Dogs bring home Crufts wins

Crufts, the world’s biggest dog show, was held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham earlier this month.

The competition saw a number of dogs from the Boston area bring home Best in Breed titles.

They included Asalet Çomar who took the honour in the Anatolian Shepherd Dog category.

He is owned by Anne Yates, 54, and partner John Field, 67, of Wrangle, who last year saw their dog Teshir of Asalet win Best in Breed, again in the Anatolian Shepherd Dog category.

Teshir of Asalet had been due to compete at this year’s Crufts and at three years old, in peak fitness, was expected to re-claim the title, however in the run-up to the event she fractured a metatarsal and could not take part.

Asalet Çomar was something of an underdog, being seven-and-a-half years old and also not keen on being shown, said Anne.

“I didn’t expect to win, so it was a bonus,” she said.

Another Best of Breed winner in the Boston area was Hibeck Dino who took the title among imported dogs.

Twenty-two-month-old ‘Dino’ is a Griffon Fauve de Bretagne and owned by Jean McDonald-Ulliott, of Fosdyke.

Jean said there are only 46 dogs of the breed in the UK, with her being the first to bring one into the country.

“I feel very proud I have introduced them to the UK,” she said, describing the breed as ‘amazing’.

Dino, she said, has won 21 Best of Breed titles through 2016 and up to Crufts.

“He is a bit special,” she said.