Pulham Market couple take Best of Breed prize at Crufts 2015 with bull terrier
A dog breeding couple celebrated the pinnacle of their craft when Nessa the bull terrier scooped the Best of Breed prize at Crufts 2015, which finished on Sunday.
The three-year-old bitch belongs to Mark and Joanne Phillips of Pulham Market, who have been breeding bull terriers for 30 years.
Mr Phillips said: “I never expected to win, you always hope to do well but you never expect.”
“I’ve won Best of Breed before with another breed, but to do it with a bull terrier is brilliant. I bred Nessa and she’s great. Now she can retire a champion. What more can you ask for?
“Crufts is a great show. I’ve been coming for the past 30 years and I always enjoy the atmosphere, the shows keeps on getting better.”
The couple run Orchard Kennels and Cattery in the village, and breed bull terriers small-scale alongside the business.
I bred Nessa and she’s great. Now she can retire a champion. What more can you ask for?
Mrs Phillips said Nessa will now retire from shows. “She’s going out at the top,” she said.
“Hopefully now we will have a litter from her.”
Mrs Phillips said Nessa is a playful dog, with a mischievous side to her and said the breed as a whole was almost clown-like - enthusiastic and clumsy.
They won Crufts Best of Breed in 1999 with a miniature bull terrier.