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Crufts
- Celebrating its
Centenary Show!
On
the 6th – 9th March 2003 the Kennel Club will be staging
the ‘Greatest Dog Show in the World’ – Crufts,
at the NEC Birmingham.
Crufts 2003 will welcome over 22,000 dogs and 120,000 visitors
from all over the world, and this year’s show will officially
mark the 100th ever Crufts! To celebrate, the best dogs on the
planet will compete for the prestigious title, ‘Best In
Show’. They will be accompanied by other top pedigree and
crossbreed dogs striving to gain prestigious awards in disciplines
such as Obedience, Agility and Flyball.
It is the Kennel Club’s intention to demonstrate, through
Crufts, just how amazing and versatile man’s best friend
is, having evolved with us since first being domesticated over
12,000 years ago. The relationship between dog and man has gone
from strength to strength and today our canine friends do so
much for us – far more than our ancestors could have ever
possibly imagined when they first domesticated the dog for the
purposes of hunting, guarding and companionship.
The primary reasons why the dog was first domesticated by man
are represented in the seven different groups - Gundog, Working,
Pastoral, Terrier, Hound, Toy and Utility - and each breed has
just as important a role as the next, whether they are a hunter,
herder or lapdog. These diverse functions can be seen throughout
the show. In addition many other tasks dogs are able to carry
out, due to their superior senses, will be highlighted throughout
the different demonstrations taking place each day.
Crufts is not solely about competitions, as Heelwork to Music
and the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme demonstrations are
just some of the other displays taking place - exploding the
myth that Crufts is just a ‘beauty contest’! Visitors
will also be able to experience the hugely popular Discover
Dogs area which accommodates over 180 different breeds of pedigree
dog. At Crufts 2003 visitors will be able to learn all about
the new breed for this year, the Finnish Lapphund, so come along
and discover dogs!
Said Vanessa McAlpine, Events and Education Executive; "Whilst
Crufts was founded in 1891, the Crufts 2003 show will mark the
100th anniversary following past cancellations due to war and
an electricians’ strike. Crufts now has a long established
pedigree but when you think of the length of service the dog
has already given to man, Crufts is still very much in its infancy!"
Why not come along and experience for yourself the diversity
and splendour of all that is involved in the canine world? For
further information please telephone 020 7518 1012 or log on
to www.crufts.org.uk.
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