Who's Hawke's Bay's top dog? Hundreds to be on show in Hastings after a ruff 2020

Jess Bello getting her Samoyed Danny ready for this weekend's Napier/Wairoa Kennel Championship Show. Photo / Paul Taylor

One of Hawke's Bay's top dog shows is back after a ruff 2020 put the event on paws.

Napier/Wairoa Kennel Championship Show Organiser Carol Kerr said they are stoked to have resurrected the event after Covid saw it cancelled last year, with 420 dogs entered from all over New Zealand.

"Last year lockdown came days before our show, so after nine months of planning, including organising international judges, we had to cancel at the very last minute which cost the clubs a lot of money," she said.

Judging for the free event at the Hawke's Bay Racing Centre in Hastings begins at 8.30am on Saturday, with four championship shows to be held over two days.

All the breeds on show fall within seven wider groups - toys, terriers, gun dogs, hounds, working, utility and non-sporting;

"All shapes and sizes basically," Kerr said.

"The dogs are shown in their breed, then their group, then that takes them through to the prestigious best in show line-up."

From left, Ashleigh Jenkins-Hoult with Cora the Cocker Spaniel, Jess Bello with Danny the Samoyed, Carol Kerr with Piper the Whippet and Emily Young with Pixie the French Bulldog. Photo / Paul Taylor

Kerr said it was a good chance for people to come along and learn about different breeds that they may or may not be interested in and see them at their best.

She said most of the owners would be driving to Hawke's Bay for the shows.

"They have big trailers and stuff like that kitted out for the dogs," Kerr said.