The eyes have it for Blade

The winner of this year’s Advertiser Pet Of The Year competition is border collie Blade, owned by 11-year-old Kimberley Taggart.

Kimberley and her mother, Miss Tracy Taggart, of Thoresby Avenue, Newark, entered Blade because they thought his unusual appearance, with one blue and one brown eye, would attract votes.

Blade was given to Kimberley, a pupil at Bowbridge Primary School, Newark, as an 11th birthday present when he was ten weeks-old.

Miss Taggart said: “We chose him because he was a bit different and we knew we wanted him straight away.

“He enjoys chewing things at the moment, especially his balls and he’s very energetic so we take him for lots of walks around Balderton Lake.”

Blade, who won the best dog category, received a trophy, rosette, and a hamper from Armitage Pet Care.

The runner-up was Fluff the lamb owned by Carole Sutton of Hawton.

Fluff won the best farm animal or horse category and received a hamper of prizes from Chukka Cove and Vale Saddlery.

First in the funniest photo category was West Highland terrier Jock dressed as Bob the Builder, owned by Mrs Elizabeth Banks of Egmanton.

Rouge, a red-tailed hawk owned by Ben Stevens of Balderton won the best other pet category.

First in the cat category was Betsy owned by Becky Rees of Newark and the award for cutest photo went to Pip Arins, of Newark, and Tedward the dog.

All category winners received a hamper from Armitage Pet Care.