Members of the Young Kennel Club dazzled the crowds at London’s leading dog event, Discover Dogs, over the weekend in a variety of competitions. Several talented youngsters excelled and secured a place to compete at the world’s biggest dog show, Crufts, next year.
Discover Dogs, organised by the Kennel Club in association with Royal Canin, took place on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th November 2008 at Earls Court. The show celebrated its 13th year of delighting dog devotees from all over the UK, with new and exciting attractions alongside a range of traditional crowd favourites.
The Young Kennel Club (YKC), which aims to educate young people in the care and training of dogs whilst promoting fun and friendship, showcased a wide range of competitions and displays at the event. YKC members, aged from 6 to 24, competed in three different Crufts qualifying competitions; grooming, handling and heelwork to music.
One of the highlights of the show was the heelwork to music competition, which featured a dedicated class for YKC members for the first time this year. Made famous by Kate and Gin this summer on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, heelwork to music is a competition giving handlers an opportunity to demonstrate skilful movements by their dog and to perform combined heelwork and freestyle movements interpreting the chosen music and reflecting the dog and handler working as a team.
Caroline Kisko, speaking for the Kennel Club, said “As always, the YKC members have demonstrated exceptional skills in handling, grooming and heelwork to music and, most importantly, have shown the genuine love they have for their dogs. We are immensely proud of not only the winners, but of all the competitors who have proven that children and young adults can be responsible and loving dog owners.”
Further information about the YKC can be found at www.ykc.org.uk, or by contacting 020 7518 1030.
