A CRADLEY Heath woman and her crossbreed have qualified for the prestigious Kennel Club Olympia Agility Stakes finals in London this weekend.

Zoe Rose, aged 22, and four-year-old Stanley qualified in the large novice dog competition and will be heading to the final at Olympia on Sunday (December 17).

The country’s most talented agility dogs and handlers have been competing in qualifying heats at agility shows across the country in an attempt to gain a place in the finals, which take place as part of the London International Horse Show.

Zoe, who has been competing in agility for a year, first started taking part in the canine activity for mental and physical stimulation for her and Stanley.

Hereford Times:

After her first dog Topsy, a seven-year-old rescue Border Collie, was diagnosed with early onset arthritis, they both became less active.

But when she adopted Stanley, she decided to take up agility with him to get more exercise and to boost moral for Topsy.

Since his arrival, Stanley and Topsy have become the best of friends and the crossbreed has given Topsy a distraction from not being able to do much physically, as well as giving Zoe the chance to get active.

All their agility training has paid off and alongside qualifying for Olympia at the Kennel Club International Agility Festival in August, Stanley and Zoe also qualified in the large novice ABC (Anything But a Collie) agility semi-finals at Eukanuba Discover Dogs held at ExCeL London in October.

The pair will now compete in the grand final at the world’s biggest dog show, Crufts, next March.

Proud owner Zoe said: “I am amazed and in shock about qualifying for Olympia and Crufts. It is our first full season competing and we have achieved so much whilst still learning.”

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club secretary, added: “Olympia is one of the highlights of the agility calendar and each year we really look forward to watching all the talented dogs and their handlers in action.

“Good luck to Zoe and Stanley – we hope they enjoy every moment of it.”