Crufts In Birmingham

Around 25 thousand dogs and their owners have been at the NEC in Birmingham for Crufts 2013.

A boyhood dream came true on Sunday night (10th March) for breeder Gavin Robertson after his dog lifted the Best in Show crown at Crufts.

Mr Robertson, breeder of Basset Griffon Vendeen Jilly, said he had been attending the dog show since he was young and had always wanted to win the prestigious prize.

As photographers snapped the pair on the podium after they were presented with the all important trophy, Mr Robertson tookd a call from his wife Sara and their two children Oliver, six and Erin, three, congratulating the pair on their win.

Mr Robertson, from Wallingford in Oxfordshire, beat more than 20,000 dogs over the four-day competition to take the coveted title of Best in Show at Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham.

Four-year-old Jilly won the Best Hound category then went on to be  pronounced Best in Show after four days of competition.

''I'm completely floating on air. It's just a wonderful, wonderful feeling. I didn't think I'd actually ever be sat next to this trophy so yes fantastic'' Mr Robertson said.

''I can't express it. I've thought about this since I was a little boy.

''I've come to this show since I was a little boy and every year I've watched and thought I'd love to be in that place and that position. To finally be here, well, it doesn't feel real.''

Reserve Best in Show went to Romeo, a three-year-old Labrador Retriever, winner of the Gundog category. He had travelled from Cesara in Italy with owner Franco Barberi.

The show featured various dog displays and competition finals including the Agility Championships and as well as showing Pedigree Dogs, for the first time it held a brand new category especially for cross-breeds.

It's called 'Scrufts' and is looking at temperament and how healthy they are without worrying too much about looks.

We've also been told that Crufts 2013 attracted more than 2,000 dogs from overseas for the first time.

A total of 2,131 dogs from 41 different countries took part at the show, including dogs from Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and Malaysia, none of which have previously been represented.