A TEAM of high speed dogs have fought off the competition to be crowned champions at Crufts 2018.

The Warrington Wizzards team, who are part of the Live Wires Flyball club in Sutton Weaver, beat Four Paws Racing, from Middlesex, becoming the Crufts Flyball champions yesterday, Sunday.

It saw the two teams of four dogs race side-by-side over a 51 foot long course.

In relay fashion the dogs ran over four hurdles, triggered a box containing a tennis ball, caught it and returned to the start to release the next dog.

Anne Alcock, Live Wires team manager, competed with her four-year-old Border Collie, Cassie.

She said: "Each team is allowed a maximum of six dogs, with four dogs racing and two acting as substitutes.

"On Friday, both teams from Live Wires, Warrington Wizzards and Warrington Warriors competed to make it through to the semi-finals at the weekend.

"But on Saturday, the Warriors just missed out on getting through to the final.

"The Wizzards made it through to Sunday and won.

"The commentator was saying "It looks like the Warrington Wizzards are the team to beat" - and it turned out to be the case."

Anne, a retired teacher, and her husband Geoff from Thelwall, started the club 17 years ago, and are now the last remaining original members.

The club has since built up a membership of around 45 dog-enthusiasts, who train weekly in preparation for competitions throughout the year.

Sunday's winning team was led by team captain Susan McDermott, who handled dog Isla, along with Connor McLeod, Shaun McDermott, Samantha Jones and Warrington and District Dog Club chairman, Paul Astbury - with dogs River, Phar and Oscar. 

On winning the competition, Connor, who handled Skye, said: "I'm still on cloud nine with the team's victory and so proud of my dog and how she ran."

Other key members including David Shackleton, who was on the box, and Howard Jones, on the line, also led the team to its victory. 

This is the first time the Warrington Wizzards have won at Crufts, having qualified for the finals last year.

The team were UK Record holders in 2011 and 2012 and double Champions of Europe and the UK in 2012.

They have now won the British Championships four times in 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2013, and their best time to date is 16.13 secs in 2014.

The Warrington Warriors team that made it to the semi-final were made up of dogs Badger, Merlin, Skye, Bangles, Jody and Koda with Carole Spencer on the box and Shaun McDermott on the line.

For more information visit flyball.org.uk