Latchford youngster claims top prizes at Crufts (From Warrington Guardian)

Latchford youngster claims top prizes at Crufts

2:10pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News

ONE girl and her dog are reaping the rewards of a rock-solid partnership after clinching two top rosettes at the world’s biggest dog show Crufts.

Jess Ward and Twist the dog took the spoils at the dog show in Birmingham at the weekend - picking up the Shaun McAlpine Award and heelwork to music prize.

The eight-year-old of Kingsway South, Latchford, picked up the Shaun McAlpine Award for her charity work with dogs to help raise money for causes like St Rocco’s Hospice.

She has even sold her own toys to help fundraise for charity and completed a triathlon as part of her fundraising work.

Jess and Jack Russell poodle cross Twist have also worked together to help children overcome fear of dogs - and The St Elphin’s CE Primary School pupil has done all this while undergoing treatment for epliepsy.

Her mum Rachel said: “It was a huge shock, it’s a massive achievement and a lovely award for Jess to win.

“It was great as a family because Jess has had a real struggle with everything against her but we were just over the moon with her successes.
 

“She has already had her rosettes out when she got home and was jumping around.

“We have had dogs in the family all her life.

“It was only 2011 when she started having problems with epilepsy that she started taking an interest.

“She was helping out with the dog club I run and doing some charity stuff.

In 2012 we decided she could get a dog of her own. She was given Twist by a friend of ours who joined the Army.

“Twist has helped improve her confidence in leaps and bounds.”

Her second showing at Crufts also saw Jess and Twist waltz off with the heelwork to music prize by performing a Robin Hood inspired dance to Everything I Do (I Do it for You).

The double success has spurred on the youngster to do more.

She said: “Twist makes me really happy and he has helped with my epilepsy. Now all my friends at school think I’m a lot happier a lot more of the time.

“I want to keep coming to Crufts in the future with Twist as we have so much fun.”