It’s been a bumper year for Ramsey Dog Club with no fewer than 10 of their members preparing to go to Crufts, which starts today (Thursday).

The entrants will be competing in both obedience classes and breeds classes.

As part of the Young Kennel Club Obedience, for handlers under 25, Amy Carswell will be taking part with her border collie Alfie and Voirrey Horne with her dog, also a border collie, Isla.

’Both of us will compete at "graduate" level, which is the second from the top, on Friday,’ she said.

’After that you are in with the big guns. I just scrape in at 24 but Amy is only 18.’

The dogs will have to demonstrate general obedience with a routine of sitting, staying, retrieving, walking to heel. The events will unfold at Birmingham’s NEC in hall three, the main one.

’There’s likely to be a bit of a crowd there so hopefully the dogs won’t be put off. It’ll probably depend if there’s anyone in the crowd eating burgers,’ she said.

Voirrey competed in regional events with her previous dog in 2011 and Amy and Alfie won the lower level event at Crufts in 2015.

In addition, Ramsey Dog Club member Anne Callow and her dog, Mirk, will compete in The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme pre-beginner obedience, after qualifying in the semi-finals in Scotland with a faultless performance.

Two members will be competing in breeds classes at the event too. They are Gemma Stockton and her boxer, Asbo, who is qualified for life after winning best of breed in 2013. Cathy Kelly will also be competing with her two flat coat retrievers. For the second year running , Ramsey Dog Club has been invited to field the Good Citizen Silver Display Team and 10 members along with their dogs will be taking part demonstrating their skills.

The event concludes on Sunday.