The new Co-ordinator or the Community Dog Warden scheme in Ross, Stephanie Presdee has followed Crufts from Olympia to Earls Court to the National Exhibition Centre, for over 40 years.

This is her account of her latest visit, and the journey home.

" As a spectator and exhibitor I loved the atmosphere in London, taking my dogs on public transport, managing all those steps (Borzois and escalators definitely do not compliment each other)

"My hands have been red from clapping Bossy Boots in 1974, to Brandy, to Buttons and who could forget Dancing Master, the English Setter. I personally knew some of the dogs that won in later years with my interest peaking with Blackcap, the Flatcoated Retriever, before I left to live in Spain for ten years to run a Boarding Kennels. I continued to follow the dog scene in the UK, via the internet and visitors from the UK, and showed my dogs in France and Spain.

"My hands have been purple from carrying shopping bags full of goodies, many of them free samples. My poor feet have trudged miles, especially as Crufts has expanded from three days to four days and spread over five halls at the NEC, Birmingham.

"Rising early in the mornings and returning late at night. I do not know how we did all four days, but we did, having special interests in the breeds shown each day. Now I am exhausted after one day in those hot lights, seemingly always walking the opposite way to every other member of the public. There seem to be even more stalls, more Swarovski crystals and bling, certainly less free samples.

"This year I returned as a member of the Press, and was privileged to gain an exclusive interview with Dr Elaine Ostrander, Dr Gustavo Aguirre and a student at Bristol University, Emily Milodowski. They were nominated by their peers and presented with prizes to a combined value of £60,000, for their pioneering work in dog health and research in veterinary sciences, generously donated by Metro Bank founder, Vernon Hill and his wife, Shirley. Dr Elaine Ostrander was chosen as the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, her work not only leading to developments in canine health but transforming understanding of several human diseases making dramatic advances in genetics and cancer susceptibility. Dr Gustavo Aguirre was awarded the International Prize in Canine Health for his recognition of eye diseases in dogs and identifying comparative human retinal disease genes. The Student Inspiration Award was given to Emily Milodowski, for her research on prevalence and distribution of a bacteria called Campylobacter in the canine intestine, which again may help human health. Emily will be awarded £10,000 for her next research, looking into wound healing, relevant to human health, as it concerns the over-use of antibiotics.

"I travelled back on a packed train from the NEC on Saturday evening. I chatted with an exhausted but happy band of travellers. Young girls with brightly coloured hair and matching mobile phones, commenting on the pictures they had taken, expressing interests in breeds such as the Chinese Cresteds, crammed into the packed train carriage with their brand named plastic carrier bags, trying to read their catalogues and their magazines picked up from a number of stands. A few older but equally happy Crufts visitors were stood in the gangways with equally large amounts of dog related shopping. Amid quips from travelling football fans, who stood to offer their seats, pointing out you could get fluffy dog bedding rolls for two quid down their local market.

"Nothing has changed as far as these dog loving members of the public are concerned ...they still love Crufts and the gate numbers have probably risen again this year. There was lots of laughing when the message came over the tannoy, reminding you to 'Please remember your belongings' as the stuffed Old English which had resided above their heads on the luggage rack for the journey home was gathered safely with the rest of their bags and goodies. Will these ardent dog lovers be back next year? The answer was 'Definitely!'