NEW YORK (AFP) — Stump, an elderly Sussex Spaniel, was surprise winner of the coveted Best in Show Prize at the 133rd annual Westminster Kennel Club show.
Ten-year-old Stump was the oldest champion in the history of the competition, which ran over two days at New York's Madison Square Garden.
He beat about 2,500 other hopefuls and in the final round, the laid-back, light-brown hound with floppy ears saw off six strong rivals.
Contenders included an extravagantly coiffed black Poodle, a lanky Scottish Deerhound, and a Puli that closely resembled a large mop. He also bested a black Giant Schnauzer that many dog watchers had seen as the favorite.
The choice of the modest Spaniel pleased the sell-out crowd of 20,000 which screamed its support.
Stump took an unlikely route to canine stardom after recovering from near fatal illness five years ago and only recently returning from retirement.
His rise may have been helped in the tense final round by minor lapses of attention by his competitors, including an unscheduled pee-stop by a Scottish Terrier and some head-scratching by a Brussels Griffon.
The event is billed as one of the most prestigious dog competitions in the world and attracts huge international audiences on television and Internet sites.
Last year's winner, a Beagle named Uno, became something of a celebrity with a visit to the White House, talk show appearances, and his own Facebook page.
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