Bolton boy aged six to be one of Crufts 2023 youngest competitors with Jack Russell Jemima

A six-year-old boy from Bolton will be one of the youngest competitors at Crufts this year as he makes his debut at the world’s greatest dog show after just five months of showing. Jacob Kenwright has been in the ring for just a matter of months and was counting down the days to hit the minimum entry age requirement of six.

And he has now successfully qualified to compete on the famous green carpet, accompanied by four-year-old Jack Russell, Jemima.

Jacob is set to compete in the Jack Russell breed category, as well as the 6-11-year-old young handler competition, on Saturday - and Mum Leigh admits he simply can’t wait for his bow.

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She said: “He is so excited, I think I am a lot more nervous than he is..“He is just so excited to get in the ring. It has been such a build-up for him, he’s just desperate to get going now.

“He’s at a good age now, he doesn’t mind if he wins or loses, he is the first one to go up and congratulate whoever wins. He just enjoys it; he just likes being there with Jemima.

“Jacob has been desperate to show since he was tiny and then finally when he turned six I got him into his first show.”

Jacob competed in his first show four days after his sixth birthday, being awarded his first Young Kennel Club points, qualifying for Crufts on his second attempt.

The tight-knit bond between Jacob and Jemima will be on show for all of the thousands of spectators at Crufts to see on Saturday, with crowds flocking to Birmingham’s NEC despite snowy conditions.

And while Jacob might have always been set for a future in dog handling, his relationship with Jemima has been the key to success at such an