Coco named Crufts top dog

Last updated at 08:29 14 March 2005


Six-year-old Norfolk Terrier Coco has won Best In Show at this year's Crufts.

Champion Cracknor Cause Celebre, or Coco, had

previously won the Terrier category but beat six other group winners at the prestigious show's final.

The event, now in its 102nd year, was held at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre.

Coco, a bitch who had three puppies last July, takes the title from last year's winner, a whippet bitch Cobyco Call The Tune, or Deedee, owned by Lynn Yacoby-Wright, from Mellor, Stockport, Greater Manchester.

This year's winner was owned by Pamela Beale, Stephanie Ingram and Elisabeth Matell, from Ashford in Kent.

Handler Peter Green, who lives in America, said he was "absolutely delighted".

He added: "Coco was very confident going into the group.

"As I was born in the UK I am delighted to come back and make Coco best in show, especially as this will be her last event. She has gone out on a real high."

Coco is said to like nothing better than hunting mice and small birds in the garden and also lounging on the sofa.

The other group winners included a beagle called Harry, a smooth coat Chihuahua called Astro, Marnie a Japanese Shiba Inu, Rosco a English Setter, Phil the giant Schnauzer and India, a Belgian Shepherd dog.

Crufts, run by the Kennel Club and considered a canine institution, this year featured nearly 21,500 dogs of almost 200 breeds.

Some 120,000 people are estimated to have attended the four-day event.

Other highlights of the show include a rescue dog-turned-Army sniffer dog winning Hero Dog of the Year Award.

More than 45,000 television viewers voted for Buster the spaniel for his work in war-torn parts of the world, including Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Handler Danny Morgan said after receiving the award from Blue Peter presenter Matt Baker: "He's my overall hero dog...he's a rescue dog come good."

Buster had previously been awarded the prestigious Dickin medal from animal charity the

PDSA.

Most watched News videos