TWO west Cornwall women are celebrating this week after winning gold medals with their dogs in their first appearance at Crufts.

Jeanette Hurrell, from Hayle, and Trudy Swann from Carn Brea, beat top competitors from across the country to take the top prize in the medium team agility event.

Jeanette, who is secretary of Carn Brea Agility Club, competed with Jess, her five-year-old border collie.

Trudy, a qualified dog behaviourist who runs her own agility club, competed with Merlin, her eight-year-old Shetland sheepdog.

Both dogs were in the medium dog height category in agility and represented Carn Brea Agility Club – along with their two friends who live in other counties.

The event consisted of a team relay with four people and four dogs in a race against the clock to complete an agility course in the fastest time with the fewest faults.

Jeanette said: "It was incredibly nerve-wracking competing in front of more than 6,000 people and knowing that the event was being broadcast online to the whole world.

"But we kept our focus and achieved what we set out to do.

"This is more than a dream come true for us and meets a lifetime ambition for us both.

"I would like to thank everyone who has supported us and wished us good luck. Also thanks to Pete Richards of Tamisje Agility who I have trained with over the last four years."

Trudy added: "It is an incredible achievement to qualify for Crufts in agility as the competition is so tough across the country. To actually win at such a prestigious event is just too fantastic for words.

The dogs did absolutely brilliantly – they have never run on an indoor carpet surface before, so we didn't know how they would manage with it. We are so thrilled with the result."

The win at Crufts marks a successful 12 months in agility competitions for Trudy and Jeanette whose dogs have won 26 agility classes and been placed in 58 classes between them.

Trudy and Jeanette are now returning to agility training as they are in team trials next month where competitors will be selected for the Great Britain team which will travel to Holland to compete in the European Open Agility Championships this summer.

If anyone wishes to find out more about agility classes held locally they can contact Trudy via www.trudyswann.com