Young trainer and border collie prepare for Crufts

A seven-year-old girl from North Yorkshire has said she is "really excited" to compete with her border collie at a world-famous dog show.

Esmee and her dog Rainbow, from the village of Cawood, will take part in the agility competition at Crufts on Sunday.

The pair won their heat in what was their first ever competition to qualify for the final.

A Crufts spokesperson said Esmee would be one of the youngster competitors at this year's event.

The agility competition at Crufts tests a dog's fitness and its handler's ability to train and direct their pet over and through certain obstacles.

To compete, the dog must be at least 18 months old, while its trainer must be aged at least six.

Esmee said Rainbow was still "wild" and admitted: "Sometimes he can be bad with his weaves and his jumps", two areas which will be tested on Sunday.

Esmee's mum, Ellie-Mai, said she had "absolutely no expectation" of her daughter and Rainbow in their heat.

She admitted she was "an emotional wreck" when the pair "absolutely smashed it".

Ellie-Mai said Rainbow, whose favourite toy is a tennis ball, needed mental stimulation as well as physical exercise.

"He could run around a field all day but he still wouldn't be tired because he's not had to use his brain, whereas getting him to do things like tricks and agility exhaust him."

Ahead of her appearance at the NEC in Birmingham, where thousands will be in attendance along with millions more watching at home, Esmee said she was "very excited but a bit nervous".

The youngster said her aim was to "try not to get eliminated".

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