Newark bearded collie breeder wins The Kennel Club Breeders’ Competition at Crufts 2025 at Birmingham’s NEC

A breeder from Newark has been named top dog in her class at the country’s most prestigious dog show.

Rachel Salter's team of bearded collies won the ultimate breeder’s title The Kennel Club Breeders’ Competition, beating 39 other breeders who in the final.

The competition, sponsored by Agria Pet Insurance, involved teams which accrued points at group and general championship shows in 2024.

Each team comprised three or four dogs of one breed, all bred by the same breeder or breeding partnership, and judge Moray Armstrong selected Irisaddition kennel for the prize as the breeders with the best overall quality evident in their dogs.

Speaking of the win, Rachel said: “It means everything, and this really is a family affair. Just to be shortlisted from 40 teams was amazing… we will have a party and cake and champagne.”

Helen Kerfoot, Crufts Show Manager, said: “Many congratulations to Rachel and her Bearded Collies for this prestigious achievement. Rachel is clearly a talented breeder who has put a lot of time and effort into developing sound breeding practices to produce healthy and happy dogs for the show ring. Her dogs are testament to her hard work and dedication to the breed.”

Sarah White, breeder channel manager at Agria Pet Insurance, added: “Well done Rachel on winning this prestigious title. It takes such an incredible amount of dedication, care and passion to be among the UK's most responsible and successful breeders, and the Breeders' Competition truly showcases this. It was wonderful to see all the different teams competing at qualifying championship shows throughout the year - congratulations to everyone that made it to the final at Crufts.”

On Sunday (March 9), four-year-old whippet Miuccia, from Venice, Italy, was named Best in Show, beating more than 18,000 dogs from around the world, with Tibetan mastiff Viking coming in as runner-up.