IT'S DOG EAT DOG IN CANINE OLYMPICS

Host loves to see pets being put through paces as they compete to be Best in Show

- BHEATHER GREENAWAY

CLARE Balding has brought us coverage of some of the biggest sporting events on the planet but admits her favourite will always be Crufts - the "Olympics of the dog world".

The presenter, who has covered Wimbledon, the Paralympics, Royal Ascot, the Grand National and a host of other world-famous competitions, says Crufts will always be her "Best in Show".

Clare, who is gearing up to present this year's Channel 4 programme with Sophie Morgan and former Blue Peter host Radzi Chinyanganya, said: "I love Crufts. It's brilliant. It's like a major sporting event... everyone's very excited. For me, this is the Olympics of the dog world.

"It's hugely important to the handlers and breeders that their dog is in its peak physical condition. But then, on the day itself, that it's able to perform and give its best.

"It's about performance as well as looks, conformation, adaptability and the behaviour traits of being able to deal with a full day of showing." Clare, who is married to fellow broadcaster and journalist Alice Arnold, added: "If I could describe Crufts in three words, it would be dogs, dogs, dogs.

"I really love doing the programme and in 2021, when we couldn't do it because of Covid, I really, really missed it. I love being there and I love live television.

"It's one of those shows where you're talking to people about their dogs all the time, and you get so much out of them because of that. People love talking about their dogs. And I love meeting and being surrounded by different dogs.

"There were 222 different breeds competing last year and that's not counting the dogs you'd also see in Flyball and Agility. I just love being with dogs and being with dog people." It is expected more than 24,000 dogs from 50 countries will be at the show, which is now in its 133rd year.