21 years after she was a member of the winning team in the Crufts 1999 team final with her Border Collie, Sophie Macbeth was back at it again. It was a delight when her Working Cocker Spaniel, Kima, was awarded a silver medal at this year’s Crufts. Kima took part in the team event.

Moving to Ross-on-Wye four years ago from Oxfordshire, they compete regularly at agility competitions all over the country, and Kima is Grade 7, which is the highest grade.

Kima also qualified for the Championship class at Crufts by winning a Championship ticket at show last July. Despite not winning a medal in that class at this year’s Crufts, Sophie is already looking to success next year.

To take part in Crufts, you have to win a major qualifier at one of the major regional agility shows. The largest dog show in the world, Crufts is centred on a championship conformation show for dogs, but also includes a large trade show of mainly dog-related goods and services, as well as competitions in dog agility, obedience, flyball and heelwork to music. Sophie told the Ross Gazette: “Just getting there is an achievement in itself as you are competing against the best of the best.”