Young Person of the Year award

The overall winner of the Young Kennel Club Young Person of the Year award will be presented with the Shaun McAlpine Memorial Trophy. 

The award has been presented at Crufts for over 39 years by Ed and Cindy McAlpine. The award is in memory of Shaun, who tragically died two weeks after his 22nd birthday in November 1984.

The trophy is awarded annually to encourage young dog lovers to become more involved in dog activities, as Shaun himself had achieved considerable success as a dog handler, competing at Crufts on many occasions.

• 2025 - Faith Windsor
• 2024 - Emily Dabb
• 2023 -  Izzy King 
• 2022 - 
• 2021 - Lewis Garstang
• 2020 - Ryan Hennessy
• 2019 - Paige Jepson
• 2018 - Lauren Ashby
• 2017 - Daisy Buckland
• 2016 - Charlotte-Louise Page
• 2015 - Oliver Beckett
• 2014 - Ryan Ross
• 2013 - Jessica Ward
• 2012 - Kian Pellow
• 2011 - Alice Moodie
• 2010 - Chelsea Hickford
• 2009 - Linzi Follet
• 2008 - Joshua Griffin
• 2007 - Georgina Ferguson
• 2006 - Stephanie Lansdell
• 2005 - Chantelle Prior
• 2004 - Jodie Harrison
• 2003 - Rachel Buckwell
• 2002 - Amy Holmes
• 2001 - Adam Rose
• 2000 - Jodie Harrison
• 1999 - Adrian Marett
• 1998 - Defrel Owen
• 1997 - Donna-Elena Hardwicke
• 1996 - Phillippa Noble
• 1995 - Dona-Elena Hardwicke

Ellie is a dedicated and caring young person with a bright future in the dog world. She began training at just nine years old and, at 13, trained her own dog Bailey,  working cocker from scratch. Together they compete in Rally and companion shows, and Ellie now supports Puppy and Bronze sessions, confidently helping others develop their skills with patience and clarity. 

She has a natural talent for mentoring younger handlers, especially encouraging girls into dog training by breaking learning into simple, achievable steps. Ellie is reliable, calm, and empathetic, and her passion for showing has seen her qualify for YKC handling in her first year and again this year, with opportunities to handle dogs at major shows including Crufts. 

Alongside shows, Ellie is a committed fundraiser, helping raise £4,000 over two years for hospice and animal charities through raffles, events, and demonstrations. She balances this with her education, completing her GCSEs and enjoying her Level Three T award in Animal Care Behaviour, while always striving to support and uplift others. 

Karson and Konan volunteer at their local dog show every year. The show has an exceedingly small committee, but Karson and Konan's enthusiasm and dedication are an inspiration to all. They help direct exhibitors where to park their cars. At both shows they help exhibitors into the hall with their show gear and dogs. They help with the raffle, bringing slips back to the secretary and putting them onto the awards board. Both boys not only do they compete in Junior handling events with a great deal of success (places at crufts & top Scottish handler), but they routinely handle other people’s dogs too. They help in the setup of the shows the day before and on the day of the shows both boys stay to the very end and help us clear up. They really do deserve this nomination as we need youngsters with this dedication in the hobby, and their commitment is inspiring!   

Amy is 24 and has been involved in agility for as long as she can remember, having grown up in the sport. Dogs and agility have shaped who she is, and she can’t imagine life without them. During her junior career, Amy won all YRKC events at Crufts and represented Team GB Juniors. She has recently moved into adult competition and is excited to compete in the Crufts Singles for the first time this year. 

Alongside competing, Amy now teaches agility full time and is passionate about helping people of all ages build confidence and achieve their goals. She hopes to volunteer with the YRKC to continue inspiring and supporting young people entering the sport. 

Amy is incredibly grateful to her Nan and auntie for their constant support and encouragement. Their belief in her means everything, and she is proud to give back to the sport that has given her so much 

Grace is an inspiration in the show-dog world. She has a natural ability to build trust with any dog, regardless of age, handling them with calm confidence and always putting the dogs first. Her quiet approach brings out the very best in every dog she works with. 

Beyond the ring, Grace also inspires young people entering the world of dog showing. She willingly helps, trains, and encourages newcomers, supporting them as they build their skills and confidence. 

Grace is grateful to be nominated for this award. Years spent taking part in Young Kennel Club events helped her develop, thanks to the guidance and support of others. Now, she is proud to pass that same inspiration on to younger members starting their own journey. Seeing them grow in confidence and ability is incredibly rewarding. One young handler even said, “My mentor Grace helps me with my handling skills at shows and always buys me chips.” 

Grace’s continued progress has only been possible thanks to the people who trust her to handle their wonderful dogs. 

Inspired by the care that Maggie's Cancer Care gave their Granny—who introduced them to showing and shares their love of Scottish Terriers—the girls decided they wanted to give something back. After learning about the charity’s Scotties in the City Trail campaign, they set themselves a big goal: help support it in their own way. 

Their Head Teacher was so impressed by their determination that the girls were trusted to run a whole-school awareness and fundraising day—something rarely placed in pupils’ hands. 

They planned everything themselves. The day included an illustrated presentation on dog safety and the history of Scottish Terriers, a talk about why the breed needs support, a Q&A, creative design challenges, games, interactive activities, a sponsored “Walkies Round the Pitch,” and a “Meet the Scotties” session where every child learned how to approach dogs safely. 

With more than 150 pupils taking part, the impact was remarkable. Children who had once been afraid of dogs found the confidence to meet the Scotties—something that meant the world to the girls. The event raised over £2,400 and even made the press. 

And when the Scotties in the City Trail launches in Glasgow in June 2026, a School Scottie will stand proudly on display—thanks to their kindness, courage, and a big idea that started with gratitude.