At Crufts 2005, Andrea Wylie had an excellent time in that CH VORMUND MARNIE, the Shiba Inu, whom she owns in partnership with breeder Liz Dunhill, won the Utility group writes Helen Davenport-Willis. "Marnie" is of course, the Breed Record Holder. That would be enough excuse for most of us to crack open the champagne but it obviously does not stop there for the Wylies.

At the Cheltenham Festival, a major meeting over hurdles which followed Crufts, Andrea and her husband Graham had three winners, on three successive days. The big winner was INGLIS DREVER, who won the Ladbrooke World Hurdle, defeating the much fancied and outstanding hurdler Baracouda. "Drever" is now fancied to do well at Aintree in April. The Wylies’ two other winners were ARCALIS who won on the Festival Opening Day and NO REFUGE who won on the second day. All three were ridden by the same jockey, (Graham Lee) and are trained in Co Durham by Howard Johnson. From time to time we hear about large kennels of dogs but Graham and Andrea are the proud owners of no fewer than 89 horses in the Johnson yard.

Andrea is also co-owner with Liz Dunhill and breeder Shellie Reeves from New Zealand of the top winning Rottweiler CH/GR CH/NZ CH/AUST CH/ ROLEX RUMOUR HAS IT BY FANTASA, and whilst "Ronan" did not have it all his own way at Crufts was the Top Working Dog of 2004 and second overall Top Dog last year. The Wylies cup runneth over!