10-year old Sussex spaniel becomes oldest winner ever at Westminster

Way to go, Stump. Throw the old farts a bone!

America has a new top dog! The winner of the highly-anticipated best in show prize at the 2009 Westminster Dog Show was crowned, and as CBS News correspondent Kelly Wallace reports, the champion made history. Seven canines competed for the premier prize at the country’s oldest dog show. Final contestants included a Scottish deerhound named Tiger Woods, a Puli known for its dreadlocks and a Scottish terrier who might have been battling a case of the nerves. But there could be only one champion. – From CBS

Ch. Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee, a Sussex spaniel who goes by the nickname Stump, won Westminster’s sporting group. Stump, owned by Cecilia Ruggles, Beth Dowd and Scott Sommer, is a veteran of the Garden: he won the sporting group title there in 2004, after which he went into retirement. He’s 10 years old — much older than the majority of Westminster competitors. He’s the only Sussex spaniel to ever win his group at Westminster. Following Stump on the winners list were a golden retriever named Ch. Toasty’s Treasure Island, an English setter named Ch. Chebaco Blames It On Trabeiz, and a labrador retriever named Ch. Beechcroft Study’s Top Secret, in that order. – From LA Times

A 10-year-old spaniel with the modest name of Stump plodded away last night with the best in show award, the oldest dog in the history of the Westminster Kennel Club competition to get the top prize. The Sussex spaniel, whose formal name is Clussexx Three D Grinchy Glee, came out of retirement only last week to beat six other group winners. He is owned by Cecilia Ruggles, Beth Dowd and Scott Sommer. “I’m just thrilled,” said Sommer, of Houston, Stump’s handler. “You couldn’t ask for anything better.” – From Newsday