DUMFRIESSHIRE dogs and their handlers brought home several victories from Crufts 2023 at the weekend.
Danielle Wilson from Gretna had a wonderful trip to the NEC with her whippet Luna.
Luna, who was bred by Steph Marston-Pollock of the world famous Falconcrag Kennel, placed second in a huge graduate class.
Danielle then competed with her other dog, Ella, in the Young Kennel Club Handler of the Year Heat on Saturday.
After winning the 12-16 years YKC Hound Heat, she had to return for the finals on Sunday with both of her dogs.
Danielle said she felt delighted, excited and nervous all at the same time as she and Luna lined up against some of the top handlers in the country aged from 6-24.
But she needn’t have worried as the pair were runners up in the hotly contested class.
It means the youngster now holds two titles this year, with both the Runner Up Scottish Kennel Club Junior Handler of the Year 2022 and the Runner Up Young Kennel Club Handler of the Year 2023 under her belt.
Danielle is over the moon at her Crufts success and thanked her mum and dad, Sally and Graeme Wilson, and Luna and Ella’s breeder Steph for all their support.
Also competing was Lina Schukardt from Moffat, who ran with her two Frenchland Lhasa Apsos, Leo and Kala.
Leo came third in his Veteran Dog class, while Kala came fourth in the Yearling Bitch class.
Meanwhile, Katie McMillan and whippet Bobby from Eastriggs won the Post Graduate class, while Joanne McFarlane from Dumfries with her Newfoundland, Twister, was placed fourth in the Good Citizen Class.
Danielle, Katie and Joanne are all member of Carliol Ringcraft Society, which meets in Carlisle, and had several members attending last week.
Club secretary Jane Power said: “As the club’s secretary, I’m delighted with members successes.
“I could go on for quite a long time reporting on members placings, but would be here a while.
“I’m very proud of everyone, but at the end of the day we all take the best dog home regardless of their placings.”
