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Dark Angel crowned Crufts gamekeeping winner

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Sue May and Barney win the Gamekeeping category at Crufts

A flat coated retriever from Devon was crowned overall winner of BASC’s gamekeeper classes on Gundog Day at this year’s Crufts.

The Northesk Memorial Trophy, and the title of the Best in Gamekeeping Class, went to Ronevorg Dark Angel At Lussac known as Barney and owned by gamekeeper Sue May. Barney was shown by Sue’s friend and training partner, Helen Ford, at the NEC Birmingham on Saturday, 8 March.

Following a day of intense competition across the working dog classes, the event culminated with a final show in the main arena where the top dogs owned by gamekeepers went head-to-head. After the final round of judging it was four-year-old Barney who triumphed. Sue said: “I’m so chuffed. We can’t wait for the shooting season but he will spend the summer doing working tests and showing. He’s truly a versatile flat coat – he does it all.”

Barney, Sue and Helen were presented with their trophy by Caroline Bedell, executive director of conservation for BASC. Caroline said: “The dedication and skill displayed by both the dogs and their handlers were truly inspiring. The gamekeeper’s classes at Crufts highlight the vital role working gundogs play in conservation and gamekeeping.”

Also in the main arena, the Gundog Group was won by cocker spaniel Zheridons Blanche, known as Suzie, co-owned by Mr David Todd and Mr MD Rahman. The winner of best in show was a four-year old whippet bitch called Miuccia who beat over 18,000 dogs, including Suzie, to claim Crufts top award. Miuccia, owned by Giovanni Liguori, is from Venice and the first dog from Italy to win the prize.

Author and terrier expert, John Glover told ST: “It was refreshing to see dogs still considered as genuine working breeds doing well at this year’s Crufts. I was very pleased to see a whippet take the top honours as it’s a breed that I have a long relationship with. My friends and I work with whippets throughout the year for rough pigeon shooting, vermin control and deer stalking and although my soft spot is for working and racing lines in particular, this is great news for whippets in general.”

Another notable winner included Lola, a one-year-old whippet-saluki-collie cross owned by Bex Hall, from Banbury in Oxfordshire, who won the Scruffts Family Crossbreed of the Year title.