While Whippet Miuccia and her Italian handler Giovanni Liguori were crowned Crufts Best in Show 2025, they weren’t the only ones proud of their performance. We followed six newbies on their Crufts journey, and discovered whether their green carpet experience lived up to their expectations…
Activity: Showing
Owner/handler: Kate Clarke, a 46-year-old supermarket department manager from Chellaston, Derbyshire.
Dog: Pogo (Hundahilli Pimpinelli), an 11-month-old brindle point tricolour Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
How long have you been showing and what attracted you to the discipline?
“Pogo is my first show dog,” explained Kate, who has an obedience and cani-cross background. “I initially thought we’d try obedience and dabble in showing but after watching my friend Carolyn in the ring with her Eurasier, Logi, it made me want to give it a go. I’m lucky that the Corgi community has been so supportive and welcoming, and I’ve been surprised by how much I enjoy showing.”
How did you qualify for Crufts 2025?
“At our first show – the Pennine and Yorkshire Welsh Corgi Association Championship Show – in Wigan last October when Pogo was six months old. I was really nervous, but we won our minor puppy class.”
What was your reaction to qualifying?
“I was excited but thought I needed to practise more! I didn’t want to let Pogo down and just wanted her to be happy and confident at Crufts.”
How did you prepare for the big event?
“I didn’t have any gear, just a brush and my mum’s old towel, so invested in a trolley, dog coat and shampoos, and a bigger crate. I picked up tips from people in the Corgi world, attended ringcraft sessions, learned about the breed standard, practised standing and moving Pogo at home and attended more shows.”
How did you do at Crufts?
“We came second in our puppy bitch class, and I was really pleased with Pogo – she moved nicely and was unfazed by the crowds and atmosphere.”
Did Crufts live up to your expectations?
“It was even more nerve-wracking than I thought. But once in the ring, I was focused on trying to remember everything we’d learned. I really enjoyed the day and the experience.”
Do you hope to return next year?
“I hadn’t realised our result means we have qualified for Crufts 2026, so that takes the pressure off and means I can just enjoy showing and learn more over the coming months.”
What is your ultimate aim?
“To improve my handling, confidence, and knowledge of the breed.”
Activity: Agility
Owner/handler: Kelly Menear, a 45-year-old legal assistant and agility dog trainer, from Par, Cornwall.
Dog: Veto, a four-year-old black tricolour Border Collie.
How long have you been competing in agility and what attracted you to the discipline?
“My first competition was in 1999,” explained Kelly, who’s owned seven Border Collies and currently has five dogs. “Agility looked fun so I tried it with my first collie, Jess, who turned out to be the perfect starter dog – she wasn’t very fast but was ideal for learning the sport. In 2016, I started training with last year’s vice world champion, Naarah Cuddy, [winner of the 2025 Crufts Singles Agility Large and Intermediate finals] who taught me how to be a better and more confident handler and trainer.”
How did you qualify for Crufts 2025?
“We finished in the top 20 to make the final of the championship class at Gillingham (Dorset) Dog Training Society, before winning our first championship final ticket - Veto was foot-perfect.”
What was your reaction to qualifying?
“I couldn’t believe it – I think I cried! I’ve been to watch at Crufts most years but never thought I’d actually be there competing.”
How did you prepare for the big event?
“I’ve spent time getting Veto used to the equipment and surface used at Crufts – the nearest place with artificial grass is an hour and a half away so we practised there a couple of times. A week before, Veto had a massage and I booked a physio session to ensure we were in tiptop shape.”
How did you do at Crufts?
“We were eliminated in the jumping – Veto jumped the wrong obstacle after turning too wide around the tyre but I gave it my all in the agility class and we came fourth out of 17. Veto was foot-perfect apart from the tiniest of slips which probably cost us a split second. But I was really pleased to do so well against the best dogs in the country.”
Did Crufts live up to your expectations?
“I really enjoyed it – Crufts was a lovely experience. I had so much support from my students, friends and family cheering and waving the Cornish flag.”
Do you hope to return next year?
“I hope so! I need to win a championship ticket, which will be hard, but we’ll give it our best shot!”
What is your ultimate aim?
“I’d really like to make Veto up as an agility champion, but we need two more championship tickets. I’d also love to compete in agility at the London International Horse Show and get on Team GB.”
Activity: Inter-regional rally
Owner/handler: Lisa Sergiew, a 30-year-old locum pharmacy dispenser from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Dog: Saffy (Isabella Tinkerbell), a nine-year-old sable Shetland Sheepdog.
How long have you been competing in rally and what attracted you to the discipline?
“For about a year and a half – we are very new to dog sports,” said Lisa, who grew up with cats and has achieved bronze, silver and gold awards in the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme with Saffy, her first dog. “Agility wasn’t going to suit her and obedience looked intimidating, so we did a bit of scent work before I saw a rally demo at Crufts and thought, ‘we can do that!’ We went on a six-week course at Stoneleigh and it all just clicked – Saffy surprised us with how much she enjoyed it. It’s so easy to make friends and now my whole life revolves around rally.”
How did you qualify for Crufts 2025?
“Seven of us, including one reserve, were selected for the Midlands team from the try out at Rugby Dog Training Club in October.”
What was your reaction to qualifying?
“We were team reserve in 2024 so I was delighted to be selected this year. At first, I was really excited but then the nerves set in – I didn’t want to let the team down.”
How did you prepare for the big event?
“I started training with Lucy Creek, who does heelwork to music, and she helped build a warm-up and exit routine. This has boosted my confidence and faith in myself and my dog. Saffy also had a couple of massage sessions and I developed a conditioning routine to ensure she was in the best possible shape. I also rented a dog training barn in Oxford to get her used to a big echoey space and trained in garden centres, car parks, and barns.”
How did you do at Crufts?
“The Midlands team came first overall and Saffy put in a blinding round to come joint first individually at level 2 – although we won on points, we were four seconds slower so finished second by a whisker.”
Did Crufts live up to your expectations?
“It was beyond my expectations and so much fun. The atmosphere was really friendly, and we had such a lot of support from teammates, family and friends.”
Do you hope to return next year?
“We had such a good time that I would love to be a part of it again.”
What is your ultimate aim?
“To reach level 3 and get on the Midlands team with a new dog.”
Activity: Heelwork to music
Owner/handler: Based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, Claire Giles, 40, works in waste regulation.
Dog: Skyla (Aviary Special Effect), an eight-year-old blue sable Border Collie.
How long have you been competing in heelwork to music and what attracted you to the discipline?
“I was inspired by watching That Dog Can Dance! on ITV in 2013,” said Claire, who discovered that she lived near to top trainer Lucy Heath, and both their dogs were related. “I was doing agility and cani-cross at the time but for the past three years, heelwork to music has been my main focus.”
How did you qualify for Crufts 2025?
“We finished in the top two at a premier competition to qualify for the semi-finals at Forest Oak Farm, Gloucestershire, in January, where we came 7th in the freestyle.”
What was your reaction to qualifying?
“I couldn’t believe we’d come seventh among some amazing handlers and dogs who’d been to Crufts before. It was a dream come true for me.”
How did you prepare for the big event?
“I tweaked our four-minute pirate routine to make it a bit more complicated and worked hard to perfect it. We did more running and cani-cross to keep our fitness up, and had a couple of physio sessions.”
How did you do at Crufts?
“Our routine didn’t go quite according to plan – the tricks weren’t how they should have been – and we came eigth.”
Did Crufts live up to your expectations?
“Skyla and I loved it and we had the best time. I was so pleased with her and we had fun, which was the most important thing.”
Do you hope to return next year?
“I would love to be back, but we need to put in some hard work and come up with a new routine – I’ve started thinking about it already!”
What is your ultimate aim?
“I’d like to compete in the freestyle at Crufts next year and achieve a higher placing, and it would be nice to represent the UK at competitions abroad.”
Activity: Flyball
Owner/handler: Jack Lawton, a 35-year-old engineering manager, from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
Dog: Pepper, a seven-year-old blue tricolour merle Border Collie.
How long have you been competing in flyball and what attracted you to the discipline?
“In 2019, I was watching Crufts on the TV when I saw flyball and thought it would be ideal for Pepper,” recalled Jack. “I saw a taster session advertised on Facebook, so went along and we both enjoyed it. We were invited back to a beginner class when Pepper was 12 months old, but she was really wired, and we weren’t very good. So, we started working on the basics with a tug toy at home and she became more settled and now lives for flyball. We joined the Sharks Flyball Team last May.”
How did you qualify for Crufts 2025?
“We had to finish in the top two in a qualifier at Newark Showground in July. It was quite an ask as there were 11 top teams, but we finished second.”
What was your reaction to qualifying?
“We were over the moon and shared a few beers that evening!”
How did you prepare for the big event?
“We focused on fitness training to build explosive speed and lung capacity, and sprint training, to ensure Pepper was at peak physical fitness. She’s also on a raw diet with added supplements to boost muscle and brain function – I treat her like a 100m sprinter.”
How did you do at Crufts?
“Badly! It didn’t come together for us on the day. We were down to five dogs from seven – one had only just got the all-clear after injury and one handler tore the ligaments in his foot on the day of the show. Too many things conspired against us and we lost our race.”
Did Crufts live up to your expectations?
“We had a really good weekend. I’d never been to Crufts or the NEC before – it was massive! I really enjoyed the whole experience and was so proud of how Pepper coped with the noise and atmosphere.”
Do you hope to return next year?
“This has given us the incentive and motivation to come back and win in 2026!”
What is your ultimate aim?
“That Pepper stays safe, fit, and healthy. She doesn’t know if she’s won or lost so I hope she continues to enjoy the sport. She’s seven so has a few more years of flyball ahead of her. I’d like to spend longer with her on the green carpet next year.”
Activity: Allbreedience (similar to the Kennel Club’s Allbreedience – group heelwork and set exercises – but non-pedigrees can take part too).
Owner/handler: Lynne Griffin, 75, from Coventry, West Midlands.
Dog: Sox, a seven-year-old black and white Border Collie.
How long have you been doing Allbreedience and what attracted you to the discipline?
“We started Allbreedience over a year ago as Sox enjoys doing tricks but can get bored and distracted by a lot of heelwork,” said Lynne, who previously did rally. “I enjoy it as it’s good fun, friendly, and any breed of dog can do it – our team comprises a Border Collie, Pomeranian, Toy Poodle, and Labradoodle – they all work well together.”
How did you come to be part of the Crufts Allbreedience display?
“Our team (the Rugby Rebels) are all members of Rugby Dog Training Club. Two months before Crufts, we were invited out of the blue to demonstrate Allbreedience there for the first time.”
What was your reaction to being chosen?
“I was thrilled and excited but a little nervous too. I hoped nothing would go wrong on the day.”
How did you prepare for the big event?
“We trained and practised a lot and I focused more on the heelwork element as the scent retrieve is Sox’s specialty.”
How did the demo go?
“Really well. Everyone seemed pleased and we received a lot of interest and positive feedback.”
Did Crufts live up to your expectations?
“I thoroughly enjoyed the experience – it was fantastic but tiring. I think we achieved what we set out to – raising the profile of Allbreedience. Sox was as good as gold – he wasn’t fazed by anything and loved the atmosphere. So many people came up to our bench to stroke him and take photos.”
Do you hope to return next year?
“I would love to think the Rugby Rebels will be there in 2026.”
What is your ultimate aim?
“For Allbreedience to become a competition at Crufts next year – fingers crossed!”