Bichon Frise named Top Dog at Westminster
NEW YORK: The Westminster Dog Show crowned a fluffy white Bichon Frise named Flynn Best in Show Tuesday over a diverse array of other four-legged options, concluding the Big Apple’s annual dogfest.
Flynn’s cheeks beamed as he navigated the expanse of Madison Square Garden before a raucous crowd, most of which kept their seats for the big reveal after sitting through nearly four hours of competition.
“It feels a little unreal. It’s just magic,” said Flynn’s handler Bill McFadden shortly after the announcement as he cradled a dog originally named for ‘Billy Flynn’ the shady lawyer in the musical ‘Chicago’.
The winner was announced by Judge Betty-Anne Stenmark of Woodside, California, who was poker- faced as she examined Flynn against six other fi nalists, poking and prodding the smaller candidates and adopting a more panoramic approach with the bigger ones.
The selection, announced shortly before midnight to a largely full arena, won solid applause from the crowd, which in contrast with some years, had no obvious favourite.
Flynn’s competition included a regal Borzoi named ‘ Lucy’, a Border Collie named ‘Slick’ and the nation’s top ranked dog, a Giant Schnauzer named ‘ Ty’ who leaped onto his handler in glee when he was picked as runner up to Flynn.
The loudest laughs went to ‘ Bean’, a Sussex Spaniel which frequently interrupted its stride to recline on its posterior in exchange for a treat, a ritual that its handler said is characteristic of the breed.
Another fi nalist, a Pug named ‘Biggie’, presented as joyously as any of his rivals, but his campaign also had a note of pathos. The dog’s handler, Esteban Farias, had revealed that Biggie was a substitute for his cousin ‘Rumble, another champion who died suddenly.
Farias paid tribute to Rumble, a ‘ friend looking down from above’ on Monday night after winning the Toy Dog group. — AFP