MORE than 600 dogs showed off their skills at the Swindon and District Canine Society annual show as the build-up to Crufts began.

The Oasis leisure centre in North Star hosted the event for the 30th year as more than 60 different breeds competed for prizes.

Organisers hailed the event a huge success and owners saw the competition as perfect preparation for the world’s largest dog show, which starts on Thursday.

Karen Strirk, secretary of the Swindon society, said she was glad so many people wanted to get involved. She said: “It’s good practice for all the dogs. They get a trial run out. I know of at least 15 members of the society who are entering Crufts.

“This has been another successful year, but I couldn’t have organised it without the help of my committee. We started setting up the rings at 10pm on Friday and were back again at 7am. It takes a lot of organising and many of the championship judges are booked a year or two years in advance.”

Blunsdon resident Sylvia Jones, the vice president of the Canine Society, said: “We used to be at St Luke’s church hall but moved to the Oasis about 30 years ago.

“Then we had two events per year with one just before Crufts and the other in November. We decided to stick to one event a year and it has been a great success. I still love coming along as I ever did.”

Margaret Garland and dog Codie, two, won the post graduate Border collie class.

Margaret, of Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, said: “It was very pleasing to have won and we’ll take this preparation into Crufts. He’s a great dog and I’m thrilled to win.”

Codie’s gleaming fur is down to one thing – brushing him a lot but only allowing one bath every year.

She said: “I don’t like to wash him too much as you lose some of the oils. He hasn’t had a bath since the last Crufts. I’ll wash his legs when he gets muddy in the field, but leave his coat.”

The winner of the best in show was a Shetland sheepdog owned by a Mr J. Law from West Bromwich, in the Midlands. The reserve best in show went to Swindon resident Miss A. Coull’s miniature pinscher.

Crufts 2010 will see 28,000 dogs compete at the NEC near Birmingham with the final on Sunday. For information about the Swindon society, call 01793 520347 or visit www.swindoncanine.org.uk.