A GIRL aged 12 will be showing her dog at Crufts – despite only starting to enter competitions 18 months ago.

Abby Webb, of Keith Way, Southend, who is a pupil at King Edmunds School, Rochford, won her place in the grooming category of the competition with two-yearold Tibetan terrier Ciel.

Mum Jackie Poole, 51, said she was very proud of her daughter.

She said: “She started showing when Ciel was about eight months old.

“Since then, she’s come in second in a couple of championship shows and won a couple of open shows of general handling, as well as a couple of places in breed classes.

“She originally got into showing by taking our chocolate Labrador on a basic dog training course.

“Her trainer suggested Abby go along to a Southend Canine Society Ringcraft (dog showing) class, in Rochford, just to watch, but it happened to be match night and they convinced her to join in.

“Even though she’d never done it before, she ended up winning and it all started from there.”

Ciel belongs to Abby’s aunt Sharon Elvridge.

Jackie added: “Abby is so excited about Crufts, she keeps saying ‘I can’t wait for Friday’. We’re going up to Birmingham on Thursday night.”