Five Valleys favourites ready for Crufts (From Stroud News and Journal)

Five Valleys favourites ready for Crufts

FOUNDED in 1891, Crufts is now the largest canine event in the world. Long established as the greatest dog show of all time, it attracts exhibitors from all over Europe and visitors from all corners of the globe.

Among the 22,000 canine contestants taking part in this year's show at the NEC in Birmingham are six top dogs from the Five Valleys. Linda Diggory and Ben Falconer went to meet the dogs and their owners as they prepare for the big event.

ALTHOUGH this year will see Barnaby's first appearance at Crufts he is merely following in his family's pawprints.

His mother, Saffie and father, Thomas already have two challenge certificates under their collars and only one more is needed for them to earn the accolade of champion dog.

Barnaby is a 20-month-old blue bearded collie whose bright blue eyes and appealing looks have already made him into a pin-up.

Not only does he star with his grandmother as the face of September for the Pedigree 2001 calendar but he and his siblings also line up for a very fetching puppy parade in the same calendar.

Owners Sue and Andrew Bedford, who live in Stroud are clearly smitten with the recent addition to their family.

"He is very entertaining," said Mrs Bedford.

"Beardies make you laugh, they are described as cheerful optimists."

With his innate sense of mischievousness, Barnaby does not conform to his Kennel Club name, Willowmead, Simply an Angel.

"He is entered into two classes, special yearling under 2s and the undergraduate class," said Mrs Bedford.

"He is certainly not the obedience class and we are struggling with his agility classes because he will insist on hiding in the tunnel."

Barnaby is being shown by Suzanne Moorhouse, Barnaby's breeder and author of Talking about Beardies.

"We didn't plan to show him, but he is such a handsome dog - Suzanne will show him but we do all the preparation," explained Mrs Bedford.

The preparation involves Barnaby in bathing, grooming and even donning a special set of Beardie boots if it is muddy on the day of the show. Barnaby is already a bit of a star having won something at almost every show he entered last year.

"He won't leave my side when he realises we are getting ready for a show.

"He loves to sit on top of his crate for the whole day and say hello to everyone who goes by," said Mrs Bedford.

"He is usually exhausted by the end of the day."

"We would like him to do well at Crufts but it's not important, we love him and he has brought a lot of fun and affection to our family."

Row upon row of rosettes and certificates are a tell-tale sign that Sandra Allen and her basset hounds are no stranger to the world of dog shows.

Describing herself as an occasional breeder, Mrs Allen is passionate about bassets and has owned 17 since 1972 .

"I always keep in touch with the families who take the pups," said Mrs Allen.

"I get postcards and Christmas cards from all the owners, many often signed with a paw print.

"And I will always take them back if an owner can't keep them any more, I think that is very important."

Bassets are a very sensitive breed, Mrs Allen, explained and owners need an infinite amount of patience and a good sense of humour.

This year at Crufts, she is showing two of her bassets, Champion Five Valleys Grenadier otherwise known as Gren and his son, Five Valleys Falcon or Badger to his friends.

She also staffs the basset hound part of the Discover Dogs area which gives out information on over 180 different breeds of pedigree dog to interested visitors at the show.

"I go to loads of open and championship shows," said Mrs Allen.

"It is nothing for me to travel up to Scotland for a show, stay overnight and come back the next day.

"I would really like to get a best of breed in Crufts, that would be a very high accolade.

"But it's my hobby and I do it just because I enjoy it, it's not to be taken too seriously."

Crufts runs from Thursday, March 7, to Sunday, March 10 at the NEC in Birmingham.

Working and Pastoral dogs are showing on Thursday, Terrier and Hound on Friday, Toy and Utility on the Saturday and Gundog on the Sunday.

In addition to the 21,000 pedigree dogs who will be shown in 34 rings at the NEC, many more will be competing in other important canine disciplines including agility, flyball, gamekeeper classes and obedience.

All dogs entering Crufts must first attend a Crufts qualifying show. A first, second or third place in any qualifying class will be allowed to enter Crufts.

Breed classes - at Crufts all the dogs (males) of the same breed are judged in seven classes; best puppy, junior, post graduate, graduate, limit, open and veteran.

All the bitches of the same breed are then judged in the same seven categories. Following this the dog winners of all seven categories compete against each other as do all seven bitches.

The best dog and best bitch in each contest are awarded challenge certificates, the runners up are awarded reserve challenge certificates.

Both awards whether gained at Crufts or another show qualify the winner for life long entrance to Crufts.

A dog or bitch that gains three challenge certificates is henceforth called a champion and the title goes as a prefix to their kennel name.

The best dog and the best bitch then compete with each other in the Best of Breed.

The winner from this group goes through to the Best of Breeds in a group, ie the best basset hound would go through to the Best of Breeds in Hound group.

The winner from all the groups then compete in the ultimate class, the Best in Show.

The winner of Best in Show is of course the winner of Crufts.