Lochaber canines head for glory at top dog show
THERE is a strong Lochaber presence at the world’s most famous dog show, Crufts, this week, with a number of local dogs and their owners making the long trip south to Birmingham’s NEC.
Among them will be Glencoe’s Ann Winning, with her King Charles spaniel Rowan. Ann is travelling as a reserve in the Scottish team for the Inter Regional Rally competition.
Assistant team manager, for a second year, is Sarah Holroyd, from Ballachulish, who repeats her managerial role from 2017.
Sarah says the Scottish team has been training hard over the winter and she is looking forward to the competitions in Birmingham.
‘I am accompanying the team as assistant manager for the second year. I loved the experience last year. Crufts is something every dog owner should experience,’ she told the Lochaber Times this week.
‘Rally’ is the latest dog sport to be recognised by the Kennel Club. Sarah says it is fun and no matter what level you and your dog may be, it’s easy to get involved and start training and competing.
Sarah explained: ‘Rally involves you and your dog working as a team to navigate a course with numbered signs indicating different exercises to perform. Think of it as a sort of obedience exercise obstacle course, including simple exercises.’
Other members of the Lochaber and District Canine Society, of which Sarah is the current acting secretary, flying the flag for the region at Crufts this year include chairperson, Sharon Donald, from Roy Bridge, and Jackie MacDonald from North Ballachulish.
Sharon will be showing Bonnie-Locheil, a nine-yearold blue Border collie, bred locally by Heather Turner. She is competing at Crufts for the eighth time.
She has had second and third placings in previous years and will be competing in the veteran class this year for dogs aged over seven years.
Jackie will be showing her Border collies, Suri-Locheil Just Cruisin and Myley-Locheil Love Heart.
Suri is now eight years old and has attended Crufts every year since starting in the show ring at the months.
She has won first, second, fourth and fifth places previously and is now qualified to attend Crufts for life.
Myley, co-owned with Heather Turner, will be at Crufts for the first time.
Also heading south from Lochaber this week are Norma MacDonald, of Roy Bridge, and Audrey MacDonald, from Arisaig.
Norma is showing Gaulsbay Lady in Red - Flame - a chocolate and white Border collie while Audrey is showing three Jack Russell Terriers and one Border collie.
Jillian Bruce, from Fort William, will also be among the local competitors with her Tibetan spaniel.
Sharon says attending Crufts for the owners whose dogs have qualified is the pinnacle of the dog show calendar.
‘It is always an absolutely fantastic event. It is the biggest, most prestigious show, with the most dogs. It is very special to go and be part of it all,’ she said this week.
‘And Lochaber will be very well represented again with Border Collies, Jack Russells, Tibetan and Cavalier Spaniels and Welsh Terriers.’ tender age of six