GEMMA Greenway from Coleford is celebrating a first place win and setting a new record at Crufts last weekend, with her French Mastiff, or Dogue de Bordeaux called Rouge.

Gemma, who runs a dog grooming parlour called Regal Rouge in Coleford, said: “I’ve had Rouge since she was a puppy and entered her into the ‘yearling bitch’ category as she’s not yet two years old.

“She came first and has also become a breed record holder, as she is the first Dogue de Bordeaux to win a junior warrant title, which means she is qualified to enter Crufts for life.

“I can’t even begin to put into words what it means to win. If Rouge had been placed in the top five I would have been very happy, but she came first in her class and then was reserve best bitch in the breed. She was only beaten by a seasoned Crufts champion.”

Gemma, who has eight other Dogues de Bordeax and a labrador, trains with Rouge at Ringcraft in Drybrook, and added: “The dogs have to learn to stand still to have their teeth checked and to be examined by the judges and they also need to learn to move in a certain way around the ring.

“I plan to keep training Rouge in the hopes that she will become a champion. Next year I’ll enter her into the ‘post-graduate bitch’ category.”