German shorthaired pointer, C.J., wins 140th Westminster dog show

By Laila Kearney Reuters

9 years ago

Handler Valerie Nunez Atkinson poses with CJ, a German Shorthaired Pointer from the Sporting Group, after they won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York February 16, 2016. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

Charlie, a Skye Terrier and winner of the Terrier group, poses during judging at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York February 16, 2016. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

Bogie, a Samoyed and winner of the working group, runs with his handler during the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York February 16, 2016. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

Handler Valerie Nunez Atkinson poses with CJ, a German Shorthaired Pointer from the Sporting Group, after they won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York February 16, 2016. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

Handler Valerie Nunez Atkinson runs with CJ, a German Shorthaired Pointer from the Sporting Group that won Best in Show, at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York February 16, 2016.(Mike Segar/Reuters)

Rumor, a German Shepard, stands in the ring after winning Best in Breed during judging at the 2016 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in the Manhattan borough of New York City, February 15, 2016. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

NEW YORK -— A German shorthaired pointer named CJ won “Best in Show” at the 140th Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York on Tuesday, besting more than 2,700 contestants over the two-day competition.

Westminster, which is the second longest continuously running sporting event in the United States behind the Kentucky Derby, drew entries from nearly 200 breeds and varieties and more than a dozen countries this year.

“He was born for this,” said owner Valerie Nunes-Atkinson, from Temecula, California, after CJ, short for California Journey, won best in the sporting group earlier in the night. “There’s something special about him.”

CJ, who pranced across an expansive show floor at Madison Square Garden, will receive a trophy and embark on a media tour as the show’s champion. A Borzoi, named Lucy, was runner-up.

As part of the Westminster competition, judges select the best of each breed and group, divided into seven categories — hound, toy, non-sporting, herding, sporting, working and terrier.

On Monday, the first night of events, Lucy the Borzoi won in the hound group; a flat-faced and pudgy bulldog named Annabelle won in the non-sporting group; Rumor, a spirited German shepherd won in the herding group; and a silky-haired shih tzu named Panda won in the toy group.

CJ won the sporting group; a Skye terrier named Charlie, won in the terrier group; and a white and fluffy Samoyed, named Bogey, won in the working group on Tuesday evening.

“It’s the best show in the world, the one everybody wants to win and the one where everybody cries if they lose,” said Charlie’s handler, Larry Cornelius, before the final round.