Police dog Adam and handler PC Nick Lofthouse reach National Dog Trial Finals for second year in a row

A police dog has reached the finals of a national competition for the second year in a row.

Adam and his handler PC Nick Lofthouse, of the Norfolk and Suffolk Dog Unit, came up trumps in the Eastern Regional Dog Trials held earlier this month.

The duo beat off competition from Essex, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire with a mammoth 814 points out of a possible 1,000 to book their place at the finals in the West Midlands, which runs from May 7 to 10.

Last year at the national round they came in 10th, and Nick is hoping they will get into the single figures this time around.

He said: “The bond between Adam and I has just gone from strength to strength since this time last year. It was lovely to have gone one better this year at the regional finals in Hertfordshire and win it, especially as it was in another Force area.

“Adam is such a special dog and from humble beginnings has just flown and is a real natural at all the aspects of policing we ask our dogs to do on a daily basis.

“I think it is fair to say that the pressure I have been under to keep up with him has been intense. However, with the help and guidance from our skilled trainers I feel I have now bridged that gap.”

Nick added he is looking forward to the finals and holding the torch for the Norfolk and Suffolk dog section on the national stage.s