Westminster Dog Show 2016 Results: Best of Breed Winners and Day 2 Recap
Tuesday evening's highly anticipated conclusion to the 2016 Westminster Dog Show unfolded at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where the competitions finished and the all-important Best in Show distinction was awarded.
Dr. Richard Meen, the former president of the Canadian Kennel Club, served as the Best in Show judge. Meen endowed sporting champion and German shorthaired pointer CJ with the 140th annual show's most prestigious individual accolade.
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Here is a look at the other three Best of Group winners and results from the second and final day of action in the Big Apple:
| First | GCH Vjk-Myst Garbonita's California Journey | Pointer (German Shorthaired) |
| Second | GCH Clussexx Man Of Steel | Spaniel (Clumber) |
| Third | GCH Shalimar's The Animator | Retriever (Labrador) |
| Fourth | GCH Rainbow Splash's Ruggedly Handsome | Brittany |
| First | GCH Pebbles' Run Play It Again Ham | Samoyed |
| Second | GCH Mephisto's Speak Of The Devil | Boxer |
| Third | GCH Gamegards I'Ll Have Another V Braeside TT RN | Rottweiler |
| Fourth | GCH Derby's Toast With Gusto | Greater Swiss Mountain Dog |
| First | GCH Cragsmoor Good Time Charlie | Skye Terrier |
| Second | CH Meadowlake Dark Side Of The Moon | Border Terrier |
| Third | GCH Hampton Court's Monte Cristo | Fox Terrier (Wire) |
| Fourth | CH Snowtaires Next Generation | Lakeland Terrier |
CJ, short for California Journey, was born on January 16, 2013, and is owned by Valerie Atkinson, Alice Manning and Yvonne Hassler-Deterding.
"I couldn't believe it, pinch me," Atkinson said afterwards about winning Best in Show, per Westminster Dog Show on Twitter.
The Twitter handle for the "World's Most Famous Arena" captured a snapshot as CJ was shown on the Jumbotron:
All seven of the group champions, four of whom came from Monday's showcase, were announced and trotted out before Meen made his final call.
The show's official Twitter account shot the scene as all the group champions took a lap around the turf as Meen looked on to get a better feel of who he liked best:
Upon further examination and a bit more internal deliberation, Meen arrived at CJ as the top dog. According to the USA Network telecast, CJ was the third German shorthaired pointer to claim Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show.
A shih tzu named Panda certainly had a strong case with his unique style and cute antics before Meen's judgment, as captured by Mashable GIF:
NFL legend Shannon Sharpe was tuned in and fancied Panda's chances of winning the grand finale:
But Panda did not receive any big prize beyond his triumph in the toy group, despite impeccable grooming and long, flowing locks.
The reserve winner was Lucy, Japan's top dog from last year, who is a borzoi bred by Kyoko Ozeki.
Charlie the Skye terrier was the final group champion before Best in Show was named. He also appeared to be a crowd favorite with his vision-obscuring hair on his head and his wonderful maintenance.
Sarah Lyall of the New York Times noticed how those in attendance gravitated to Charlie:
Apparently aesthetically pleasing upkeep and dogs whose follicles flourished weren't held in as high regard by Meen and whoever else may have had a hand in deliberating the final Best in Show decision.
CJ was undeniably a worthy Best in Show recipient, and it's a testament to his greatness that he beat out such a quality field of competitors. Debate is bound to rage on based on the inevitably varying preferences of dog lovers and incredible diversity of dog breeds.
The Best in Show discourse and sheer depth of competition from this year's field ought to hold canine enthusiasts over with fond memories and fodder for discussion until the 2017 Westminster Dog Show.
Note: Information and results courtesy of Westminsterkennelclub.org.
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