Bradfield owner celebrates Crufts win

Best of Breed and Best Puppy awards scooped

A BRADFIELD dog owner was celebrating this week after scooping coveted Best of Breed and Best Puppy awards at Crufts.

Janet Tiranti and her 19-month-old Portuguese Podengo Solo, fought off stiff competition to scoop the award at the three-day show, at Birmingham’s NEC.

Afterwards, Mrs Tiranti said it had been a “dream day”.

She said: “Solo has won best of breed, and she is just one of the dogs that we have bred that have won this award.

“We first won Best of Breed in 1984 so it’s been a little while until the next one, but it has been superb. Crufts is such a big part of our year and we look forward to it every year.”

Mrs Tiranti’s husband John said they had taken five Portuguese Podengos to the show, including nine-and-a-half month-old Precious (better known as Presh), who won the Best Puppy award.

They were delighted with the Best of Breed award, which they last achieved showing a golden retriever.

“He’s called Solo because he was the only one in the litter,” said Mr Tiranti.

The couple attend Newbury Ringcraft and Puppy Socialising Club, a training class at the Burdwood Centre, Thatcham, on Tuesday evenings.

The cost is £3 per dog, which Mr Tiranti described as “worth every penny” as it familiarised them with noise and other dogs, and was also a social evening.

Mrs Tiranti said they had been showered with congratulations at the class this week and received a card.

“It was beautiful – everyone signed it,” said Mrs Tiranti.

For more details about the Newbury Ringcraft class, visit www.newburyringcraft.com.