Congratulations to Philippe!
Thanks to the Independant for this article.
Philippe the giant schnauzer proves best in Crufts show
By Eoghan Williams and Sadie Gray
Monday, 10 March 2008A giant schnauzer named Philippe took the coveted best in show trophy at Crufts last night, at his third attempt.
His delighted owner, Kevin Cullen, from St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, said: “I cannot believe it. It’s an absolute dream. He never lets me down. It means the world to me, it really does.”
The four-day festival of all things canine is the biggest dog show in the world. It was opened by the actor Neil Morrissey, but the likes of Philippe, the best in show runner-up Hermioni a Samoyed owned by Lisa Bobrowski of Woking and a suspected “superpoodle” were the real celebrities.
Nearly 23,000 fastidious and mostly well-groomed owners descended with their pets on Birmingham’s NEC arena for Crufts, which ended last night with the presentation of the Keddall Memorial Trophy to the best in show. Yesterday alone, 6,000 dogs appeared in the breed categories and more competed in other displays and contests.
But even before the show opened, critics had been murmuring that Crufts has become too commercial, turning its back on pedigree canine excellence in favour of an X Factor format. There were also whispers about the number of foreign dogs in the show, following new rules on pet passports.
The Kennel Club has been doing its best to modernise the event, which it took over in 1942 from the family of Charles Cruft, the dog food salesman who ran the first show in 1891.
Stalls at this year’s bash stocked everything from Swarovski crystal-encrusted jackets to dog headstones. Hotels battled to offer their four-legged guests the biggest and softest king-sized beds.
