Orca from Croatia wins at world’s most prestigious dog show Crufts
- by croatiaweek
- in News
Orca, won the coveted title of Best in Show at the Crufts 2023, at the NEC Birmingham (Photo credit: BeatMedia/The Kennel Club)
Orca, a Lagotto Romangnolo from Rijeka in Croatia, has won the prestigious Crufts 2023 Best in Show on Sunday at the Birmingham NEC.
More than 19,000 dogs from all around the world took part at Crufts this year at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham with just seven making in the Crufts 2023 Best in Show final.
Four-year-old Orca (Am GCh Kan Trace Very Cheeky Chic) and her handler Javier Gonzalez Mendikote qualified for the final after winning the Gundog group title on Thursday.
Orca is owned by Sabina Zdunić Šinković and Ante Lucin, and handled by Javier Gonzalez Mendikote and her victory was broadcast live on Channel 4 in the UK, watched by millions.
The famous Best in Show trophy was presented by Crufts Show Manager, Vanessa McAlpine, who has been part of the Crufts and Kennel Club team for over 40 years, and will be retiring this year.
“This is the first time the Lagotto Romagnolo has won Crufts. It is a lively and affectionate Italian breed, which is relatively new to the UK. They have a unique talent for truffle hunting, thanks to their acute sense of smell,” Crufts said.
Orca beat Archie, a Dobermann; Blondie, an Old English Sheepdog; Blanca, a Wire Fox Terrier; Paris, an Irish Wolfhound; Jake, a Standard Poodle and Dublin, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the final.
“This is the first Lagotto Romagnolo to win at Crufts, so this is so great for the breed – we never expected anything like this! We know she is a little superstar but this is beyond all expectations. I was crying too much watching from the seats, it was very emotional! “Orca is everything you could ever want in a dog, she is happy and healthy – and as everybody saw, her tail never stops wagging!,” owner Ante Lucin said.
What a winner! Orca the Lagotto Romagnolo is your 2023 #Crufts Best in Show!🐶🏆💚 pic.twitter.com/oVldA3oR3Y
— Crufts (@Crufts) March 12, 2023
Crufts Show Manager, Vanessa McAlpine, congratulated Orca and her handler, Javier, saying they were deserving winners and it was clear to see their strong relationship together in the ring.
