GWENT produced winning dogs at Crufts in the NEC in Birmingham at the weekend.

An 11-month-old King Charles spaniel from Newport came first in the special puppy dog category on Saturday. It was the first Crufts competition for Maynorth Shades of Heaven@hooebarton, otherwise known as Rusty.

Rusty’s owner, Margaret Hunter, of Mill Heath, Bettws, said: “I am very chuffed. I have been breeding dogs for about 40 years.

“I generally only keep bitches but he was just too beautiful to not take home with me. Rusty came second in his class at a Builth Wells show and then he wasn’t placed in the next show in Manchester so I wasn’t really expecting him to come first at Crufts.”

Susan Bayliss, of Llanvaches, and Blaize, a seven-and-a-half-year-old miniature pinscher, came first in the veteran bitch category. The champion, whose Kennel Club name is CH Bullypins Blaize, has won eight champion certification competitions.

Ms Bayliss said: “We took two breeds, the miniature pinschers and the toy poodles, to Crufts this year. We have had five best of breed poodles in the past. We’ve been every year for about 50 years now. We have been breeding poodles from about 1958 and miniature pinschers for the last 16 years.”

Deedee, a 20-month-old Shar Pei from Pontllanfraith, came first in the post-graduate bitch competition.

Owner Linda Walker, 60, said: “She was absolutely amazing, she adored it. She’s never been so famous — I am quite proud.

“I have been breeding Shar Peis for 10 years, they are very good guard dogs. She has won three reserve champion certificates.”

Chanah, a three-year-old Siberian husky, was very highly commended in fifth place out of 20 in her category of open bitch last week. The husky, who has one brown eye and one mixed blue/brown, has previously won best in breed.

William Hawkins, 52, of Cwmbran, said: “She’s quite a character. Huskies are very strong dogs and can be quite hyperactive but she was brilliant.

“A friend of mine took her around the show. For the weeks leading up to Crufts she would walk on a special dog treadmill which helps use all the muscles.”