Pooches on parade again as Crufts of the North hits 60

Organisers of the three-day Leeds Championship Dog Show, which opened on Friday and is this year celebrating its 60th year, have attracted entries from as far afield as Belgium and Italy, together with many from the Yorkshire area.

Many of the judges taking part in the dog show also travelled from different parts of the globe to attend.

This year just over 10,500 dogs were entered for a range of classes with thousands of owners making the trip to Harewood House, near Leeds, for the show dubbed the Crufts of the North.

Saturday’s programme was devoted to working dogs, including breeds such as German Shepherd and Old English Sheepdog and yesterday the spotlight shifted to the utility, toy and terrier groups.

On Friday winners included Show Champion Queen Sha Little Jeanie, from Somerset, the English setter best of breed.

Olga Denver, show spokeswoman, said: “Since their first championship dog show at Roundhay Park sixty years ago the show has grown to such a size that it moved initially to Temple Newsam and later to its current location: the beautiful grounds of Harewood House estate.”