapy dogs or pets who provide emotional support.

• Best Friends – Celebrating a canine companion who has seen his owner through the hardest times, as well as the happiest times.

• Child's Champion – Recognising a dog that has supported and had a positive impact on a child's life (16 years and under).

• Rescue Dog Hero – for a rescue dog who has overcome adversity and gone on to irrevocably improve the life of their owner/s.

Four dogs are shortlisted for the Award by judges from the Kennel Club in the February preceding Crufts each year. They are chosen based on the lifetime of love and loyalty they give to their owners and the remarkable difference they make in society. The finalists share their stories, and the incredible impact their dogs have made on their lives, and then individuals within the UK can cast their votes over the month. The four finalists attend Crufts, and a winner is announced. The Kennel Club Charitable Trust awards £5,000 to the winner to be donated to a dog charity of their choice, while the other finalists each get £1,000 for the same purpose.

This year's winner was four-year-old Vesper, a Belgian Malinois, who was the Extraordinary Life of a Working Dog finalist with her owner and handler, Niamh Darcy. Vesper was previously named Venom and had been deemed unsuitable as a police dog, as despite excelling in all other areas, she also excelled in cuddling criminals! Niamh, a dog handler from Merseyside Fire and Rescue, took a chance on the 18-month-old Vesper, and she performed perfectly in a trial under adverse conditions, and the pair bonded instantly. In 2023, the pair were deployed on a rescue mission following the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco, where they worked tirelessly to locate survivors trapped under the rubble!

Be sure to keep a look out on the Crufts pages early next year if you are after some amazingly heart-warming and tear-jerking stories about our favourite four-legged heroes!