Windermere woman aiming for Crufts glory with Italian Greyhound Scarlet (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Windermere woman aiming for Crufts glory with Italian Greyhound Scarlet

5:09pm Monday 4th March 2013 in News

WINDERMERE’S Helen Lister and her three-year-old Italian Greyhound Scarlet were top dog at last year’s Crufts, and they aren’t giving up on their award this week without a fight.

Scarlet was one of over 25,000 dogs at Birmingham’s NEC at the world’s most prestigious dog show Crufts, presented by the Kennel Club.

But despite the sheer numbers Scarlet still stood out, walking away with the Best Bitch award for the third year running.

Helen and Scarlet are returning to the West Midlands this year and the Crufts veteran admits she has her sights set on finishing top of the pile again.

But whatever the outcome Helen insists it is simply an honour to be heading back as a reigning champion with the Kennel Club celebrating 140 years of promoting healthy, happy dogs at the pinnacle of the showing calendar.

“Preparation for this year is going well but this time of the year is always a bit of a rush to get the final touches done,” she said.

“Scarlet has been the top bitch of her breed for the last three years so hopefully we can have some more success this year too.

“Scarlet has two sisters that are going this year too – SoSo and Tiggy. SoSo is the same age as Scarlet while Tiggy is 20 months because she has one different parent.

“Scarlet has won a wonderful amount already as she has 17 Challenge Certificates and some best group placings so we will just go and do our best and see what happens.

“You have no idea what will happen as you have no idea who has entered. The lady judge will very much have her own ideas of what she likes so we will have to wait and see.

“Crufts is the most prestigious show in the dog showing calendar. It is nice to meet visitors from overseas and just go and see everything the show is about.”