1st May 2006

Lucky Chance Is Crufts Winner

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The prestigious Crufts competition was won this year by an Australian Shepherd named Chance. 'Chance', kennel name AM CH Caitland Isle Take a Chance, was handled by Mr Larry Fenner and is owned by Ms Nancy Resetar from Royal Oaks, California, USA.

While no’one disputes that Chance was a worthy winner, the second place winner, wire fox terrier Payback, had her own remarkable story. Payback, from Swansea, gave birth to a litter of puppies in late October, just 13 weeks before the start of the competition.

Payback's owners Barbara Becker and Phil Davies of Upper Killay told the BBC, ‘You dream of these things when you start out and it's everybody's dream to do well at Crufts. People come here just to win a card - just to get placed in their class. We've come down from 24,000 dogs to seven and finished up second best.’

Mr Davies said the final was close-run. ‘We've been preparing her for 13 weeks and she is only just off a litter of puppies she had late in October,’ he added. ‘We felt we could have just pipped it at the end.’