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A 14-YEAR-OLD Tyrone girl is set to represent Ireland in the Junior Handling category at this year’s World Dog Show.
Molly Mullan, from Cookstown, flew out to Zagreb in Croatia yesterday (Sunday) where she is set to spend the week with her four-legged friends participating in numerous exhibitions ahead of the main Junior Handling event next Sunday (April 28).
The Tyrone teen is also the current holder of the Irish Junior Handler of the Year title.
Molly’s grandmother, Josephine Nugent, said that the family are all very proud of her as she prepares for the prestigious competition.
Speaking with the Tyrone Herald, she said, “We will all be there to support her next week and we couldn’t be more proud and excited.
“Molly has six dogs – all show dogs – and she has been exhibiting them all over Ireland and recently at Crufts, so we’re delighted to see her representing Ireland in Croatia, it’s a great honour for her.”
Ahead of the excitement of this week’s big competition, Molly has received many well-wishes, most notably from the Irish Kennel Club, who posted on social media, “Best of luck to Molly Mullan who is representing Ireland in the Junior Handling Competition at the World Dog Show in Zagreb, Croatia.”
This year’s World Dog Show was supposed to take place in Ukraine, but due to the ongoing war with Russia they were forced to withdraw.
Given less than a year to organise the alternative venue, President of the Croatian Kennel Club, Branko Šare, said, “Organising a world dog show requires a lot of time and hard work.
“With the hard work of so many dog people and enthusiasts from our country, we did our best in such a short time.
“I am proud to say that it is a real international worldwide show with dogs coming from 78 different countries from all continents.
“We believe that exhibitors will enjoy the Zagreb World Dog Show and that it will be a show from which they will take many beautiful titles and awards.
“We hope that the World Dog Show is also a wonderful opportunity for meeting friends and making new contacts.
“Croatia is a small country but with a really big heart.”
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