sa国际传媒

Skip to content

A Westminster wow: Bichon frise becomes Americasa国际传媒檚 top dog

The white puff ball took home the top prize
10616960_web1_180214-BPD-M-NYCR115-214_2018_042641

Flynn the bichon frise won best in show at the , a choice that seemed to surprise almost everyone in the crowd at Madison Square Garden.

Fans who had been loudly shouting for their favourites fell into stunned silence when judge Betty-Anne Stenmark announced her decision.

No matter, the white powder puff was picked and walked off as Americasa国际传媒檚 top dog.

Guided by expert handler Bill McFadden, Flynn beat out Ty the giant schnauzer, Biggie the pug, Bean the Sussex spaniel, Lucy the borzoi, Slick the border collie and Winston the Norfolk terrier.

sa国际传媒淚t feels a little unreal,sa国际传媒 McFadden said. sa国际传媒淚 came in expecting nothing except hoping for a good performance, and I think I got it.sa国际传媒

Underdogs and upsets are way more than norm on the green carpet of the Garden sa国际传媒 inside dog fanciers indeed fancied Flynn, but the people sitting in the stands was obviously pulling for other dogs.

Ty came into this competition as the nationsa国际传媒檚 No. 1 show dog last year and finished as the runner-up. He endeared himself to the crowd by jumping up and putting his front paws around handler Katie Bernardin after winning the working group earlier in the evening. Slick and Lucy also drew applause.

Cheers of sa国际传媒淟etsa国际传媒檚 go, Biggie!sa国际传媒 bounced all arena for the popular pug. And Bean was a clear crowd favourite, the way he sat up straight on his hind legs and begged judges for the biggest treat in dogdom.

Almost 6, Flynn posted his 42nd career best in show victory in what is almost certainly his last show before retiring.

The famed JR was the only other bichon to win Westminster, in 2001. McFadden has enjoyed success at the Garden, having guided Mick the Kerry blue terrier to the title in 2003.

Flynn wonsa国际传媒檛 get much rest before beginning his victory lap. Wednesdaysa国际传媒檚 schedule includes visits to the morning TV news shows, a steak lunch at Sardisa国际传媒檚, a trip to the top of the Empire State Building, and hesa国际传媒檚 been invited for a walk-on part at a Broadway hit sa国际传媒淜inky Boots.sa国际传媒

The Westminster-winning team gets no prize money. Instead, theresa国际传媒檚 a shiny bowl, lucrative breeding fees and, most of all, a lifetime of memories.

The 142nd Westminster event attracted 2,882 entries in 202 breeds and varieties. Among those who didnsa国际传媒檛 quite make the cut: face-licking Spicy Nacho the miniature bull terrier who drew laughs, just not the judgesa国际传媒檚 look.

Flynn made a goodwill gesture toward Stenmark upon meeting her, offering his paw as if to shake hands when she went down the line to review the final seven dogs.

His full name is Belle Creeksa国际传媒檚 All I Care About is Love, and this champion from the nonsporting group delivered a few minutes before it became Valentinesa国际传媒檚 Day.

sa国际传媒淗e has my heart,sa国际传媒 McFadden said. sa国际传媒淗e is pure joy.sa国际传媒

The fans seemed to like Flynn, too, only they hollered a lot more for several others.

sa国际传媒淗e kept wagging his tail and that sold himself to me,sa国际传媒 Stenmark said.

Ben Walker, The Associated Press


Like us on and follow us on .





(or

sa国际传媒

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }