By Matthew Legg

Last updated at 14:12, Monday, 15 March 2010

A Cumbrian dog reached the pinnacle of the canine world last night when he was named Best in Show at Crufts.

Yogi with handler John Thirlwell

Yogi, a Hungarian Vizsla, beat 22,000 animals to win the coveted title at the climax of the four-day show at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC).

His owner Moray Armstrong, 63, of Cargo Beck, near Carlisle, said the prize was the perfect end to seven-year-old’s career and said he would now retire to become a “gentleman of leisure”.

Speaking from Birmingham this morning, Mr Armstrong told the News & Star: “It’s absolutely amazing.

“I’ve been showing dogs for 40 years and to finally reach the pinnacle of the dog-showing world is fantastic – I’m elated.

“Yogi has already got the record for the dog with most best in shows ever in England, with 18 titles.”

Mr Armstrong came across Yogi when judging a dog show in Australia five years ago.

“It took a bit of gentle persuasion to part him from his owner and we brought him across,” he added.

“He just seems to have star quality. He takes everything in his stride. That’s it for him now – he will retire and become a gentleman of leisure.”

Mr Armstrong will drive back up to Cumbria today and a party is being organised to celebrate.

“We celebrated with a few drinks with friends down here last night. Yogi just had his tea and went to sleep, it’s a long day for them.”

Yogi’s handler John Thirlwell, from Gateshead, said: “He is just such a wonderful dog. I am just pleased that he stood up to it.”

Yogi, who won the Gundog group earlier in the evening, is the first Hungarian Vizsla to win Best in Show at Crufts.

Judge Valerie Foss said: “He is such a lovely mover, so powerful, so free.

“He is just a very, very good dog.”

First published at 11:29, Monday, 15 March 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk