A GWENT kennel owner is celebrating after scooping four awards at Crufts 2005.

Linda Major"s four Labradors made a big impression at the show, and the Cwmavon kennel owner said she"s looking forward to building on the success.

She said there was a distinctly cosmopolitan flavour to her choice of entries.

"Chill is from America, Jolie is from Canada, Beau is from France, and Valentino is from Cwmavon!" she said.

It was a great day for Keeper"s Cottage Kennels, as Chill took first prize in the Citizen"s category, Jolie came second in the bitch category, Beau took third place in the Under Graduate section, and home-grown Valentino was highly recommended in the special yearling group. A recent change in the quarantine laws has enabled kennel owners to import and show young dogs from abroad.

For a delighted Ms Major, 51, who has been breeding and showing dogs for 33 years, and notched up regular awards at the top dog show, this marks a new chapter in the business.

She said: "The three international dogs count as mine, because I"ve trained and reared them from when they were puppies.

"This means we can look to developing connections with overseas kennels, and gives us more scope for breeding."