Flatcoat wins gundog title as whippet reigns 

A flatcoated 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. 

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 (see p11). After the final round of judging four-year-old Barney 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 flatcoat – he does it all.” 

Barney, Sue and Helen were presented with their trophy by Caroline Bedell, executive director of conservation for BASC. She said: “The dedication and skill displayed by both the dogs and their handlers were truly inspiring. The gamekeepers’ 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 David Todd and Mr MD Rahman. Best in Show was a four-year-old whippet bitch called Miuccia, which beat more than 18,000 dogs – including Suzie – to claim Crufts’ top award. Miuccia, owned by Giovanni Liguori, is from Venice and is the first dog from Italy to win the prize. 

Author and working dog expert John Glover told Shooting Times: “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 deerstalking and although my soft spot is for working and racing lines in particular, this is great news for whippets in general.” 

Another notable winner was 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.