All year owners have been taking snaps of their dogs along the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal and entering them into the Canal Dog of the Year contest – a competition celebrating the 200th anniversary of the historic waterway.
Both local and visiting dog owners from all over the UK have been heading down to the scenic Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal to photograph their pooches in, on or along the watercourse in a bid to give their dog its chance of newspaper fame. The contest has seen dogs of all shapes and sizes entered – from corgis and shihtzus to weimaraners and goldendoodles – all enjoying 35 miles of canal between Brecon and Cwmbran.
Throughout 2012 the public have been voting for their favourite monthly winner, and now, thanks to a tie in December’s poll, there are 13 finalists fighting it out to become Canal Dog of the Year 2012. They’re all competing for the top prize of a weekend break in a dog-friendly Bannau Brycheiniog Holiday Cottage. Second prize is a £40 Hay & Brecon Farmers voucher and third place will receive three one-hour dog walks courtesy of Smartpets.
To vote for your favourite dog from the 13 finalists please visit www.breconbeacons.org/canaldog.
Carol Williams, Tourism Growth Officer for Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with the popularity of the competition – and with 167 dogs entering it really does go to show that dogs really are man’s best friend. We’ve had entries from all around the UK, and it’s great to know that so many people paid a visit to the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal on its anniversary year.
“I hope the public continue to back this fun competition over the two-week voting window and help us crown the most popular pooch as our Canal Dog of the Year.”
Voting to select Canal Dog of the Year opens on Thursday, January 17th and closes at midday on Thursday, January 31st. The winning dog will appear in The Brecon & Radnor Express on Thursday, February 7th. For more information, or to place your vote, please visit www.breconbeacons.org/canaldog or visit Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority’s Facebook or Twitter pages.
For more information about the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal please visit http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/canals-and-rivers/monmouthshire-and-brecon-canal.
Canal Dog of the Year is jointly organised by Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority and The Brecon & Radnor Express with support from the Canal & River Trust.
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