Flyball team, Focus, took the top prize on Sunday 8th March, winning the flyball final at the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts.
Focus is made up of dogs and handlers from across the north of England including Doncaster and Manchester. Focus came second last year and this year secured the win with impressive speed.
The team beat off competition from 15 other top flyball teams from around the UK to win the exciting final at Crufts. These teams competed in eight qualifiers held at a range of shows during 2019 for the chance to make it to the 'grand prix' of GB flyball at Crufts.
The winning team consisted of:
- Rebel (Crossbreed) and Mike Hallam
- Panik (Crosbreed) and Craig Burrows
- Onyx (Manchester Terrier) and Garry Minnikin
- Mouse (Crossbreed) and Kim Gillespie
- Roscoe (Hungarian Visla) and Jennie Laef
- Kenai (Crosbreed) with Harry with Rutherford
Team captain Sarah Prince said: “We are absolutely delighted with the win. We came close last year but are delighted we have beaten 15 other teams, although it was tough!”
“The team is drawn from Selby, Nottingham, Manchester and Doncaster, but we all meet under the banner of the Focus Flyball Club, linked together by the passion for our sport.”
Vanessa McAlpine, Crufts Show Manager, said: “Huge congratulations to Focus for their amazing performance in the main arena. The team kept the crowd on tenterhooks during the competition and the winning dogs and their owners won everyone over with their incredible team work. We want to wish them the best of luck for the future – no doubt we will be seeing more of them at many Crufts to come.”
Crufts took place from 5th-8th March 2020 at the NEC, Birmingham. For more information, please visit www.crufts.org.uk.