DOGS of all breeds turned out for the biggest show of its kind in the North-East at the weekend.

Now in its 51st year, the Darlington Championship Dog Show hosted thousands of visitors and competitors at Ripon Racecourse from Friday, September 13 to Sunday, September 16.

The three-day show featured seven Crufts-qualifying categories where owners and dogs were ready to impress the expert judges with an array of breeds from the Gold Retriever, Jack Russell Terrier and English Springer Spaniel to the Japanese Spitz, Leonberger and Afghan Hound.

The event opened on Friday with Hound and Utility groups followed by Terrier, Working and Pastoral on Saturday.

Sunday’s round of judging featured Gundog and Toy groups with Best In Show crowned from the weekend’s winners who gathered in the ring during the afternoon.

The overall Best in Show winner was a Bichon Frise named Ch Regina Bichon You Rock My World at Pamplona, and Reserve Best in Show was a whippet named West Chelan Quick Look At Me.

Other special prizes and rosettes included Best Veteran in Show, Best Puppy in Show, Group Winners and Best Veteran and Puppy of each breed.

There was also a number of Variety and Stakes Classes for each day such as Special Beginners Stakes, Young Kennel Club Handling Classes and the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme.

In each category the dogs were judged on factors such as health, fitness, temperament and how happy they appear.

The winners of each category will go on to compete in Crufts next year.