At 12 years old Sammy was the oldest dog in his event, but he showed youth is no substitute for experience with two perfect runs - the only dog to do so.

Saturday’s first run saw the first two dogs disqualified, while the third finished with one fault, meaning Sammy was leading at the end of the first day - a position from which he was never headed.

It was a fine swansong for Sammy, who has now been retired from competition.

“He’s paid for all his dog food,” Gibney joked.

“But he’s still got so much energy - it will be strange competing without him.”

Gibney was also full of praise for the event.

“It was just brilliant, very well organised,” she said.