March 2006

A TEENAGER from Durkar was among a handful of Wakefield residents to bring trophies home from Crufts. Rebecca Ward, of Willow Garth, and her beloved pooch, Rizzo, scooped an award in the young kennel club starters obedience class – in her first entry in the show. She said: “I could not believe it when I found out. I have been to Crufts before as a visitor, but this was the first time I have entered anything. I have only been taking Rizzo to classes for 12 months.” Rebecca and Rizzo, whose kennel name is Karmelo Midnight Folly, beat off stiff competition to come third in their category and were cheered on by mum Janice, dad Ian and brother Jonathan, 12. Rebecca and Rizzo attend Ossett Dog Training Club on Owl Lane. Normanton and Wakefield Dog Training Clubs also featured at the event. Chairman of Normanton Dog Training Club, Paul Tennant, was asked by the Kennel Club to put together a team of nine handlers and their dogs to perform as the Good Citizen Dog Scheme Demonstration Team.

JUDGES named Wakefield Council the most improved authority in the country at the local government “Oscars”. The council beat off competition from Calderdale, Coventry, Islington, Walsall and Watford to scoop the title at the prestigious Local Government Chronicle (LGC) magazine awards. It came after the council climbed the government’s league tables for three years. Council leader Peter Box received the award at a ceremony in London.