TWO MORAY YOUNGSTERS were clearly barking up the right tree when they entered their pets at a major dog show.
Elgin teen Kirsty Wynn, 16, and seven-year-old Calum Taylor from Alves took their pets to Ross and Cromarty canine club – and emerged triumphant.
Now Calum will take his cavalier King Charles spaniel Jazz to the Scottish Kennel Club Junior Handler of the Year contest in February – joined by Kirsty and her Labrador Scotia.
“This is amazing for Calum,” his mother Jo Cockburn said, adding: “Calum is quite new to handling but Kirsty is like a big sister to him – she constantly helps with his training and she has a real heart of gold.”
At the preliminary event in Ross and Cromarty the pair, who are members of the Banff, Moray and Nairn canine club, both impressed with Calum competing in the six to 11-year-old age group and Kirsty in the 12-17 years group.
Heats for the Scottish junior handler title are held throughout Scotland with the final held alongside the Scottish Top Dog and SKC Championship show each February. Kirsty and Calum will contest the national title against eight other qualifiers in each age group.
Kirsty and Calum could then find themselves competing against each other for the overall title, as that is selected from the two age group winners.
Calum has another date with Jazz this week – a ‘show and tell’ talk to his fellow pupils at Alves Primary School.