A dog breeder from Cheltenham won The Kennel Club Breeders' Competition final at Crufts.

Averil Cawthera-Purdy won the ultimate breeder's title with her team of Lireva Pomeranians at the world famous dog show at the NEC in Birmingham.

The competition involved teams which accrued points at group and general championship shows in 2022. Each team in the final was made up of three or four dogs of one breed, all bred by the same breeder or breeding partnership.

Averil Cawthera-Purdy's team beat 39 other breeders to take the prize.

Judge Sigurd Wilberg selected the team of Pomeranians for the prize, as the breeder with the best overall quality evident in the dogs.

Averil Cawthera-Purdy said: "I'm so happy, and I'm shocked as well. You hope, but you never expect to win. There was strong competition, but they went very well and they are a lovely team.

"This competition is about breeding, so it's not just about one dog but a group, and all ones that I've bred myself, which makes it even more special. To me, this is the pinnacle."

Vanessa McAlpine, Crufts show manager, said: "We are very pleased for Averil on her excellent achievement. She is a very talented breeder who puts the time and effort into developing sound breeding practices to produce healthy and happy dogs for the show ring. Her dogs are testament to her hard work and dedication to the breed."

Image credit: BeatMedia/ The Kennel Club