Home
Business
Metro
Nation
World
Sports
Feature
Opinion
View more »Opinion Columns
Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
Rural area is critically important to the future prosperity of China
In search of history to inspire rural rejuvenation
Sunday
- Subscribe
Related News
Old dog provides best in show trick
Source: Agencies |
February 12, 2009, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THIS old dog taught Westminster a new trick.
At 10, a Sussex spaniel called Stump became the oldest best in show winner at America's top canine competition, coming out of retirement last week and taking the big prize on Tuesday night in New York City.
"He hasn't slowed down a bit," handler Scott Sommer said. "I thought it would be fun."
A nearly full crowd at Madison Square Garden cheered loudly when judge Sari Tietjen pointed to the new champion at the Westminster Kennel Club. Perhaps the fans knew Stump's backstory. He left the show ring in 2004 and later nearly died from a mysterious medical condition. The veterinarians at Texas A&M saved him.
"It was miraculous," Sommer said.
Then again, maybe folks just liked rooting for the old guy. In human years, he's 70.
Sommer said Sussex spaniels can live to be 15. Never before had a dog from this breed won the show. The previous oldest winner was an 8-year-old Papillon in 1999.
With floppy ears and a slow gait, the golden-red Stump beat out a sparkling final field. Sommer guided him past a giant schnauzer that was the nation's top show dog, a favored Brussels griffon, a Scottish deerhound named Tiger Woods, a standard poodle with 94 best in show wins, a Scottish terrier and a puli.
After he won, Stump showed off his one trick: He got up on his hinds, as if begging. He didn't have to, he was already No. 1.
Nearly 2,500 dogs were entered at Westminster. Last year's champion, a beagle named Uno, was perhaps the most popular winner ever.
At 10, a Sussex spaniel called Stump became the oldest best in show winner at America's top canine competition, coming out of retirement last week and taking the big prize on Tuesday night in New York City.
"He hasn't slowed down a bit," handler Scott Sommer said. "I thought it would be fun."
A nearly full crowd at Madison Square Garden cheered loudly when judge Sari Tietjen pointed to the new champion at the Westminster Kennel Club. Perhaps the fans knew Stump's backstory. He left the show ring in 2004 and later nearly died from a mysterious medical condition. The veterinarians at Texas A&M saved him.
"It was miraculous," Sommer said.
Then again, maybe folks just liked rooting for the old guy. In human years, he's 70.
Sommer said Sussex spaniels can live to be 15. Never before had a dog from this breed won the show. The previous oldest winner was an 8-year-old Papillon in 1999.
With floppy ears and a slow gait, the golden-red Stump beat out a sparkling final field. Sommer guided him past a giant schnauzer that was the nation's top show dog, a favored Brussels griffon, a Scottish deerhound named Tiger Woods, a standard poodle with 94 best in show wins, a Scottish terrier and a puli.
After he won, Stump showed off his one trick: He got up on his hinds, as if begging. He didn't have to, he was already No. 1.
Nearly 2,500 dogs were entered at Westminster. Last year's champion, a beagle named Uno, was perhaps the most popular winner ever.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
