It was third time lucky for giant schnauzer Philippe when he was crowned best in show at Crufts - but there was disappointment for Shropshire entry Tango owned by Telford trainer Janice Bannister.
Tango, a three-year-old Japanese shiba, shone on the night but top honours went to Philippe when he impressed best in show judge Clare Coxall. Owner Kevin Cullen, of St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, said: “I cannot believe it.
“What a fantastic feeling being here for the third time, it’s an absolute dream. He (Philippe) actually loves doing it, he never lets me down.
“It means the world to me, it really does.”
Last night was Philippe and Mr Cullen’s third time in the final of Crufts, having made it to the group category final seven times.
The audience at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre cheered as it was announced Philippe would be taking first place, followed by Samoyed Hermioni, who had won the pastoral group category with owner Lisa Bobrowski from Woking, Surrey.
County entrant Tango booked her place in the grand final on Thursday after winning best in breed and then going on to scoop best utility dog group.
Tango’s owner Mrs Bannister, who runs Cottage Kennels at Redhill, today said she wasn’t too disappointed with the result and had “savoured” just being in the final.
“I lived the dream and how could I be disappointed when I got to the final?” she said. “My nerves were better than I thought they would be and I managed to enjoy it all. It’s been a fantastic few days.”
She added: “I will try again next year.”
Mrs Bannister will now turn her sights on a series of other competitions, and in particular the World Show which is due to be staged in Stockholm in June.
And while it might not have been top honours for Tango, but there was glory for another Shropshire dog at Crufts 2008.
Pudding, a German short-haired pointer entered by 19-year-old Hannah Rose from Wellington, was crowned top dog in the Kennel Club’s junior version of best in show.
Hannah said she was “absolutely thrilled” and that Pudding had “showed her socks off” at the world’s biggest dog show.
One Comment
Perhaps he could do the polka next time !!