Downpatrick man to take faithful friends to Crufts

Downpatrick man to take faithful friends to Crufts

1 March 2017

A DOWNPATRICK dog lover is gearing up for Crufts.

Paul Burke is hoping his Kerry Blue terrier Erik, and two Welsh terriers, Ifor and Griff, will impress the judges at the world-famous show which opens next week at Birmingham’s NEC.

Erik, who is just over a year old, will be competing in the junior class, while Ifor, who is less than a year old, is in the puppy section. Griff, as the top winning Welsh terrier in Ireland, will be with the other big hitters in the open class.

Local breeder Paul said that preparations for Crufts started many months ago, with the terriers requiring a lot of grooming and conditioning to be show ready.  With competition fierce, he explained that the Welsh terrier’s harsh double coat is painstakingly hand-stripped a few hairs at a time, while the soft and silky Kerry Blue coat is clipped to perfection.

“You have to go into Crufts with a realistic expectation,” he said.

“Getting a first,, second or third, or even reserve in the class is an honour.

“You also have to remember you are competing against dogs from all over the world. I know of one dog flying in from Australia this year.

“Crufts is the show to be seen at. Some people who don’t win moan but, at the end of the day, the judge decides on the best dog on the day.”

Paul, who works in partnership with Banbridge breeder Darwin Martin, is very knowledgeable  on the Kerry Blue breed also known as the Irish Blue —  considered the national dog of Ireland at one stage.

“They are well-known dogs, but they don’t always get good press,” he said.

“They aren’t the easiest to manage and are renowned for having a quick temper with other dogs.

“They are a challenging dog to breed and show, and they need their hair trimmed constantly.”

Warming up for Crufts, Paul had the dogs competing in the Terrier Extravaganza in Dublin last weekend, where they were placed among the winners.  

Erik, a rising star of the dog world, has already had some very major wins to his name, including the accolade of Best Puppy at the Dublin Blue Terrier Club’s breed show in Dublin and a few Best in Show awards north and south of the border.

To follow their progress, Crufts will be broadcast from March 9 to 12 on the official YouTube channel as well as Channel 4 and More4.