Newbury Ringcraft share their Crufts wins: ‘We all take the best dog home’

Dog owners from Newbury ringcraft club have celebrated their win at this year’s Crufts dog show in Birmingham.

The globally-renowned annual show, organised by The Kennel Club, celebrates all things canine where people have the chance to show off their pets and their dogs have the chance to show off their talents.

At a recent weekly training session at The Burdwood Centre in Thatcham, dog owners got together to discuss their wins as well as their general experience of the "very busy" event.

Claire Hancock’s Coton de Tulear, Cindy won second place in her class and also landed an automatic qualification for Crufts 2023.

Rachel Nash’s six-year-old dog Ralph and four-year-old dog Tiggy both came third in Norfolk Terriers Limited dog and bitch.

Nicola Westgate’s five-year-old dogs Bailey and Harley won a first place in Havanese Veteran, first in Good Citizen Dog and very highly commended in Havanese Post Graduate Dog out of seven.

Newbury Ringcraft member Claire Hancock has attended the club with four of her dogs over the past few years and says that it is a “welcoming and fun training club where people genuinely care”.

She said: “Following this years Crufts it’s always lovely to exchange stories and our results may they be good or bad we all take the best dog home.

“No matter what breed of dog we own we always cheer and support our club members at the various shows throughout the year.”

“On a personal note I’m especially proud of my breed the Coton de Tulear,” she added.

“I took two of my dogs to Crufts this year and both came away with a second place in their respective classes and an automatic qualification for Crufts 2023."

She continued: “Whilst a friend in my breed Jane Pearman, who also attends our ringcraft, took the Best of Breed with her Coton de Tulear Cotonkiss Penny from Heaven at Mopseyscoton and was then shortlisted in the toy group. We’re all immensely proud of her.”

She added: “None of this would be possible without Angie Hughes, Sue Hurst and their team of willing helpers who work tirelessly to ensure that we get the best out of our dogs. We are all hugely thankful to them.”

Another Newbury Ringcraft member Rita Aldridge, 80, took her veteran English setter who she says has won something every year since she started.

She said: “She stood beautifully. We got a fifth. It was a good time, I think everybody who went enjoyed it.

“You see a lot of friends there and you catch up with all the dogs to find out what they have done.”

She added: “The show has grown, it was supposed to be a pedigree show but now it is all about the games and dancing.”

She also noted the money that the ringcraft club has raised for dogs currently stuck in Ukraine: “£300 is to go to Ukraine. Through The Kennel Club we are sending the money to rescue dogs in Ukraine.”