It’s a dog’s life for Staffordshire woman following Crufts award win
A young Staffordshire woman has won an award at Crufts for her volunteer work.
Paige Jepson, 21, has won the Young Kennel Club Young Person Award at Crufts 2019.
Paige, who joined the Young Kennel Club around 11 years ago, volunteers at YKC events – including Crufts – at weekends.
She said: “I’ve only just stopped crying! It’s amazing, I’m so overwhelmed and thrilled to win such a recognisable event.
“Crufts is the highlight of my year, even my employer knows to always let me have time off from work.
“I’m so proud to have helped so many people, I’ve worked with so many young people, I’m at every training day, I volunteer and help as much as I can, and to be recognised for that is so lovely and unexpected and emotional.”
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club secretary praised the 21-year-old, from Biddulph Moor, for being a "well-deserved winner".
She said: “Congratulations to Paige for winning this year’s YKC Young Person of the Year award. She is a well-deserved winner and we’ve no doubt she will inspire many other young dog lovers around the UK.
“Very well done to all our other finalists as well as all those that were nominated for the Young Person of the Year award. We are so proud to have such gifted and generous members and would encourage any young dog lover to follow in their footsteps.”
