One of the highlights of the Crufts junior programme is the International Handling final. All the handlers will have already won their own country's final and they are then invited, along with a member of their family, to visit the UK for the duration of Crufts.

We had been approached by Liz Cartledge to provide a Labrador for'Taryn Ashley Hamilton (age 17) to handle, as she also shows and trains Labradors at her home in Canada.

The judging commenced at 8.30 am allowing the young handlers from 38 different countries just one hour before hand to get to know their dogs. The juniors are judged totally on the handling of their individual dog and after approximately an hour in the ring they are asked to leave the arena for a short while and exchange dogs with the handler behind. This time they are handling a dog that they have never met before.

The final result is decided in the morning but not disclosed until the final parade of the 38 countries in the main arena at 5.50 pm. Sunday evening before the two final groups and Best In Show.

The atmosphere was electric as the families of the juniors and the owners of the dogs had to watch the results on the big screen in the agility ring. It was with much pride that we saw Taryn Ashley Hamilton awarded first prize with our own boy 'Manifesto' who behaved impeccably throughout the two hours judging in the morning through to the main ring at night.