A Carlisle canine society has been nominated for The ‘Pawscars’ Prize of Open Show of the Year.
The Carlisle & District Canine Society (C&DCS), which has been running dog-related events in the area since 1943, hosted its latest Premier Open Show on Saturday, April 20, 2024.
This event was attended by over 1,400 dog owners and saw 864 dogs competing for places at Crufts 2025 in March and prize money in the takes class.
(Image: Matthew O’Hara/NQ) Now the C&DCS has been informed by Crufts’ organiser, the Royal Kennel Club, that its 2024 Premier Open Show has been nominated and made it to the final three for The ‘Pawscar’ Prize for Open Show of the Year.
(Image: Matthew O’Hara/NQ) Pam MacLellan is the secretary at the Carlisle & District Canine Society and expressed her delight after the show and the society’s nomination.
She said: “Carlisle & District Canine Society have hosted an annual Dog show under The Royal Kennel Club rules for many years.
(Image: Matthew O’Hara/NQ) “In 2023 it became a Premier Open Show and became a qualifying event for Crufts, the only all-breed Open Show in Cumbria to achieve this status.
“The Royal Kennel Club notified us that we had been nominated from hundreds of shows held throughout the year for The ‘Pawscars’ Prize of Open Show of the Year and that we had been short-listed for the last three.
(Image: Matthew O’Hara/NQ) “The next stage is the final voting round for people from the world of dogs throughout the United Kingdom which begins on Friday, January 10 with the votes counted and the winner announced at an eve-of-Crufts Awards Dinner on March 5.
(Image: Matthew O’Hara/NQ) “In 2024 through the hard work of the Committee and support of the exhibitors, there were 1,487 entries with 731 breed/stakes classes on offer.”
Pam also shared the news that the Carlisle & District Canine Society has secured approval from the Royal Kennel Club to give young local dog owners the chance to qualify for Crufts 2026.
(Image: Matthew O’Hara/NQ) She said: “The 2025 Show has been granted approval by the Royal Kennel Club to hold Young Kennel Club Classes for the first time giving 6 to 24-year-olds an opportunity to qualify for and compete at Crufts 2026.”