VIDEO: Littlehampton Corgi wins Crufts breed and group trophies

IT WAS far from a dog day afternoon for a Littlehampton resident of the four-legged variety.

Champion Cardigan Welsh corgi Bymil Picture This, or Ina to her friends, was a finalist at the biggest dog show in the world, Crufts, after being named best in breed, and then winner of the pastoral group.

Click on the panel above to see a video interview with Ina's owner Sarah Taylor

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Yogi, a Hungarian vizsla, was named best in show, but Ina's owner, Sarah Taylor, of Toddington Lane, said she was extremely happy at winning the group, and receiving one of the most coveted titles in the dog show fraternity.

"It was just amazing," she said, "we knew we were in with a little bit of a chance, but I didn't really expect to do it. When the judge walked over to us, I just couldn't believe it."

Sarah, who has been showing corgis almost 40 years, said this was the highest accolade any of her dogs had yet achieved.

"Since she was born, we have always known that there was something special about Ina," she said.

"But we have had some scary moments."

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As a young puppy, Ina swallowed a stone, and needed an operation.

"She was very poorly, and we really thought she was a goner.

"Afterwards, of course, we couldn't show her for about six months, because she had a shaven belly."

Despite her late start, Ina was "made up" into a champion, meaning that she has won a first, second or third prize at a championship dog show at least three times, within months.

Nothing could have prepared her, though, for Crufts.

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"It's completely different," said Sarah, "because of the lights and the crowds. And the atmosphere. There are thousands of people.

"I was surprised at how well she coped. You never quite know how they are going to react, but she was brilliant."

Sarah said she would enter Ina at a few more shows during the summer, before the two-and-a-half-year-old settled down into motherhood.

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