Shropshire Star

One girl and her dog: Ellie, 4, qualified for Shropshire competition

She is just four – and she has made history by qualifying in a prestigious dog handling competition in Shropshire.

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Ellie Close has become the youngest person to qualify for the Great Wall Motor World Series Gundog Junior Handling Championship at Weston Park.

Unfortunately, Ellie was unable to compete in Shropshire last month alongside the 16 other juniors, who ranged from eight to fifteen years old, because her dog Molly was in season.

But she won a rosette for qualification and was recognised as the youngest person to ever to qualify for the final.

Louise Close, Ellie's mother, said: "She was very disappointed, as her dad had also qualified for the adult competition, but she understood why."

Ellie, from North Yorkshire, only began training for gun dog events in February and has so far competed in the qualification rounds of various game and country fair competitions.

The competitions re-enact a shoot day for the dog, which requires competitors to send the dog off using a whistle and have the dog brings back the game to hand over to the handler.

Her father, John Close, who competed at Weston park, spoke of his pride and how she surprised him with how quickly she has learnt how to handle gundogs.

Mr Close, who trains English springer spaniels on the family's field, said: "Ellie has been around the dogs since she was born. Being out in the middle of fields and being dragged around gun dog shows across the country.

"It is incredible to think that she is only four-years-old, as I have seen adults even struggle to control these dogs. She has even beat me at some of the competitions for fastest time. I haven't actually had to teach her much either, I think she has watched me a lot over the years and began to copy me. It is like it is second nature to her."

Although Ellie has experienced success with four-year-old springer spaniel Molly, her parents have decided to give Ellie one of Molly's offspring.

The new puppy, called Rosie, will now be trained to be a working gun dog by Ellie herself and could be used in shows next year, including a return to Weston Park next year.

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