Married couple from Suffolk crowned UK's top dog breeders at Crufts

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A man and woman from Newmarket, Suffolk have won the Royal Kennel Club Breeders’ Competition final at Crufts, the world’s greatest dog show, on Thursday 5 March.

David Simms and Roxanne Simms team of Siberian Huskies won the ultimate breeder’s title in front of a packed bp pulse LIVE arena at the NEC, beating 39 other breeders who qualified for the final.

The competition, sponsored by Agria Pet Insurance, involved teams which accrued points at group and general championship shows in 2025. Points were compiled by Our Dogs, who published a regular leader board within their newspaper.

The judge of the final, John Thirlwell, selected Arcticskies kennel for the prize as the breeders with the best overall quality evident in their dogs. Each team comprised three or four dogs of one breed, all bred by the same breeder or breeding partnership.

Reserve best breeder was awarded to Chris and Cheryl Satherley from Staffordshire, with their team of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers which they breed under the name Silkcroft.

Jannine Edgar, Chief Executive of the Royal Kennel Club said: “Warm congratulations to David and Roxanne and their Siberian Huskies on achieving this prestigious honour. This couple have clearly invested significant care and expertise into responsible breeding practices, producing healthy, well‑tempered dogs who excel in the show ring.

Their success today is a testament to their commitment to the breed and their unwavering hard work.”

To find out more about the Royal Kennel Club Breeders’ Competition, please visit the Crufts website.

The following breeders qualified for the 2026 final at Crufts:

1 Ms R Bailey (Akna) Canadian Eskimo Dog

2 Miss S M Atkins (Qimugta) Canadian Eskimo Dog

3 Mrs S Tempest (Adoreadane) Great Dane

4 Mr D & Mrs A Duff (Titanbears) Newfoundland

5 Mr G J & Mrs T A & Misses E G & F L Coldwell (Zentaur) Newfoundland

6 Mrs R J & Mr D A Simms (Arcticskies) Siberian Husky

7 Mrs K Hughes (Siberiadrift) Siberian Husky

8 Mr N & Mrs L Bevis (Beabeardies) Bearded Collie

9 Mr G T & Mrs C Foster (Fostebrie) Briard

10 Mrs T L Jackson (Elbereth) Finnish Lapphund

11 Mrs D L Felstead (Foveaux) Lancashire Heeler

12 Mr S C & Mrs L A Naylor (Skaijak) Polish Lowland Sheepdog

13 Miss S Linney (Aescwine) Swedish Vallhund

14 Mrs K Warner (Monarchcor) Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)

15 Mrs S E & Mr M D Baldwin (Woolytop) Bedlington Terrier

16 Miss A Hannington (Boudivella) Glen Of Imaal Terrier

17 Mrs R Gee (Watercroft) Norfolk Terrier

18 Mr C W & Mrs C L Satherley (Silkcroft) Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

19 Mrs S Dunsdon (Mawali) Basenji

20 Mr C Middleton (Caelestibleu) Basset Blue De Gascoigne

21 Ms J Taylor (Amenediels) Bavarian Mountain Hound

22 Miss S Clark (Farlap) Bloodhound

23 Mrs A McAlpine (Humbiehounds) Deerhound

24 Mr J & Mrs S Briant & Mr P Routledge (Sufayre) Hamiltonstovare

25 Miss C Farrar (Henissy) Harrier

26 Miss W Heather (Whiteorchard) Irish Wolfhound

27 Mr J Winkley-Balmer (Edenwhip) Whippet

28 Mrs V Schfaild (Vickvally) Boston Terrier

29 Miss S Roberts (Marbledale) Lhasa Apso

30 Ms A McDonald (Balgay) Tibetan Spaniel

31 Mrs H Wright (Sangrereal) Xoloitzcuintle

32 Mrs Z Phillips (Ettology) English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan)

33 Mrs L & Mr G Dixon (Lasagesse) English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan)

34 Mrs A L Cawthera-Purdy (Lireva) Pomeranian

35 Mesdames D Clubb & C Mason (Oroshaza) Hungarian Vizsla

36 Mr S & Mrs K M Challis (Vizslanya) Hungarian Vizsla

37 Miss K L Watts & Mr I S Lawrence (Oakmarsh) Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)

38 Mrs J B Campbell (Ronevorg) Retriever (Flat Coated)

39 Mrs T & Miss S Westwood (Eusanit) Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)

40 Mrs A R Chandler (Chanangel) Spaniel (Welsh Springer)

Crufts takes place from 5 – 8 March 2026 at the NEC, Birmingham. For more information and results from the show, visit Crufts website.