MUD and drizzle failed to dampen the spirits of thousands of dogs and their owners attending the first day of Darlington Dog Show yesterday.

More than 8,500 dogs were entered at Darlington Dog Show Society's Champion Dog Show as it kicked off celebrations of its ruby anniversary.

The three-day show, which attracted around 10,500 entries, marked its 40th year with a showcase of rare native British and Irish breeds, including otterhound, the Lakeland terrier and the dandie dinmont terrier.

Rare breeds from the competing classes on each particular day will be showcased in the ring and the breeds will be on display in a dedicated tent every day.

To cope with the inclement conditions, the society put down a hard-surfaced track around the showground's perimeter as well as carpeted areas in the show tents.

New breeds for this year include the Portuguese podenao, the dogue de Bordeaux, the Pyrenean sheepdog, the bracco Italiano and the Spanish water dog.

Yesterday saw judging for the hound, terrier and utility groups. Working and pastoral groups will be judged tomorrow, with the show finishing on Sunday with the gundog and toy groups as well as best in show awards.

Exhibitors and their canine counterparts comprising every breed of pedigree dog registered with the Kennel Club attend traveled from all over the country to attend the event.

Held at Newby Hall, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, for the fourth consecutive year, he show is a major event in the run-up to Crufts.

Sarah Allsopp, Darlington Dog Show Society's vice-chair, said the wet weather had failed to deter competitors.

"Dog show exhibitors are extremely resilient people. Particularly this year, in general, championship shows throughout the country have suffered inclement weather, which has created all sorts of difficulties.

"This is the first time we have been tested with a thoroughly inclement show. Our exhibitors have turned up in their thousands to come here."

She added the show had put measures in place to help the exhibitors cope with the weather conditions.

She said: "Our exhibitors are very important to us so we do all we can to provide facilities for them."