A teenager from Glasgow has been awarded the title of National Junior Handler of the Year, and is believed to be the first Scottish-born handler, who also resides in Scotland, to win the title in almost 50 years.
Ellie Darling Steele, aged 16, was awarded the top spot by judge, Luke Johnston, at the prestigious final, organised by the Junior Handling Association (JHA), alongside her Rhodesian Ridgeback called Zula (Rottzridge Perihelion at Gileeja). Scottish-born Hazel Kirkland won the title in 1975, handling a Pointer.
The event took place alongside The Kennel Club’s Junior Warrant of the Year semi-final, both held at The Kennel Club Building in Warwickshire on Saturday 5 October 2024. Ellie has been a Young Kennel Club (YKC) member for 10 years, won the Scottish Junior Handler of the Year final held in 2023 and won the YKC Handling Gundog 12-16 years class at Crufts 2024, handling a Pointer. She will now represent the UK at the Joe Cartledge Memorial International Junior Handling Final held at Crufts 2025, on Friday 7 March, where the judge will be Kimmo Mustonen from Finland.
The final results of the National Junior Handler of the Year 2024 were:
Winner: Ellie Darling Steele, aged 16, handling Zula (Rottzridge Perihelion at Gileeja), a Rhodesian Ridgeback.
Runner-up: Megan Slack, aged 16, handling Hudson (Multi Ch MacDuff’s Critical Acclaim), a Portuguese Water Dog.
3rd: Emily Moores, aged 17, handling Casper (Violis Wait N’See ShCEx), a Miniature Schnauzer.
4th: Isabelle Collier, aged 17, handling Otis (Ch Oakswarren Inferno), a Hungarian Vizsla.
5th: Kaitlyn Collier, aged 15, handling Allan (Pavvali’s First Choice at Cassibawn), a Pomeranian.
6th: Morgan Taite-Shoosmith, aged 17, handling Iris (Irisaddition She’s All That With Bridus JW), a Bearded Collie.
In the second part of the competition, the top six competitors were given a Tibetan Spaniel to handle, with Ellie handling Nova. The Kennel Club and JHA would like to thank the owners of these Tibetan Spaniels for lending their dogs - Claire Cooper, Lilly O’Brien, Ashley Halliday and Elise O’Connor.
Commenting on her win, Ellie said: “It meant so much, there’s not many Scottish finalists that have ever been in the UK Junior Handler final so I was very proud to get there from winning the semi-final back in August at the Hound Association. I still don’t think I have come down from cloud nine from winning the semi-final, the feeling was completely unmatched. Goodness knows how long it’ll take for today’s win to sink in!
“It has been difficult leading up to the final as the dog I won the semi-final was my own dog Roxy, but unfortunately she has been unwell. Everything is OK now and she is recovering well but still needed time to heal. So, a week before the final, we decided it was best to change dogs so Gillian Black and Janice McKinley who were coming to support me anyway, offered to lend me their dog Zula for the final. I can’t thank them enough.”
Ellie won her spot in the final by winning first place at the JHA semi-final heat in August 2024 at the Hound Association, held at Stafford County Showground, under judge, Abi Levene. Abi was National Junior Handler of the Year in 2019.
Ellie is currently studying Media Communications at City of Glasgow College and works part-time at Ibrox Stadium. She trains at Dumbarton and District ringcraft club. She enjoys photography and loves walking her dogs down to the River Clyde in her spare time.
The National Junior Handler of the Year final, organised by the Junior Handling Association, has been running since the 1970s and is one of the most hotly contested junior handling finals in the country. The semi-final heats for the 2024 competition took place between December 2023 and August 2024 and more than 150 junior handlers competed in these classes at the national group championship shows.
For more information about Junior Handling, please visit the Junior Handling Association’s Facebook page here.
For up-to-date information about Crufts 2025, visit Crufts website.