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A Hungarian Vizsla named Yogi has won Best In Show at Crufts.
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.
Rico, a Scottish Terrier from Russia, took second prize at Crufts, the largest dog show in the world.
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.”
The Kennel Club said nearly 22,000 dogs across 187 breeds were entered into this year’s Best in Show competition.
‘Wonderful diversity’
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 dog showcase was broadcast on More4 this year after the BBC – which began screening Crufts in 1966 – announced it was dropping its coverage in 2008.
That decision followed a BBC documentary which claimed Crufts allowed damaging breeding practices that caused disease and deformities.
Welfare concerns also prompted the RSPCA to withdraw its support in 2008.
Kennel Club communications director Caroline Kisko said the canine show is “a celebration of healthy, happy dogs which recognises the special and unique bond between dogs and their owners”.
She said anybody who had watched the coverage “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”.
Great!!!! Love those Vizsla`s!!!!!!