Crufts: Hope for Tipton's Hannah, 16, up for Young Kennel Club's Outstanding Person of the Year
She has been named an 'inspiration' to young and old agility handlers after winning a kennel club's 'Sporting Talent of the Year' award – and in July will represent Team GB for the second time.
But now after four years of hard work Hannah Thorp, from Tipton, has been put forward for the Young Kennel Club's 'Outstanding Person of the Year'.
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The 16-year-old will go up against four others who will look to bag the most votes and claim the award at the Crufts dog show at the NEC on Sunday.
Mother Lisa Thorp said: "It is difficult to put into words – we are really proud of her and it is just amazing what she has achieved.
"She has been doing agility for four years after she first visited the Crufts show eight years ago and absolutely loved it.
"Last year she represented Team GB at the European Open Junior Agility Championships in Luxembourg and she came back with the bronze medal.
"She is also going to be representing Team GB in the Netherlands in July this year."
Hannah started out with eight-year-old Baxter, a cavalier King Charles spaniel, but he is now semi-retired.
In between her studies at King Edward VI College in Stourbridge the teenager trains her three-year-old dog Izzie, a border collie cross miniature poodle, at least once a week at her club Fast Forward Dog Training in Cannock.
Mother Lisa, 46, said she was rooting for her daughter to clinch the overall award at the NEC on Sunday – but remains 'very proud' of her either way.
Mrs Thorp said: "I am just very proud that she was nominated – to get nominated was a complete surprise for her.
"She has achieved so much with Izzie in such a short space of time – and her aim is to continue as long as she possibly can. She really enjoys competing.
"It is just a great honour to be selected to represent her own country and she does work really hard for it."
In a bid to help Hannah represent Team GB for the second time the teenager is now fundraising – anybody who wishes to help can email lisathorp2008@aol.com
