A couple from Gateshead have spoken of their joy after being crowned winners of the coveted Kennel Club Breeders’ Competition at Crufts last Friday (March 11).
Stuart and Carole Pearson, who hail from Leam Lane, along with handler Scarlett Burnside (from Northern Ireland) won the Ultimate Breeders’ Title with their team of Dalmatians in front of a packed Resorts World Arena at the NEC in Birmingham. The team also beat 39 other breeders, all of whom qualified for the finals.
Their collective team of Kelevra dogs consisted of Kelevra What a Guy JW, Kelevra Mind Your Nebula and Int Multi Ch & Ch Kelevra Classic Cliché JW ShCM.
Read more: Who Won Best in Show at Crufts 2022? All the winners of this year’s show
The competition, sponsored by Agria Pet Insurance, was attended by teams that scored points in group and general championship shows in 2021. The points were compiled by Our Dogs, who published a regular ranking in their newspaper.
The final judge, Dr. Ron James, selected Stuart and Carole’s Dalmatian team for the award as the breeders with the best overall quality of their dogs. Each team consisted of three or four dogs of one breed, all bred by the same breeder or breeding community.
Speaking of the win, Stuart, 43, said: “We started in 2009 and have worked towards it for years. Everything suddenly clicked and they won everything, and now Crufts! It was Carole’s dream to be here as a winner on the Crufts green carpet.”
He continued: “We’re not prolific breeders, we’ve had seven litters of Dalmatians – so obviously compared to some kennels we don’t have the numbers that are coming through. It was an achievement to get there and do this. “
He added: “To win it overall I’m usually at a loss for words but I was speechless. There were a lot of good dogs there. It is the most dogs you will see in the ring at one time in the UK, there were around 139 dogs in at one time. It was quite a spectacle and an amazing performance.”
Best reserve breeders were Claire and Darren Baldock from Essex with their team of Newfoundlands they breed under the kennel name Gunnersnewfs.
Crufts Show Manager Vanessa McAlpine added: “We are very happy for Stuart and Carole with their excellent performance.
“Stuart and Carole are very talented breeders who invest time and effort in developing sound breeding practices to produce healthy and happy dogs for the show ring.
“Her dogs are a testament to her hard work and dedication to the breed.”
The breeders who qualified for the 2022 finals at Crufts:
Mrs C & Mr D Baldock, Gunnersnewfs Newfoundland
Mrs. R. Bailey, Akna Canadian Eskimo Dogs
Miss T, Mr A & Mrs L Douglas, Talard Australian Shepherds
Mrs P. MacLellan, Debruix Groenendael Belgian Shepherd Dogs
Mrs. A. Walters, Goytre border collies
Mr S & Mrs L Naylor, Skaijak Polish Lowland Sheepdogs
Miss L. Holmes, Lisjovia Great Pyrenees
Mrs. L. Paterson, Eriksfjord Swedish Wall Dogs
Mrs. C. Bamsey, Holbam Irish Terriers
Ms H Turner & Miss A MacDonald, Locheil Jack Russell Terrier
Mr C & Mrs G Knight, Talanors Manchester terrier
Mrs. R. Gee, Watercroft Norfolk terrier
Mr. & Mrs. S. Newport, Digaden pastorRussell terrier
Mrs. V Norton, Divadell Scottish terriers
Mrs L Lui, Eblanahalls Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers
Mr. & Mrs. R. Foote & Miss E. McAulay, Erylan Petits Bassets Griffons Vendeens
Mrs J & Miss R Cumberland, Mumysami Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund
Miss R. Lucas & Mr. C. Dargonne, Packway deer dogs
Mr. K. Alexander, Kansenji Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Mr S & Mrs C Pearson, Kelevra Dalmatian
Miss H. Jansson, Fridlyckans Eurasian
Mrs. K Andrew, Claran Medium German Spitz
Mrs. C Best-Rawlings, Trixwood Japanese Shiba Inu
Mrs. K. Watson-Todd, Karocolin miniature poodle
Mrs A McDonald, Balgay Tibetan Spaniels
Mrs. J & Mr. S. Scott, Cukoton Cotton from Tulear
Mr. G. Urquhart, Blackpark Maltese
Mrs. R. Wilkinson, Keljantzis Miniature Pinscher
Mrs. A. Cawthera-Purdy, Lireva Pomerania
Mrs. K. Storey, Rhodenash pugs
Mr S & Mrs K Challis, Vizslanya Hungarian Vizslas
Mr G & Mrs C Sutherland, Carnlochan Hungarian Vizslas
Mrs. C. O’Neill, Tenshilling pointer
Mrs J Campbell, Ronevorg Flat Coated Retrievers
Miss C. Smith, Flyenpyg Labrador Retriever
Miss D. Anstead, Riverwatcher Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers
Mrs T & Miss Westwood, Eusanit Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers
Mr P & Mrs J Fielder, Cretshengan Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers
Mrs. A Chandler, Chanangel Welsh Springer Spaniels
Miss J MacLaine & Mr R Dickson, Greyspirit Weimaraner
To find out more about the Kennel Club Breeders’ Competition, please click hereor alternatively email [email protected]
