A Kirkham dog owner and Ricky, a two-year-old Standard Poodle, proved he was well and truly top dog after scooping the prestigious Best in Show award at Crufts.
Entered alongside more than 21,500 happy, healthy dogs at the NEC in Birmingham for the world’s biggest dog show, presented by the Kennel Club, Ricky was making his UK swansong before going into retirement.
And with a hairdo straight out of the 1970s cult musical comedy The Rocky Horror Show he did not disappoint, picking up first the Best of Breed certificate for the Standard Poodle and then topping the utility dog category to qualify to Sunday’s live final in the main arena.
Competing against six other finalists for the famous title, Ricky crucially got the all-important nod from the judge to cap off a great weekend for handler and breeder Jason Lynn.
Lynn, of Moss House Lane, also had links to another dog in the final, having helped breed two-year-old American Cocker Spaniel Pearl.
And with Ricky taking centre stage on his final showing, the 34-year-old Lynn was left beaming with pride.
“It’s absolutely fantastic. I’ve been involved in showing dogs my whole life and to think that one day I’d be standing here is a dream come true,” said Lynn.
“There were seven fantastic dogs from around the globe, it was a beautiful Best in Show line-up and I’m really proud that I was chosen and Ricky came out on top.
“He’s an absolute prince. Standard Poodles are, to me, the king of dogs and Ricky in particular is the most gentle, affectionate and loving dog to live with at home.
“He will now more-or-less go into retirement, that was his last show in the UK. It’s like a fairytale ending.”
This year’s Crufts attracted dog lovers from all walks of life, with 45 overseas countries represented throughout the four-day show from March 6 to 9 while celebrities such as TV personality Amanda Holden, former Eastenders actress Pam St Clement and 2012 Olympic long jump gold medallist Greg Rutherford also attended.
And Ricky was not the only success story from the area with Charlotte Roskell, a member of Blackpool Ringcraft Club, and three-year-old Shiba Jean-Paul taking the Best of Breed certificate.
Roskell said: “I was just ecstatic. He actually broke the male record today and Best of Breed was the icing on the cake.
“He’s been beaten by his sister for the last two years but not today. He’s very much a pet first and a show-dog second.”
