Dog-loving sisters 11-year-old Daphne and 9-year-old Evie Bryson from Alexandria, Scotland have won the Young Royal Kennel Club (YRKC) Outstanding Young Person of the Year award at Crufts 2026 on Sunday 8 March.
As an active member of the YRKC for several years, Daphne has been involved in showing and handling for more than three years, including success at Crufts with Scottish Terriers. The sisters were also appointed junior committee members in December 2025.
Inspired by the care that Maggie’s Cancer Care gave their grandmother, 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’ Art Trail campaign, they organised and planned an awareness and fundraising day for their school. Activities included presentations on dog safety and Scottish Terriers, interactive games, a sponsored “Walkies Round the Pitch,” and a “Meet the Scotties” session where pupils learned how to safely approach dogs. More than 150 pupils took part, with the event raising over £2,400 and helping many children gain more confidence with dogs.
The project, ‘Scotties in the City’ was recognised with the Young Royal Kennel Club Person of the Year award for the Creative category in February 2026. When the ‘Scotties in the City Trail’ launches in Glasgow in June 2026, a School Scottie will stand proudly on display thanks to their efforts.
The YRKC Outstanding Young Person of the Year award is one of the highest levels of achievements for young people who are passionate about dogs, recognising those who go above and beyond to help transform the lives of others while encouraging their peers to make a difference with the help of their canine friends.
The YRKC was inundated with nominations for the prestigious award, which celebrates the hardworking, inspirational and selfless actions of young dog lovers. Each category winner was invited to Crufts 2026 for the award ceremony following a public vote to decide the overall YRKC Young Person of the Year award. In 2026, over 17,000 votes were cast by members of the public, reflecting the strong support for the next generation of dog enthusiasts across the UK.
The category winners were:
· Awareness Winner – Ellie Seeley (17)
· Teamwork Winner – Karson Maver (12) and Konan Maver (10)
· Talent Winner – Amy Challis (24)
· Inspiration Winner – Grace Rutherford (17)
· Creative Talent Winners – Daphne Bryson (11) and Evie Bryson (9)
For over 41 years, the Shaun McAlpine Trophy has been presented to the winner of the award at Crufts, in memory of Ed and Cindy McAlpine’s son who was tragically killed in a car accident aged 22. Shaun had himself achieved considerable success as a dog handler.
Previous winners of the competition have been recognised for their volunteering and fundraising for dog charities, helping organise dog activities in the local community, and assisting others through training, stewarding and mentoring.
Jannine Edgar, Chief Executive of the Royal Kennel Club said: “Congratulations to Daphne and Evie on being named this year’s YRKC Outstanding Young Person of the Year. They are a true credit to their community, their family and their fellow Young Royal Kennel Club members. We also extend our admiration to all this year’s inspirational finalists and nominees; each of them dedicates significant time and passion to improving the lives of dogs, and they should all be incredibly proud of their contributions.”
The category winners were each invited to Crufts 2026 for a special presentation ceremony in the YRKC ring. As well as being crowned YRKC Outstanding Young Person of the Year, The Royal Kennel Club Educational Trust awarded Evie and Daphne £350 to help progress their love of dogs, while the other three category winners were awarded £100.
If you would like to find out more about the Young Royal Kennel Club and how to join, please contact the YRKC team by emailing ykc@royalkennelclub.com or by visiting the Royal Kennel Club website.
Crufts took place from 5-8 March 2026 at the NEC, Birmingham. For more information and results from the show, visit crufts.org.uk.