Westminster Dog Show: Buddy Holly wins Best in Show
“I’ve been dreaming about this since I was 9 years old,” says Buddy Holly’s owner and trainer, Janice Hayes. She called the dog, whose full name is CH Soletrader Buddy Holly, “the epitome of a show dog; nothing hurts him.”
Tuesday night was Hayes’ third attempt at Westminster, which she said she had watched with her father since she was a child. Hayes said she was most impressed with how Buddy Holly performed because “he did exactly what I wanted him to do.”
Now, Hayes said she’s most excited about Buddy Holly becoming a regular dog again and hanging out with “his girlfriends.”
Playful and friendly, he’s the first dog of his breed – a type of hunting dog often referred to by their initials, PBGV, because that’s easier to say – to win best in show at Westminster. Second place went to Rummie, a Pekingese whose breeder and handler, David Fitzpatrick, has produced two previous show winners, including Wasabi, the 2021 champion.
“They’re a small breed and we like that because they’re not for everyone,” Hayes said as she pulled her dog away from eating a nearby flower. She added: “We’ve spent a long time promoting this breed and it’s fantastic to put them on the map.”
The finalists represented a range of options for the veteran judge, Beth Sweigart, whose job it was to select which dog was the most outstanding example of his or her breed. Along with Rummie, who won the Toy group, and Winston, who won the Non-Sporting group, the other contenders included Cider, the English Setter, winner of the Sporting group, who mesmerized the crowd with her wavy coat and gliding gait.
There was also a proud American Staffordshire Terrier named Trouble, who took the Terrier group; Ribbon, a smart, enthusiastic Australian Shepherd, who won the Herding group; and Monty, a beautifully bearded Giant Schnauzer, winner of the Working Group.
Each was judged not on their cuddliness, beauty, or charm, but on how well they lived up to the standard of their breed. Sweigart took her time with her choice, running her hands and eyes over each of the finalists, watching them run through the ring and building up the drama before choosing her champion.
Buddy Holly joined a line of winners that has recently begun to expand into a variety of breeds after years of terrier dominance. Last year, a mandible bloodhound, Trumpet, won best in show and ahead of him were Wasabi the Pekingese and a black Standard Poodle named Siba.
“It’s not your golden retrievers sitting there and asking you what you want to do,” Hayes said. “Like they’re doing their thing. But when they get it, they make you laugh every day, no matter what.”
Defeat will sting Winston, that is, when show dogs feel the sting of defeat. He was runner-up last year – the official title is reserve best in show – but failed to break through despite his spotless, smooth coat and charming manner.
Will he come back? He declined to comment.