Teen smashes GCSEs while balancing dog contest

Taylor, 16, shared her GCSE results live with BBC Radio Northampton listeners

A teenage dog handler has scooped an impressive set of GCSE results despite competing in an international agility contest during the exam season.

Taylor, from Northampton, took her school books when she competed with her dog Asher for Team England in the World Agility Open in Netherlands in May.

She shared her results live on BBC Radio Northampton - having earned seven nines and three eights.

The 16-year-old said she wanted to continue competing in agility competitions and she has dreams of working in the police.

Taylor said her peers thought her hobby was "really cool", adding: "Some people think it's really different and don't quite understand it and other people think it's awesome."

Her grades are roughly equivalent to what once would have been graded as seven A*s and three As.

Her mother Hannah also competes in agility contests with her springer spaniels

Taylor first started competing in agility competitions at the age of six, thanks to her mum Hannah, who has also competed in the sport since before her daughter was born.

The teenager became the youngest person to ever compete in Team GB's agility squad at the age of 10, and at 13, she won gold at the World Junior Agility Championships.

As well as Netherlands, she competed with Team GB at the world junior championships again last month, this time in Portugal.

She described her summer this year as "very busy".