Crufts THE 150 TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT

We hear from The Kennel Club about the worlds most famous dog show and what to expect for their 150th Year

Crufts, the world’s greatest dog show, returns this spring, promising a celebration of dogs of all shapes, sizes and nationalities, who will be competing in exciting competitions, such as agility, heelwork to music, flyball and obedience, as well as, of course, vying for the Best in Show trophy.

Run by The Kennel Club, the fourday event takes place at the NEC in

Birmingham from 9 – 12 March, and boasts a diverse programme of dog competitions in different categories and levels, including the finale of the prestigious Hero Dog Award, which recognises unsung canine heroes, and the family-favourite Scruffts final, which sees crossbreeds who earned their place in nationwide heats throughout the year, compete for first place. There will also be opportunities to meet and greet around 200 breeds in the Discover Dogs area, and enjoy the full arena show with all its displays and competitions – from fast-paced agility to fun flyball. The event culminates with the exciting Best in Show final on Sunday evening, with the journey to the ultimate title beginning from Thursday, with judging for the Gundog group.

Throughout the show, the 25 acres and five halls of the NEC are packed with over 350 stalls and stands offering opportunities to learn more about other Kennel Club activities, including how to get involved with your four-legged friend, and work that is done into canine health by the organisation. Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations will also be showcasing their hard work and success in rehoming dogs on The Kennel Club stand, where visitors can find out about rescue dogs looking for their forever home, as well as learn more about The Kennel Club’s newly launched DNA Testing Services, established to advance understanding of dog genetics and disease, and to promote responsible dog breeding.

Elsewhere, in a monumental year for The Kennel Club, with 2023 marking its 150th anniversary, Crufts is honouring the celebration with a special Kennel Club 150th Anniversary Celebration Stakes, taking place on Thursday. The one-off class will see all Best in Show winners from 2022 all-breed Championship Dog shows invited to take part, including 2022 Crufts Best in Show winner, Baxer.

Outside of the show ring, there will be both pedigree breeds, rescue dogs and crossbreeds from all walks of life competing in different categories, across different levels and disciplines, such as agility, Heelwork to Music, Flyball and Obedience.

Categorys Of Show

With so much going on across all four days, what are the judges looking for from the competing canines, and what’s the secret to becoming a Crufts champion?

Best in Show

Each breed goes through various stages at Crufts before having the chance to be among the final seven dogs competing for Best in Show. First of all, they will compete within their breed to win Best of Breed – these competitions will be taking place in rings all around the show.

At the end of each judging day, those awarded Best of Breed will then go onto compete within their group, of which there are seven:

•Gundog (judged on Thursday 9 March)

•Working (judged on Friday 10 March)

•Pastoral (judged on Friday 10 March)

•Terrier (judged on Saturday 11 March)

•Hound (judged on Saturday 11 March)

•Utility (judged on Sunday 12 March)

•Toy (judged on Sunday 12 March)

Once all groups have been judged, all seven group winners compete in the Best in Show ring, where the judge will choose a Best in Show winner as well as a Reserve Best in Show winner.

All 222 breeds are judged against a set breed standard, but ultimately judges are looking for a happy and healthy example of that breed.

Agility

Agility is an exciting and actionpacked discipline, which will be held in the main arena at Crufts. There are a number of different competitions taking place, aimed at different levels of ability: The Kennel Club agility championships, Kennel Club ‘British Open’, novice agility, team agility and many more.

Courses are made up of various obstacles for your dog to run through, jump over and weave in and out of, whilst also running against the clock, and guided by an owner and/or handler. The winner will be the dog that completes the course in the fastest time with the fewest faults.

Flyball

Flyball is an energetic and fastpaced relay race that consists of two teams, a Flyball box and a ball. The aim is for each dog to clear the hurdles, trigger the flyball box to release and catch a ball, before returning with the ball.

Each team is trying to complete the sequence in the fastest time possible, with the fewest faults.

Heelwork to Music

Heelwork to Music is a fun and musical twist on obedience training. Working with a choreographed routine, devised by the owner, the dog incorporates its obedience skills alongside a chosen piece of music.

Judges mark performances based on a number of different criteria including content and flow, accuracy and team performance and musical interpretation.

Obedience

Obedience publicly showcases the training dogs and their owners have achieved through a series of obedience tests. These can include tests such as recall, heelwork, retrieve, sendaway among others.

Obreedience

Similar to obedience, obreedience is a team event that showcases the obedience skills of each breed team through a series of fun exercises.

Rally

Rally involves teamwork with your dog to navigate through a course, set by a trainer, to complete each different exercises along the way.

Competitors start each round with a score of 200 and deductions are made by the judges for inaccuracies and mistakes.

Young Kennel Club

As well as the competitions taking place in the main arena, the Young Kennel Club ring has an impressive turnout each year from its members –with some as young as six years old taking part! Alongside the activities that the members and their four-legged friends are involved in, this year’s event will see the return of the YKC Young Person of the Year Award, which hasn’t been held at Crufts since before the pandemic.

The award celebrates the dedicated and inspiring young people who are transforming the lives of others, while also making a positive impact in the world of dogs, many of whom have had to overcome huge challenges in their lives.

The winner of this year’s competition will be announced in the Young Kennel Club ring, and will join previous winners including:

Lewis Steven Garstang, who took on the training of his dogs following the tragic loss of his dad in 2018.

Ryan Hennessey, who set up the organisation Forever Agility in memory of his late mum, Ann, with the aim to be there for those who need help while facing life-limiting or long-term illnesses.

Paige Jepson, in recognition of the time she dedicates to training young people in obedience at her local clubs and across the country. More details can be found by visiting thekennelclub. org.uk/YKCYPOTY

For more information on Crufts 2023, including the full timetable, and to buy tickets, please visit crufts.org.uk.

Thursday

East Anglian Staffordshire Bull Terrier Display Team

Freestyle Heelwork to Music

Agility Championships – Intermediate/Large final

Junior Warrant competition

Breeders Competition Final Gamekeepers Competition Final The Kennel Club 150th anniversary celebration stakes Gundog group judging

Friday

Joe Cartledge Memorial International Junior Handling Competition

What’s on & When?

Heelwork to Music competition

Agility – Crufts Medium ABC and Intermediate/Large Novice ABC Final Agility – Crufts Singles Final: Small, Medium, Intermediate and Large Vulnerable Breed Competition Final Working group judging Pastoral group judging

Saturday Medical Detection Dogs Display Southern Golden Retriever Display Team Heelwork to Music – Freestyle International Competition

Young Kennel Club (YKC) Agility Dog of the Year Finals

Scruffts final

Terrier group judging Hound group judging

Sunday

Rescue Dog Agility

Agility Championships – Small/Medium

Final

Flyball Team Final

Hero Dog Award

Young Kennel Club (YKC) Stakes Final Presentation of the Police Dog Team

Operational and Humanitarian Action of the Year Award

Toy group judging

Utility group judging

Best in Show

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