Inspirational Limavady teen and her dog defy the odds to compete at Crufts

The heartwarming journey of a Limavady teenager and her rescue dog qualifying to compete at Crufts 2025 from March 6-9 in Birmingham, has been described as an ‘incredible experience’.

19-year-old Jessica Gibson from Limavady and her adopted dog Zola’s hard work and training paid off when their dream of competing at the prestigious competition became a reality.

Jessica described how much this amazing achievement means to her and how she and Zola overcame the odds to reach this pinnacle:

“I met Zola three years ago at a rescue centre called “Pet FBI” and I knew she was meant to be mine.

“We just had this instant connection like we understood each other straight away.

“She had been found as a stray, so not much was known about her background, but I could tell she was special.

“This journey hasn’t been easy, but every challenge we’ve faced has only made this moment even more special.

“Zola struggled with reactivity, which was a challenge, but we’ve worked so hard to manage it.

“Through patience, training, and understanding, she’s made so much progress, and I couldn’t be prouder of how far she’s come, she’s not even recognisable from the dog she used to be!

“In fact, when I took her to obedience school, she was actually kicked out!

“I was even told by that trainer she would never make it to Crufts, so to be standing here now, having qualified with her, is the best feeling and we’re more than happy to prove that man wrong! 

“Just having the chance to step onto the green carpet with my best friend, Zola, is more than I ever could have dreamed of.

“I’ve always loved watching Crufts on TV, but it felt completely out of reach—like something other people did, people with posh competition dogs, not a rescue dog who was a stray.

“The fact that we’ve made it to Crufts, despite everything we’ve overcome, is already a huge victory in my eyes.

“No matter what happens in the ring, I am incredibly proud of her!

“She gives it her all no matter what and she means the world to me.”

As Zola is Jessica’s first dog, their extraordinary achievements together have been unprecedented, making the success even more special as Jessica explained: “I actually don’t have much of a background in dog training or competitions, so this whole journey has been completely unexpected!

“As Zola is a border collie, she was eager to learn and bursting with energy, so I started teaching her some tricks just for fun.

“I think that’s what really sparked my interest in training; putting in some consistent effort to see a positive outcome, it’s very rewarding!

“We went to a fun day that was ran by “Rainbow Rehoming” where there was some agility equipment set up and Zola tried agility for the first time.

“Her whole face lit up with excitement and it was clear that we had found her thing so we started attending local agility classes and our love for it grew.

“We’ve been training in agility for a little over 2 years.

“Our first real step into the competition world was at an Agility 4 All show.

“I wasn’t really sure what to expect, and I was quite nervous but the second I stepped onto the start line, all my worries slipped away and all that mattered was the connection with my dog.

“She came away from her first show with a 2nd place which made the 4am start worth it!”

Jessica and Zola’s progression from their first show has been rapid and astonishing; Jessica said: “Zola and I started entering Kennel Club agility competitions in May 2023 and exactly a year later, we qualified for Crufts 2025!

“From my very first competition, my main goal was just to gain experience and have fun with Zola.

“I never expected we’d actually qualify for the world’s greatest dog show!

“When the Young Kennel Club Crufts qualifier came up, I decided to enter just to see how we’d do, to gain experience with that kind of event.

“I went in with no expectations, just hoping to learn from the experience, but Zola surprised me.

“We needed to come first place in order to qualify and Zola pulled it out of the bag!

“It was definitely one of my proudest moments.”

“The owners of “Let Loose Dog Agility Park” saw me as a very gifted handler and have sponsored me for Crufts, allowing me to train at the park as much as I want.

“Let Loose Dog Agility Park is a valuable addition to the local area and I’ve really noticed a massive improvement in our agility training since this support.”

Jessica and her mum, Sharleen McDermott have set up a fundraising page to help raise financial support to assist with travel and accommodation costs and are appealing for their local community to be part of their experience.

Donations can be made at via GoFund

Jessica explained further: “Competing at this level comes with a lot of expenses, travel, accommodation, and everything else that goes into preparing for such a big event.

“Any support from our community truly means the world to us and if anyone is able to support, whether by donating or simply sharing the fundraiser, it would mean so much.

“It’s not just about me and Zola; it’s about showing that rescue dogs, no matter their background, can achieve incredible things with the right love and training.

Although there have been challenges along the way, Jessica’s love for her dog and commitment to their journey together has kept her motivated and enthusiastic about what the future has in store. She said:

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is to be patient and enjoy the process.

“Zola is always willing to try, and that keeps me motivated to push through any setbacks. She always gives it her all and I owe it to her to do the same.

“At the end of the day, I’m entering the ring with a dog I love, and that alone means we’ve already won!

“As for the future, I’d love to keep competing and pushing ourselves to see what else we can achieve.

“Anything is possible but more than anything, I just want to continue enjoying the journey with Zola, learning, growing, and having fun together.

“She’s already exceeded every expectation, and I can’t wait to see where we go next.

“Whether we’re in the ring or just at home having fun, she’s changed my life, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for us.”