Groomed for dog stardom

2:05pm Thursday 6th March 2008

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TURN the clock back 41 years and it was all bustle and brushing in more than 50 homes around Burnley, Pendle, and Rossendale, as last-minute grooming was completed for that supreme canine contest, Crufts, 1967.

Then secretary of the Burnley and District Canine Society Roy Metcalfe, of Nelson, said at the time: "Entries for the show are slightly down this year, but the standard will be higher because a new rule now states that only dogs placed 1, 2, or 3, in local championships are eligible to enter."

Among those taking part in the championship was Mrs Jane Coates, of Cliviger, who travelled with her two Irish setters, Teague of Two Acres and Musbury Melisande of Two Acres.

Estelle Nelson, of Brierfield, secretary of Colne, Nelson and District Canine Society, was another.

She bred Cavalier King Charles spaniels and was off to Crufts to show Picken Victoria of Pondenvale.

If the show had had an award for proudest dog it would probably have gone to Champion Bravo of Bothkennar, bred in Stacksteads.

For while the bearded collie - Champ to his friends - won the open dog class and the challenge certificate, two of his sons also figured in the prizes.

Another of our photographs shows Champ with teenager Catherine Osborne, at her home East Hile Farm.

Following their success, her mum said: "We have only been breeding bearded collies for about four years, but already we have had two Crufts champions, which have been sold in Sweden.

"Champ was also top stud dog in the country last year and it's good to see some of the awards in the show are coming north at last."

Another success story was that of Glendor Symbol, a four-year-old elkhound, owned by Burnley butcher Frank Stansfield, who had shops in Standish Street and Oxford Street.

But after being placed second in a post-graduate class and reserve in a mid-limit class, there was almost an unhappy ending.

For, on returning to East Lancashire, the dog went missing. As Mr Stansfield wondered if he would ever see Simba again, two youngsters found him in Nelson and took him home.