A Cornish crossbreed has won herself a place at the world’s most pedigree dog competition Crufts.

Four-year-old golden retriever/poodle cross Maple, owned by 42-year-old Nikki Davis of Hayle, won the Good Citizen Dog Scheme class of the Scruffts semi-final at ExCeL London, at the Discover Dogs event.

Scruffts is a competition exclusively for dogs whose parents are of two different breeds, or a mixture of several breeds.

Maple and Nikki are now on their way to Crufts next March where they will compete against five other class winners to be named Scruffts Family Crossbreed Dog of the Year.

Nikki bought Maple as a puppy and they have been best friends ever since. Maple has achieved the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme gold award, the highest level of achievement in the training scheme, as well as reaching gold standard in agility.

After their Scruffts win, Nikki said: “Just coming to Discover Dogs has been an amazing experience and I can’t believe we have got through to the final. It’s fantastic.

“We’re so excited for Crufts - Maple loves all the attention and being in the limelight so we’re just going to enjoy it.”

More than 1,200 dogs have taken part in Scruffts heats around the country this year, raising nearly £4,000 for the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, helping fund research into canine health problems, and each event’s chosen charity.

Alison Sudbury, marketing director for James Wellbeloved, which sponsors the competition, said: “It was a tough competition but the bond between Maple and Nikki was clear to see. We cannot wait to welcome them at Crufts next year, and want to wish them all the best for an exciting final next March.”

The competition at Discover Dogs showed off 90 crossbreed dogs in six Scruffts classes: Most Handsome Crossbreed Dog (6 months - 8 years), Prettiest Crossbreed Bitch (6 months - 8 years), Child's Best Friend (handler aged 6-16 years), Golden Oldie Crossbreed (8 years or over), Best Crossbreed Rescue and Good Citizen Dog Scheme Crossbreed Class (for entrants that have a GCDS certificate at any level).