Crossbreed dog Scruffts trophy 'amazing' says owner

A dog groomer from Poole says she's still in disbelief after her pet won the "most handsome dog" trophy in the special crossbreed competition at Crufts.

Crufts is only open to pedigrees but non-purebed dogs can enter Scruffts, which is held in conjunction with the main contest.

Jody Hall, whose border terrier/cocker spaniel cross, Chester, won the trophy on Saturday, said going to Crufts had been a childhood dream.

She said: "I still can't believe it. We've got our little trophy, we've got our rosettes. I just keep looking at it and thinking 'wow, we just did that'."

Ms Hall said the whole event was "just amazing from the beginning".

"We got stopped, probably 200 times, I think.

"People were taking his photo, wanting to know what breed he was."

She said the competition itself was "nerve-wracking".

"We were first out as well, so we had to lead everybody around.

"I did a bit of trick training with him in the ring just to keep his mind occupied.

"We were in our own little bubble."

Hundreds of dogs, including Chester, competed for Scruffts at qualifying heats around the country, with the shortlisted dogs and owners taking part in the contest at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on Saturday.

Ms Hall said: "I don't think it could get better than it did this weekend. We are happy with our win.

"It was so emotional just getting there and the feeling of 'I'm actually here with my own dog' was just... I can't even explain it.

"And then for us to win - I can't believe it."

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