Chief, a Border Collie and his handler Linda Rutherford from Kilmarnock, took home the top obedience prize at Crufts on Saturday 7 March, after winning the Obedience Championship (Dog) final. The judge was Kate McCartney.
Four-year-old Chief (Ob Ch Longwaves Lead The Way), came first in the final held at the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, after competing against some of Britain’s best dogs for the coveted title.
All competitors at Crufts had made it through to the final after qualifying at one of the championships shows held last year.
Jannine Edgar, Chief Executive of the Royal Kennel Club., said: “A huge congratulations to Chief and Linda for their outstanding display today and their well-deserved win. Their teamwork and the exceptional obedience skills shown in the ring were truly impressive. With handlers travelling from across the UK to compete, the standard remains exceptionally high, and today’s performance was a testament to that.”
Crufts took place between 5-8 March 2026 at the NEC, Birmingham. For more information and results from the show, visit https://crufts.org.uk/.