Siba the Standard Poodle, winner of Best in Show, poses with trophies and awards at the 2020 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, U.S., February 11, 2020. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A standard poodle named Siba was crowned “Best in Show” at the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York on Tuesday, taking home the grand prize in the most prestigious competition for pure-bred canines in the United States.
Siba, the finalist representing all breeds classified as non-sporting dogs, emerged victorious from the three-day event at Madison Square Garden after going head to head with the winners in six other groups – hounds, toy dogs, herding dogs, working dogs, sporting dogs and terriers.
The triumph of Siba, a black-furred female nearly 4 years of age from Northampton, Pennsylvania, marked the fifth best-in-show title for a standard poodle in the 144-year history of the contest.
The Westminster dog show bills itself as the second-oldest U.S. sporting event, behind only the Kentucky Derby thoroughbred horse race. This year’s competition drew a field of contenders consisting of more than 2,600 dogs representing 205 breeds from 20 countries, including the United States.
Rounding out the roster of finalists in Tuesday’s best-in-show contest were: Daniel, a male golden retriever; Bourbon, a female whippet; Bono, a male Havanese; Conrad, a male Shetland sheepdog; Wilma, a female boxer, and Vinny, a male wire fox terrier.
Reporting by Gabriella Borter in New York; Editing by Frank McGurty and Jonathan Oatis