The video and photos tell the story of our annual 900 mile round trip that was fast turning into the most challenging, starting with a heavy snow fall delaying us getting out and on the road.

The Kansenji team had well qualified for the KC Breeder Competition Finals on day 1, Thursday. That should have been a bit easier than last year when the final was on the same day as the Hound Group, but that was not how things unfolded.

Our biggest set back was losing Ellie being stopped from all Crufts. Ellie contributed lots to how we worked the team all year, and with Maghan has been key to us beating some of the top and more experienced teams.

The ultra reliable Maghan made the lone journey South against a storm, that by morning was also threatening Kim from getting North to join us. So even planning for 'spare' everything we were at one point down to two handlers, and that would have stopped us competing the final.

Fortunately the day and our original plan was rescued by our Kansenji owner Patrick who lives close by. He dropped everything and joined the rest of us at the NEC making it possible to achieve all our objectives at Crufts 2023 with a team of four.

With Ellie and Maghan we had worked very hard to achieve high qualification and third place in the hound rankings, more than earning our place in the top 40 teams, and that was how we were welcomed by everyone involved in the Breeder Competition.

We were forced to change the normal handler and running order for the dogs. Indy had to move up to lead and Noor paired with Kim. Patrick handled our light wheaten Kali, the mum to his own Asha. Then Maghan brought up the rear with the young Zara maintaining close formation. Overall they all did really well in both rings achieving improved performance on last year.

Like some of the other breeds we were able to show both the true colour variations of the Rhodesian Ridgeback, red and light wheaten. And we also put on a show for both the competition and main ring audiences, reflecting the African hunting origins of the breed.

Our team safari outfits were a big hit in and around the competing rings, and had the Disney Channel all over us with TV cameras. Then in the main ring we created more humour and comment from Frank Kane and Laura Crombie on the Ch4 TV coverage. The significance of this competition is well explained in their commentary.

I am extremely proud of our team on the day, and with Ellie throughout the competition year. This year was always going to be a bit special, as Noor retires at Crufts from the main ring. Noor has competed five Crufts and been in the breed tickets every year, plus leading her Kansenji team in two breeder competition finals.