Spike, an English Toy Terrier owned by Richard Forsythe and Clive Milkins from Brighton, won the Junior Warrant Winner of the Year competition final at Crufts 2019 yesterday (Thursday 7th March), handled by Richard.
Spike (whose Kennel Club name is Champion Witchstone Tommy Hawk at Richpin JW) is two years of age 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.
Spike and Richard were up against nine other finalists for the coveted title but Spike and Richard wowed judge Stuart Plane in the exciting final.
Richard said: “We had so many supporters there cheering us on. When we got the result I was very emotional as we want to help make more people aware of the breed, which is on the Kennel Club’s official vulnerable list. I was trying to hold back tears in the arena because it’s such a big stage – the biggest dog show in the world – so having the English Toy Terrier centre stage will hopefully help it. We are certainly going to be celebrating.”
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary said: “Congratulations to Spike and Richard 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. We will no doubt see a lot more of Spike 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 competed.”
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 2018, 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 yesterday was the Australian Shepherd, Allmark The Sequel JW, owned by Angie Allan and Andrew Winfrow from Oakham, Rutland and handled by Angie.
The eight other finalists competing in yesterday’s final were as follows:
- Pomeranian, Kamis Tin Tin at Altina JW, owned by Mrs T Berrington.
- Basset Hound, Nelgus Thyme Bomb JW, owned by Mrs C Allchorne.
- Pointer, Pytchley Chasing The Dream for Hookwood JW, owned by Mrs S Welch & Miss C Hazeltine.
- Italian Greyhound, Newill Good As Gold JW, owned by Mr D Willcock.
- Cocker Spaniel, Kerriglow Honesty JW, owned by Miss L Davies.
- Bearded Collie, Debbeacol Rhythm Is A Dancer JW, owned by Mrs D Weightman.
- English Setter, Hawklawn Khamsin at Balvenie JW, owned by Mr P Schoneville & Mrs A Derry.
- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Macdreams Trent from Cashel Vale JW, owned by Mrs Y Titovets & Mr S Eremin.
For more information, visit www.crufts.org.uk. The results for Crufts 2019 can be found online at www.crufts.fossedata.co.uk/ For free downloadable images from Crufts 2019, please go to ppauk.com.