Cute canines from Wiltshire are top of the class at Crufts (From This Is Wiltshire)

Cute canines from Wiltshire are top of the class at Crufts

4:10pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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Pooches from Wiltshire showed why they are top dogs after winning prizes at this year’s Crufts competition.

Corsham School pupil Joseph Baker, 12, from Whitley near Melksham, is among the dog owners celebrating after his nine-month-old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Gunner, picked up a first prize rosette.

His mum Marie Baker showed Gunner (Erikachen Aonghus) on her son’s behalf in the special junior dog category, while his 14-year-old sister Lisa, also a Corsham School pupil, was part of an agility team at the four-day event at The NEC in Birmingham with her wire-haired Hungarian Vizsla, Muffin, which she got as a puppy four years ago.

Mrs Baker said: “Joseph was thrilled with Gunner’s performance, as he had been grooming him before I showed him. Lisa was really pleased as well, her team came seventh. Muffin did really well at the agility test considering it was her first time.”

Martin and Hayley Waker, from Matravers Close, Westbury, showed their Alaskan Malamute bitch Mouse (Kaiyuh Spirit Runner at Alchawak) in the Kennel Club’s good citizen dog scheme for her breed, and came in first place, which means she automatically qualifies for next year’s competition.

Mr Waker said: “We have had Mouse since she was a puppy four years ago. My wife Hayley has been her groomer, while I show her at different events. We are really pleased with Mouse’s result.”

The couple also have a seven-month-old Alaskan Malmute called Morris, which they are hoping to show at Crufts next year.

Delia Shepherd, of Lower Kingsdown, near Box, took three of her nine Affenpinschers to Crufts and came back with a reserve bitch challenge certificate for two-year-old Talula (Avantgarde Mistress Moonshine), while Morgana (Avantgarde Morgana) took first place in the special junior bitch section, and Nimue (Avantgarde Nymph Nimue) took top puppy of the year award for the breed.

She said: “I have been breeding Affenpinschers for 25 years to show. They were only reintroduced into the country 30 years ago, so they are a fairly new breed to Crufts. They are a very spirited little breed.”