The winner of the prestigious Best in Show winner at Crufts 2024 has been announced this evening (March 10).
Thousands of dog lovers have attended the event at Birmingham's NEC over the last few days and the competition’s Best in Show winner has been confirmed this year as Viking, the Australian Shepherd, with handler Melanie Raymond from Solihull.
Jack Russell Terrier, Zen, came in second place with his handlers Kao Miichi and Hiroshi Tsukuki.
The Best in Show event saw the seven finalists competing to win the big prize. The winners of the Gundog, Working, Pastoral, Terrier, Hound, Utility and Toy dogs categories were competing for the Best in Show title.
The winners of their categories and the finalists for this year’s Best in Show 2023, were:
- Utility: Dean and Abbie Cund from Birmingham won the Utility group with Elton, their French Bulldog.
- Toy Group: Asha Maria from Iceland with Rafa, a Papillon, won the Toy group
- Gundog: Hendricks, a Weimaraner from Biggar and his owner David Alcorn
- Pastoral: Viking, Ch Brighttouch Drift The Line Through Dialynne (Imp Rus), an Australian Shepherd
- Working: Kerry Rushby and Lee Studholme from Great Yarmouth with Neville a Leonberger
- Terrier: Kao Miichi and Hiroshi Tsukuki from Japan won with Zen, their Jack Russell Terrier
- Hound: Ch Forget-Me-Not V Tum-Tum's Vriendjes, Basset Griffon Vendeen
Here are the very best photos from Sunday's final at Crufts 2024
All photos from The Kennel Club or Getty Images
1. The Australian Shepherd, "Viking" with handler Melanie Raymond are announced the winner of the Best in Show
Getty
2. Melanie Raymond from Solihull, with Viking, an Australian Shepherd, who won the coveted title of Best in Show today (Sunday 10.03.24), the fourth and final day of Crufts 2024
BeatMedia/The Kennel Club
3. The Australian Shepherd, "Viking" with handler Melanie Raymond compete in the ring during the Best in Show event on the final day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre
AFP via Getty Images
4. The Kennel Club Hero Dog Awards Finalists 2024.Best Friends - Echo and her young owner Freya Harris today
BeatMedia/The Kennel Club