Diamonds in the Rough - Update

Diamonds in the Rough obreedience team 4th place (out of 10 finalists) Crufts 2026

When the team got together for the first time in January 2025 we all said how wonderful it would be to qualify for Crufts. We worked hard throughout the year to get to as many heats as possible - this isn't easy with many of us having to travel for many hours to get to a show. We struggle to practice in between as we all live so far apart with team members as far apart as Glasgow, Nottingham and Suffolk! We all practice independently and with training clubs and all of the team have started to compete in other fields like rally and obedience - very successfully. What has really struck me is how much I've enjoyed the competitions - competing with a team really throws you all together and we are all good friends now. The other teams are so supportive and friendly too - it's a lovely atmosphere. We finally finished in 6th place in the obreedience table and our qualification for Crufts was confirmed. Exciting!

Crufts was a brilliant day for us all, if just a bit stressful! Not only are you wanting to do the best with your own dog but you are also desperate not to let your team down - quite a lot of pressure! The competition starts with a parade of the qualifying teams and then the heelwork exercise - truthfully not the best we have done, I think the stress was getting to all of us! Following the coordinated heelwork each team has to do their 4 set exercises. Firstly, send to bed (dog has to go to their bed/mat on cue approximately 10 metres away and stay there) - Jane Spendelow and Baby. 2nd stop and play (dog has to wait on cue, recall towards to handler and then stop immediately on cue, wait until the owner returns and then play as a reward) Kathryn Notley and Jax. 3rd the retrieve (dog has to wait while the handler throws a dumbell, be sent out to to retrieve it, sit with it in front of the handler until they take it and then return to the side) Claire Walton and Blaze. Finally the scent exercise (a scent item is placed in a line with 5 decoy items without the dog being able to see, the dog is then sent out to find the item, bring it back to the handler and sit in front until it is taken and then return to position) Stacy Steven and Barra. All the set exercises went realky well and we got some really good scores - each exercise score is out of 10 so this can be a big loss if it goes wrong - fortunately none of them did!

The whole team were delighted to be called into the awards in 4th place including reserves Tara Clare and Briar Rose and Dave Barnett and Isi - what an achievement for our first year together! We were also all delighted for the winning team MRU with their Manchester terriers - particularly as they had sadly lost one of their team members to cancer just a month before Crufts, one of her last wishes being to be with the team for Crufts 2026.

The whole team want to thank the wider collie community for their massive support both on the day and throughout the year. Not only do I feel we got the biggest cheer when we entered the ring - we did notice many collie folks there - but we also managed to crash the live feed due to the amount of people watching the rough collie team! We are very proud to have represented the breed at Crufts 2026 - it's been an amazing year and we can't wait for next year!

Jane Spendelow - team captain Diamonds in the Rough