Owners celebrate as pooches pick up Crufts awards

POOCHES from across the dale have been recognised as some of the best in the world after scooping top awards at this year’s Crufts.
With entries from 56 countries, more than 22,000 dogs from across the world competed in the four-day event at Birmingham’s NEC Arena.
The most popular breed for entries was the Labrador retriever. Among the 554 entries was Mac Percival, from Barningham, who took to the ring with her two prize-winning Wynfaul Labradors.
Two-year-old Wynfaul The Wizard, whose pet name is Tank, won first place in the post-graduate dog class.
Mrs Percival also took first place with 15-month-old Wynfaul Flame and Fortune, otherwise known as Squawk, in the undergraduate bitch class.
Mrs Percival said: “The Wynfaul line of dogs started 45 years ago from two rescue dogs we had. I have had wins before but this time I just took two and had two wins.”
To date, Squawk has recorded seven championship show wins and three open show wins. Tank has also had 33 wins since he started his showing days in April 2015. Mrs Percival said: “It has been amazing. I’m like a dog with two tails myself. I think Tank must have caused a bit of a stir. I’ve had calls from all over the continent about him. Tank has also just had his first litter seven weeks ago so it is all happening.”
Three-year-old Noah, a Chinese Crested Powderpuff from Gainford, was also picked out as one of the best in his breed as he was handled in the ring by his 17-year-old owner Lynden Watson.
Noah, whose show name is Myglee’s Crazy Stupid Love, was ranked in first place in the post-graduate dog class. The win came during his second Crufts appearance after gaining second place last year.
Meanwhile, Graham and Sandra Lockey, from Mickleton, also brought yet another accolade back to the dale.
The couple’s 16-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier Tusselstaff One Caress, otherwise known as Ava, won first place in the junior bitch class.
Mrs Lockey said: “We have always had rescue dogs but we wanted another dog.
“We looked at rescue dogs but there were no pups so we decided to get one from a breeder.”
Ava was bought from Lesley McDonald and Stuart Foster, top breeders of Staffordshire Bull Terriers, in Wirral, back in January last year.
Mrs Lockey said: “We had no plans to show her but Lesley suggested it.
“We started showing her a little bit and then Ava qualified for Crufts at our second show. We had to take her for the experience. We did not expect a win at all. She has just got it in her.”
Ava was handled on the day by Ms McDonald as Mr and Mrs Lockey watched on.
Mrs Lockey added: “I was crying when she won. It was fabulous. The atmosphere was fantastic. She is a little star.”
The winner of the agility championship for large dogs also had Teesdale connections.
Mandy Bainbridge, from Eggleston, bred Comebyanaway Reddy For Fame, a border collie which topped the tables after being shown by Dave Munnings.