A standard poodle named Siba is America’s top canine after earning the title of best in show on Tuesday night at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.
Judge Bob Slay chose the three-year-old black poodle despite the Madison Square Garden audience’s vocal appeals for Daniel, a crowd-pleasing golden retriever looking to become the first of his breed to claim the highest prize in the 144-year history of the country’s most prestigious dog show.
“She’s beautiful and has that something,” handler Chrystal Murray-Clas said. “She had the something extra at a young age.”
BEST. IN. SHOW. 🥇
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) February 12, 2020
Siba the Standard Poodle claims the top honor at the #WKCDogShow! It is the 5th win for the breed, good for fourth-most all-time. pic.twitter.com/OYBCtTcwnr
The poised non-sporting group winner from Pennsylvania with the shiny jet-black coat, elaborate coifs and shaved behind, whose official champion’s name is Stone Run Afternoon Tea, was the last dog standing after a winnowing-down process that began on Monday morning with more than 2,600 entries in 204 breeds and varieties hailing from 49 different states and 19 other countries, including Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Thailand.
She moved effortlessly and elegantly around the ring to capture the crown over a stacked field of six other group winners, among them a whippet named Bourbon (awarded reserve best in show) and Daniel, whose name was chanted throughout the arena as Slay carefully made his final assessment. Others in the final best-of-seven ring included a havanese named Bono, a shetland sheepdog named Conrad, a wire fox terrier named Vinny and a boxer named Wilma, who won the working group for a second consecutive year only to again be pipped at the final hurdle.
Poodles are entered in three sizes and have been consistent favorites at Westminster down the years. Siba became the fifth standard to win be named best in show and the first since 1991, while miniatures have won three times and toys twice.
A whirlwind media blitz looms on Wednesday, including a series of appearances on the morning chat shows, a photo op atop the Empire State Building, the traditional steak lunch at Sardi’s and, possibly, a walk-on part in the Broadway musical Beetlejuice.
