by Graham Tutthill

gtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk

A Dover police dog and its handler have been crowned champions at regional trials and now go on to the national competition next month.

PC Sam Appleby and her police dog Victor were crowned overall winners of the South East Regional Dog trials in Sussex, taking the top spot with 864 points out of a possible 1,000. The pair also won trophies for searching and obedience.

PC Appleby and Victor will compete in the National Police Dog Trials in Surrey from April 27 to 29. They will be hoping to improve on their eighth place from last year.

Also representing Kent Police was PC Nigel Marshall and his dog Alvin who came sixth overall.

Sgt Ian Warner, who is head of dog training, said: “This was a great result for Kent Police and stands us in good stead for the national trials. It was a great effort by Sam and Nigel and I hope our six national titles will soon be seven."

Full story in this week's Dover Mercury.

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