Jenny and Steve Lawson said that they were over the moon after their pet whippet, known as KK, was judged to be the top male out of 202 other entrants, some of whom were previous Crufts champions.
The couple, who live in Trinity, own four other pet whippets and are members of both the Kennel Club of Jersey and the Jersey Dog Handlers’ Club, which recently won the Pawscars – a national award – which is known as the equivalent of the Oscars for dog handlers.
Mr Lawson has been breeding whippets for more than 30 years and is known locally as ‘whippetman’.
Mrs Lawson, who handled KK on the day, said: ‘I never dreamed for a moment this would happen. We are over the moon and I am still floating on air.’
The champion whippet’s full show name is Ranveli Blue Breeze at Kipipiriking.
Mrs Lawson was so overcome when the results were announced that she said she had to fight back tears and lean for support on a nearby steward.
By winning his first Crufts challenge certificate, KK automatically qualifies for all future Crufts competitions for life, as well as UK Kennel Club stud registration.
This was Mrs Lawson’s third time competing at the event and her first victory at Crufts – it was also 17-month-old KK’s first time taking part in the show.
Robert Wheeler, a top exhibitor and qualified show judge, said: ‘Winning a challenge certificate at Crufts is a dream for the owners of many breeds, but for whippets there are so many entrants it’s even harder.
‘I don’t think Jenny realises what she’s done.’
Whippets were again the most numerous breed at Crufts this year, with 414 entrants. KK was pipped to the post by a female whippet named Tease in the overall best in breed final. Tease went on to win Best in Show on Sunday.
