THE region's biggest dog show ended yesterday after three days of fierce competition.

More than 8,000 canines competed at Darlington Dog Show Society's Championship Show at Newby Hall, near Ripon, North Yorkshire.

Owners travelled from across the UK to take part.

Every breed of pedigree dog registered with the Kennel Club was due to attend the show, which is a major event in the run-up to Crufts.

The event began on Friday with the hound, terrier and utility groups, followed by working and pastoral dogs on Saturday.

Gun and toy dogs went before the judges on the final day and the overall winners were then decided.

The best in show award went to N Cragg and K Armstrong, with Hungargunn Bear It'n Mind, a Hungarian Vizsla dog.

The best veteran in show was Mr and Mrs Phillips with Grey Ghost Of Ladygrove, a deerhound bitch

Last night, Sarah Allsopp, from Darlington Dog Show Society, said the event was a success.

She said: "Thankfully, we had splendid weather and quite a few members of the public came.

"It was a very happy show and everyone seemed perfectly satisfied. The venue has been beautiful and the show field a credit."

The kooikerhondje, a Dutch gun dog originally used for duck hunting, appeared for the first time this year.

For full results, visit www. highampress.co.uk

* The group champions and reserve champions were: Hound champion - greyhound bitch Windspiel Northern Stylon, Mrs E Newsham; reserve - whippet bitch Cobyco Careless Love, Mrs L Yacoby-Wright. Terrier champion - Australian terrier dog Silhill Red Rock at Sherex, Mr PR Eardley; reserve - wire fox terrier bitch Blackdale Carousel, Mr H O'Donoghue. Utility champion - chow chow dog Towmena In The Frame, Mr R Oldham; reserve - Tibetan terrier dog Schanti's Sonny Lamleh at Walkamile, Mrs H Stickley. Working champion - Newfoundland dog Pouch Cove's Onyxbay Wizard, Mrs J Sheridan; reserve - Alaskan malamute dog Chayo Dom Perignon, Ms S Ellis. Pastoral champion - Australian shepherd dog Heatherhill Shock N Awe, Mr N Allan, Mrs A Harlow and Mrs CP Richards; reserve - Shetland sheepdog bitch Francehill Icemaiden JW, Mrs M Norman. Gundog champion - Hungarian Vizsla, Hungargunn Bear It'n Mind, N Cragg and K Armstrong. Reserve - flat coated retriever, Vbos the Kentuckian, Mr J M Irvine. Toy group champion - Yorkshire terrier, Ozmilion Illustration, Mr O A Sameja. Reserve - Pomeranian, Casarow's Nightfever, Mr and Mrs Sparrow.