Success at Crufts for Ebony and her pedigree chums (From Western Telegraph)

Success at Crufts for Ebony and her pedigree chums

EIGHT-year-old Ebony Owen gave adult handlers a run for their money at last week's Crufts.

Ebony qualified for the prestigious event not once, but three times with deerhound Rush, whippet Bailey and miniature wire-haired dachshund Coco.

She competed against adult handlers in the three breed classes and in the National Junior Handler competition at the NEC in Birmingham last week.

Ebony was presented with a second place prize in the Young Kennel Club Junior of the Year at the event.

Having won the six to 11-years title at the Welsh Kennel Club Championship Show last summer, she went on to top a challenge against the 12 to 16-year-olds, all in her first year at championship level.

But Ebony is hardly a beginner. Proud parents Zoe and Kim Owen, of Wolfscastle have been showing dogs for ten years and Ebony started taking part when she was just three.

Despite her experience she was nervous, as well as excited, about showing at a competition the size of Crufts, which has over 20,000 entries.

"I have been going to Crufts ever since I was a baby," she said, "but I have never competed there before."

Cards and support from friends at Mary Immaculate Catholic School, Haverfordwest, and Pembrokeshire Canine Association helped boost her confidence.

Ebony said the most difficult part was remembering all the moves and concentrating on so many things at the same time.

But spending time with the dogs makes it all worthwhile.

And how does the pint-sized pet handler cope with a dog the size of Rush the deerhound? "He's a gentle giant," she said. But her favourite is tiny Coco the dachshund. "He's my baby," she said.