The final of The Kennel Club Junior Warrant Winner of the Year competition will return to Crufts on Thursday 6 March and will be judged by Tim Ball, an experienced judge who awards CCs in 75 breeds across six groups. Tim first entered the world of show dogs 40 years ago with the Shar Pei and achieved great success over many years, winning at the highest level. He has also owned French Bulldogs, Pugs and Miniature Smooth-Haired Dachshunds.
The Junior Warrant is an award for pedigree dogs from the ages of six to 18 months which have won a series of first prizes at both open and championship shows. Achieving a Junior Warrant is one of the highest levels of success for young pedigree dogs, and The Kennel Club issues around 600 such awards each year.
At Crufts 2024, Jacqui Ward judged the final and awarded the top spot to the Bearded Collie, Farmarens Like A Circus For Kiltondale JW (Cash), owned by Linda Peirson from Saltburn-on-Sea in Yorkshire.
The final will take place at Crufts 2025, at 5.40pm in the BP Pulse LIVE arena, NEC Birmingham, on Thursday 6 March, and the ten finalists who won through from the October 2024 semi-finals are:
- Australian Shepherd, Ch Norcis Slippery Jack JW, owned and bred by Miss S A Bothwell.
- Bearded Collie, Wre Write The Stars From Noonie Bears With Bridus JW (Imp Bel), owned by Mrs S Bird and Miss E Bird and bred by Ms I Floryn.
- Boxer, Romanico Bacctu Clarricks JW, owned by Miss C Y Lock and bred by Mrs R Kuech.
- Irish Wolfhound, Killoughery Mission Two For Inkleyboys JW, owned by Miss K Webb and Mrs C Sheppard and bred by Ms K Gregory.
- Miniature Schnauzer, Ch Violis Stormy Skies JW, owned and bred by Miss L V Parker and Mr J McDonald.
- Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund, Siouxline Mary Rose JW, owned and bred by Mrs S M Ergis.
- Newfoundland, Sandbears Fourty Four JW, owned and bred by Ms S Blake.
- Poodle (Miniature), Ch Joleena’s In Excelsis With Navarre JW, owned by Mrs E Holmes-Leak and bred by Miss N Priestley.
- Shetland Sheepdog, Lavika Sunset Rose JW, owned and bred by Miss K Robinson.
- Tibetan Terrier, Ch Araki Wowie Zowie JW, owned by Mrs J Price and Mrs T Leese and bred by Mr K Maguire.
Tom Mather, Crufts Chairman, said: “These dogs have already achieved considerable success gaining the Junior Warrant title and it’ll be thrilling to see how they perform in the main arena at Crufts. Some of the young dogs competing have already won champion titles and other top awards, so this promises to be a very exciting final indeed.”
To find out more about the Kennel Club Junior Warrant Winner of the Year competition, please visit Crufts website.