Over 80 Northern Ireland dogs set for the biggest ever Crufts in 133-years

Over 80 Northern Ireland dogs and their owners are competing in this year’s Crufts, the most prestigious canine show of its kind in the world.

Set to be the biggest ever show in its 133-year history, the event at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre arena will welcome tens of thousands of people from throughout the world over each of the four days.

Officially opened today (Thursday), the dog show has over 27,000 entries competing in the agility and obedience competitions as well as the show dogs organised by breed. However only one can be named top dog on Sunday in the ‘Best in Show’ category which is being judged by Belfast lady Ann Ingram.

Eleven of the local entries are competing in this year’s Northern Ireland obedience dog team which will be welcomed on stage tomorrow (Friday) and consists of four border collies, two golden retrievers, a cockerpoo, shepherd cross, a Mudi, Lagotto and Maltese cross — all hoping for a rosette.

Chairman of the Kennel Club Obedience Liaison Council for the UK, Michael McCartney, from Lisburn, has also been the manager of the Northern Ireland team for the last 35 years and is delighted to be at the contest again this year. He also judges in the obedience and agility categories.

Michael (69) is joined by his wife Kate, also a obedience and agility judge and soon to be the first-ever female UK Crufts chief obedience steward.

“We have a very strong team this year, with some really great handlers,” he said.

“We have handlers from 14-years-old to 60 and from all walks of life including doctors, vet nurses, bus drivers, secretaries and farmer’s wives. We also have a variety of breeds, some which are quite rare like the Mudi which is a Hungarian farm dog and the first time in the show.

"All the handlers have been coming to Lisburn in preparation for the canine contest and have been working extremely hard for months now.

"Three of the handlers are complete novices and took part in the special pre-beginners contest a few months ago. They competed against 20 finalists over three heats and won.

"So it’s absolutely amazing to see them here at the NEC.”

As a show of support for the Northern team, the Irish Football Association (IFA) have sponsored all the leads, collars and dog jumpers for the competition with Bangor company Urban Pup.

Thanks also go to the main sponsors, Holistic Pet Vet Rehab and Pain Management in Newtownards and various other companies throughout the province who have also helped the team.

Michael continued: “The team and I wish to thank everyone who has helped in our journey to this weekend. Special thanks to all the sponsors, friends and family.

"Northern Ireland only has one vote in the competition, compared to Wales and Scotland that have two, and the Midlands alone have four votes and it really is a chance of a lifetime for these handlers and their pets.”

Due to Michael and Kate’s unique combined skills, the husband and wife duo are normally flown to dog shows all across the world to judge, however Crufts is their annual highlight.

“Not many do both, train and judge, and so we go to shows in the Netherlands, all across Europe, Singapore and even Abu Dhabi,” he explained. “But Crufts is where our heart is, it’s something special. It’s busy and we spend the weekend chasing our tail but the buzz you get is amazing. We’ve been doing this for around 38 years, but we’ve been involved with dog training for a lot longer.”

The McCartney family, including son Crawford, have been running Glen Craig Canine Training, named after two of his first dogs, for the past 36 years from their home in Lisburn, but Michael said his love of dog training started from a young age.

“I joined the original Belfast Dog Training Club in 1969 at the age of 13. The club was where the peace line is now, between the Shankill and the Falls Roads in west Belfast. But when the Troubles broke out, they had to close it,” he added.

“I remember seeing the poster on the wall advertising one of their meetings and I brought my first dog — a collie Labrador cross called Cap — and that got me hooked on dog training.”

Michael’s son, Crawford (25), has followed in his father’s footsteps and this is the first time in 18 years he hasn’t attended Crufts.

“He’s looking after our seven dogs,” Michael laughed. “As well as training for the European championships. He first got involved in the young Kennel Club at the age of seven and has been competing in events ever since. He’s represented Ireland at both the European and World Agility Championships in previous years and is in training for the upcoming 2024 competition.

"But he’ll be watching Crufts on television and cheering on the Northern Ireland team, as well as a lot of other local dog lovers.

"For the local handlers and their dogs getting this far is an amazing achievement and that is what we need to remember. It’s about taking part and enjoying the experience – getting a rosette at the end is a bone-us.”