H&C

15
Mar
2010

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Hungarian Vizsla is Best in Show at Crufts

Yogi takes the Best in Show title

More than 22,000 dogs have been competing over four days for the most prestigious title in the dog world and Yogi, a Hungarian Vizsla has been crowned as DFS Crufts Best in Show 2010. Thousands had packed the arena to cheer on the finalists. Earlier, judging of the Gundog category - which Yogi won - was interrupted by a streaker.

The seven-year-old beat off competition from six other dogs in the culmination of the four-day show at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre (NEC).

Yogi is the first Hungarian Vizsla to win Best in Show. Handler John Thirlwell said his "wonderful dog" from Carlisle, Cumbria, is likely to retire.

And Judge Valerie Foss said of the winning dog: "He is such a lovely mover, so powerful, so free. He is just a very, very good dog."

Yogi is owned by Naomi Cragg and Kathryn Armstrong from Carlisle.

John Thirlwell, said: “It hasn’t sunk in, it is just so surreal. Yogi is seven now and has had a fantastic year. We are just absolutely delighted."

The Reserve Best in Show went to Rico, a Scottish Terrier, owned by Valentina Popova from Russia.

The crowning of the Best in Show winner was preceded by the presentation of the Kennel Club’s Friends for Life award, which recognises the country’s dog heroes. The award went to Sam Daly and his assistance dog Josie the Labrador Retriever from Eton, Berkshire.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Communications Director, said: “We give our congratulations to Naomi, Kathryn and Yogi who has taken the prestigious Best in Show Award.

“DFS Crufts is a celebration of healthy, happy dogs which recognises the special and unique bond between dogs and their owners. Anybody who has been watching the television coverage provided by More4 will have seen the wonderful diversity of dogs, the fact that they truly are fit for function and how much dogs and people enrich each other’s lives.”

The other breeds that were competing for the prestigious title were: Joe, the Rottweiler from Rotherham; Miles the Maltese from Northamptonshire; Tyra the Akita from West Lancashire; King the Pharaoh Hound from Sweden and Ina the Welsh Corgi from Littlehampton.