A DOG groomer from Littlemore is to represent the United Kingdom at the World Dog Show after picking up two awards at Crufts.

Hollie Kavanagh, 20, was awarded a third-place prize in the Young Kennel Club members stakes and was crowned national Young Kennel Club show handler of the year with her Doberman, Chito.

In June she will travel with the four-year-old to Milan for her third world championships where she will have the hopes of the nation on her shoulders.

Miss Kavanagh said: “To be crowned national champion you have to show that you have a really good rapport with your dog and that you are enjoying it.

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“It is mostly about what you do and how you handle the dog but having a dog that looks good is important as well.

“This is my third time winning national show handler. I won at Crufts in 2010 for the first time and I went to Denmark for the world champions and then I won it in 2013 and I went to Budapest. I am really looking forward to my trip to Milan with Chito.”

The Young Kennel Club is described as an association for aspiring young dog lovers who want a career in showing dogs.

Miss Kavanagh attended her first dog show when she was eight years old, having to stand on a steward’s briefcase so she could reach the table her dog was standing on.

Miss Kavanagh, who works at Avalon Kennels in Wallingford, said: “I work with dogs in my day job too so they really are a very big part of my life.”

Oxfordshire had more success at Crufts when a team of youngsters picked up third place in the Young Kennel Club junior time agility event.

Oxford Mail:

Rory Tidmarsh, Lucy Maguire, centre, and Gio-Gio Botto with Scooby, Bambi and Tatti.

Oxford resident Lucy Maguire, 15, Gio-Gio Botto, 12, from Didcot, Rory Tidmarsh, 11, from Didcot and Thomas Shaw, 12, from Banbury, teamed up with Katie Wallbank from Worcester to take part in the competition.

And Cokethorpe School pupil Olivia Busby, 16, from Wantage, was awarded the Young Kennel Club’s John MacDougall prize in recognition of her dedication and improvement over the most disciplines.

This year’s Crufts, the world’s largest dog show, was held between March 5 and March 8 at the NEC in Birmingham.

The event was marred by allegations of foul play after one dog died after eating poisoned meat and a number of others fell ill.

Miss Kavanagh said: “I love dog shows and I would never be put off by what has gone on.”