Stanley, an English Toy Terrier from Fife, owned by Moira and Richard Bennett, has won the Junior Warrant Winner of the Year competition final at Crufts 2020 on Thursday 5th March.
Stanley (whose Kennel Club name is Ch Witchstone Place Your Bets at Capledrae JW) is nearly two years old and has had a great start to his dog show career, winning the Junior Warrant, an award for pedigree dogs from the ages of 6 to 18 months which have won a series of first prizes at both open and championship dog shows, and has now followed this up with a major win at Crufts at the NEC, Birmingham.
Stanley and Moira were up against nine other finalists for the coveted title but they wowed judge Sandra Marshall in the exciting final. This is the second year in a row that an English Toy Terrier bred in the Witchstone kennel has taken the top prize, with last year’s winner, Spike, scoring a double win for breeders, Andy Leonard and Nick Gourley.
Moira Bennett said: “I’m taken aback, I never thought I’d get first today. Stanley came into my life just under two years ago, took a chance with me, and I don’t think I’ve let him down! He’s a pet first, and then a show dog.
“This was my first time in the main ring at Crufts. I’ve been showing dogs for about twenty years now but that’s the first time I’ve been in the big ring. Everyone wants to achieve qualifications to come to Crufts; whether you get placed or not, you’re here to meet with new people and you meet with friends.”
Vanessa McAlpine, Crufts Show Manager, said: “Congratulations to Stanley and Moira for this fantastic achievement. The Junior Warrant is one of the highest levels of success for young dogs and a great indicator of an exciting career to come for these dogs. I am certain we will see a lot more of Stanley in the future.
“Competing in the Junior Warrant Winner of the Year competition final is a great achievement for any young dog, so we want to say a huge well done to all the finalists who took part.”
The Junior Warrant Winner of the Year competition is held annually and is for dogs which have gained the title of Junior Warrant during the previous year.
There were heats held throughout the UK in 2019, with five dogs and a reserve selected by the judge at each of the heats. 62 top young dogs and their handlers were then invited to the semi-finals at the Kennel Club’s Discover Dogs event at ExCeL London, where ten finalists were selected to compete at Crufts.
Runner-up in the Junior Warrant final was the Newfoundland, Blue (King Of Helluland Love Actually at Darebear JW), aged two, owned by Abbi and Steve Adair from South Shields, Tyne and Wear.
The eight other dogs competing in the final were as follows:
- Chinese Crested, Be My Dog’s Topsail Cody of Zanjero JW, owned by Chris Piper.
- Pug, Anzhela Heaven On Earth with Calaquendi JW, owned by Alex & Lucy Hill.
- Beagle, Serenaker Maid In America JW, owned and bred by Serena Parker & Graham Stevens.
- Weimaraner, Braefell Goshawk JW, owned by Mrs Corinne Mutlow.
- Chow Chow, Janqbu Valentino JW, owned and bred by Peter Hollies & Toni Anne Carr.
- Briard, Fostebrie Precious Hope JW, owned and bred by Carol Foster.
- Welsh Corgi (Pembroke), Twinan Tight Squeeze JW, owned and bred by Kath & Tracy Irving.
- Pointer, Medogold Bamalam at Heartbury JW, owned by Victoria & Mateusz Norbury & Kyle Adams.
Find out more about the Junior Warrant Winner of the Year competition.
For more information, visit www.crufts.org.uk. The results for Crufts 2020 can be found online. For free downloadable images from Crufts 2020, please go to www.flick.media/crufts_2020/.