Nicole Owles, a pupil at Emmbrook School, Wokingham, took first place in the handling 12-16 years final with five-year-old Newfoundland Cooper.

She said: “It was a lot of fun out there but I was quite nervous as well, there was a big crowd at the ring.

“We had to bear with that and I think we managed to. He was really good and I am so proud of him.

“There was a really strong field there, everyone did really well and had done well just getting there.

“It is fantastic just being at Crufts at all and qualifying, it is a brilliant opportunity.” The four-day canine festival welcomed 22,000 dogs and their proud owners to the NEC in Birmingham.