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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
James McNeill

Trainer's delight as Yoshi bags Crufts win despite running 'unlucky 13th'

A mum said she "couldn't believe it" when it was announced she'd won a top award at Crufts.

Julie Rowland from Moreton set up her dog training business eight years ago after being made redundant and has competed in the famous canine competition since 2009. Julie along with her eight-year-old, Blue Merle Border Collie, Yoshi bagged the top prize in the Obedience Championships beating 23 competitors.

Julie told the ECHO: "I saw the round I would have to do and I thought it was a very testing one. I was drawn to go thirteenth which is unlucky for some.

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"Before we went out I was just in the zone and waiting for our turn, I was a bit nervous but I felt good. I knew Yoshi could do his job and if I got it right for him, he would be on it and I could not have asked any more of him."

Julie said when she stepped onto the green carpet, she "did not know who was around" her and just got on with the job at hand. After finishing, Julie said believed she had done well but not enough to win.

Yoshi who won the Obedience Championships at Crufts on Sunday (Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

The mum-of-two said: "I just could not believe I had done it, the ultimate thing I had worked for. I'm speechless and it has not sunk in, we have not been out today because Yoshi is shattered. After we won everyone was coming up to make a fuss which he loved.

"He got two massive Cumberland sausages after and he will be getting a big juicy steak for tea. Yoshi is one in a million and is literally the top dog."

Yoshi has automatically qualified for next year's Crufts and Julie will be hoping to retain the title.

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