Sunderland canine comes home a medal winner after team came out tops at her first Crufts dog show

An excitable Sunderland canine is over the moon after sniffing out a medal on the green carpet.
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Three-year-old Bearded Collie, Nora, has emerged triumphant from her first stint at the world’s greatest dog show on Friday, March 6.

The pooch, which lives in Hartington Street, Roker, with owner Donna Surtees, wore her Crufts medal with pride after her team were crowned champions of the inter-regional events.

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Nora, officially known as Miss Batty, was one of eight dogs in the northern team, which came out on top in the against seven other regions from across the UK.

Nora wearing her Crufts medal with pride.Nora wearing her Crufts medal with pride.
Nora wearing her Crufts medal with pride.

Despite being known as ‘Naughty Nora’ she was exceptionally well-behaved on the day.

She completed exercises in competitive obedience and was sitting on a good individual score after her heel and recall work.

However, true to her nature, she got slightly over excited when it came to the scent work and came back with the wrong cloth.

But Donna, 47, couldn’t be prouder of her.

Nora and Donna (centre) and the rest of the northern team on the green carpet at Crufts.Nora and Donna (centre) and the rest of the northern team on the green carpet at Crufts.
Nora and Donna (centre) and the rest of the northern team on the green carpet at Crufts.
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“She was just a little bit too happy I think, but she thought she'd nailed it so she still got a ‘clever girl’,” she said.

“We were both quite nervous with it being our first time at Crufts but she worked her socks off.

“I was so proud of her, I was just amazed with her attitude, she loved the atmosphere and was her usual smiley and didn’t stop wagging her tail all day.”

Donna added: “The northern team won which was brilliant and that’s what it was all about, so it was really successful.”

Donna Surtees and Nora.Donna Surtees and Nora.
Donna Surtees and Nora.
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There’s no rest for the wicked though, and Nora, who has been training since she was a puppy, was back at it days later, honing her skills ready for next year.

“It's one of those experiences that once you’ve done it you just want to do it all over again,” said Donna.

“All the training starts again now, but it's all good fun.”

She added: “I want to thank my dog trainer Maureen Conlin, of Walk and Train, she has been absolutely phenomenal, she's gone the extra mile – and to my friends and family for all the support they have given us.”

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