Crufts Dog Show Results 2016: Friday Winners, Updated Schedule and TV Info

The second day of Crufts 2016 saw Sh Ch Lourdace Fulcrum, affectionately known as James, crowned as the gundog champion at the NEC in Birmingham, England.

In the only overall category to be judged Friday, the competition was particularly fierce. But eventually the Gordon setter was awarded the accolade in an impressive field that included the runner-up in last year’s Best in Show category.

Here are the results from Friday, how the day panned out and a look at the schedule for the weekend, with the top gong to be distributed Sunday:

Gundog Group	Name	Breed
Best of Group	Sh Ch Lourdace Fulcrum	Gordon Setter
Reserve	Sh Ch Arnac Bay Exe	Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)
Third	Ch Gleska Goody-Goody	Lagotto Romagnolo
Fourth	CH Castlerock Simply Magic	Retriever (Flat Coated)

Day	Group
Saturday, March 12	Working Dogs, Pastoral Dogs
Sunday, March 13	Terriers, Hounds, Best in Show

The event is broadcast on Channel 4, while Crufts also offers a live stream on its official YouTube channel.

Friday Recap

There was a lot of focus on the gundogs from the packed crowds. It’s one of the most popular sections of the event, too, with golden retrievers, flat-coated retrievers and Irish setters all in the hunt for the prize.

Here is a look at the display prior to the judging, featuring some of the competitors, via the Kennel Club:

Those who watched the event last year would have remembered Castlerock Simply Magic, the 2015 runner-up in the Best in Show. The black flat-coated retriever looked to be in elegant form again this year, although even a dog as impressive as him was unable to take the gong in a 31-strong final, finishing fourth in the group.

Instead, the award went to Lourdace Fulcrum, who impressed the judges with his slick black coat and loping stride.

BEN STANSALL/Getty Images

In second place was a Chesapeake Bay retriever, Sh Ch Arnac Bay Exe. Ahead of Castle Rock Simply Magic was a lagotto Romagnolo, Ch Gleska Goody-Goody, who took third. Here are the four dogs who were picked out by the judges, per Dog World:

As we can see here, it was double delight for the four-and-a-half-year-old, who had also earlier won the Vulnerable Breeds competition:

Aside from the judging in the gundog group, there were also a few minor events to take in for those in attendance at the NEC. Indeed, as we can see here, some of the flyball heats were particularly exciting to watch:

The events will come thick and fast over the course of the weekend, including the pastoral and working dogs Saturday. Then the terriers and hounds will be judged Sunday, paving the way for the anticipated Best in Show.

Given the Gordon setter was in the Vulnerable Breeds category, it’s refreshing to see such an affectionate breed be rewarded as the best in the group, and hopefully that’ll be a boost for a type of dog that is scarcely seen compared to some others in the hunt Friday.

After this stellar performance on the big stage, it’d be no surprise to see more success come James’ way before the curtain comes down on another entertaining showpiece in Birmingham.