Crufts competitor drove van into show ring after being told she couldn't enter contest

A dog owner drove into a show ring and attacked a shocked judge at a countryside show – because her pets were stopped from entering a contest, a court heard.

Marianne Hunter, 63, called show judge Tracey Hodges a “Welsh c***” after Ms Hodges blocked her from entering her dogs in two categories at the same time.

Hunter, from Kent, had travelled 270 miles to compete at the Snooty Fox charity event, in the upmarket West Wales town of Narberth.

The family dog show, in June 2025, featured classes for terriers, lurchers and whippets, along with Kennel Club classes, and boasted a £100 prize for each show champion.

Proceeds went to the Welsh Air Ambulance, alongside other local causes.

Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court heard that Hunter, a business manager with Public Health England, “lost her temper” at Ms Hodges after being blocked from one category.

She then dangerously drove her white Ford Transit van into the show ring, knocking over one of the participants while children played nearby, the court heard.

Prosecutor Sian Vaughan said that Hunter had “no regard for anyone else”.

She was stopped by her husband taking the keys, the court heard.

Ms Vaughan said: “There was a difficulty with the defendant's dogs when she was told they were unable to enter two categories at the same time.

“Marianne Hunter lost her temper and called Tracey Hodges a 'Welsh c***'.”

Hunter previously won a green rosette at Crufts for her black-and-white lurcher getting a good citizen training award.

She is listed as a committee member of the Aylesford and District Dog Training Society, registered with the Kennel Club.

Ms Vaughan said that if her husband had not taken the keys from the vehicle, “the situation could have become a lot worse”.

She added: “There were a lot of young children running around the event, but while the defendant was moving her vehicle, she had no regard for anyone else.”

Hunter, of Crockenhill, Kent, admitted racially aggravated intentional harassment on 1 June 2025.

She denied dangerous driving but was found guilty by magistrates.

Hunter was fined £2,676 for dangerous driving and £1,115 for racially aggravated harassment.

She was also handed a 12-month driving ban and ordered to pass an extended driving test before she can drive again.