For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Ricky the poodle won the world’s biggest dog show prize after being named Best-in-Show at Crufts from more than 21,000 entrants.
The award is given for the dog which scores highest for overall health, condition, coat, character, temperament and movement. Yet, the champ will now be leaving the world of dog shows behind him, with handler Jason Lynn announcing immediately afterwards that he would be retired from competition.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” said Mr Lynn, from Preston, Lancashire. “I am so proud of him. We decided that this would be his last show – and he has ended it in the most wonderful way possible.”
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in BirminghamShow all 25 1 /25In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show Jason Lynn with Ricky the Standard Poodle, as they celebrate winning the Best in Show category of Crufts during the final day at Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show Two-year-old standard poodle Ricky with his handler Jason Lynn during the Best-in-Show contest at Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham, which he went on to win
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show Owners Sue Smith (left) and Val Freer with their Samoyed dog Dan The Man who was named as the Best-in-Show runner-up at Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A Samoyed called Dan The Man with owner Val Free during the Best-in-Show contest at Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham, where he was named as the runner up
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show Weimaraners are judged in one of the rings on the fourth and final day of Crufts dog show at the NEC in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show Jonty, a Yorkshire Terrier is groomed ahead of being shown on the third day of the Crufts dog show at the NEC in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A Yorkshire Terrier waits to be judged during the Toy and Utility day of the Crufts dog show at the NEC in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A collie dog competes in the agility competition on the second day of the Crufts dog show at the NEC in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show Dogs and their owners arrive to attend the second day of the Crufts dog show at the NEC in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A Weimaraner dog during the Crufts annual dog show at the NEC in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show Theo, a four a half year old Pomeranian dog taking cover from the rain under Meme, a 10 month old Afghan Hound
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A Afghan hound waits to be judged on the second day of the Crufts dog show at the NEC in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show An Afghan hound waits to be judged on the second day of the Crufts dog show at the NEC in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A dog owner with a matching spotty shirt holds her dog during the first day of Crufts in Birmingham. Crufts dog show is the largest show of its kind in the world, the annual four-day event, features thousands of dogs, with competitors travelling from countries across the globe to take part
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A Boxer dog looks out from its kennel on first day of Crufts dog show at the NEC in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A Mastiff sits on a Union Flag rug during the first day of the Crufts dog show in Birmingham. Crufts, which was first held in 1891 and sees thousands of dogs vie for the coveted title of 'Best in Show'
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show Dogs and their owners arrive to attend the first day of Crufts dog show at the NEC in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A woman pushes a trolley containing her dogs as she arrives to attend the first day of Crufts dog show at the NEC in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show An owner with his dog in a buggy arrives for the first day of Crufts dog show in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A dog gets a treat as his owner arrives to attend the first day of Crufts dog show at the NEC in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A man sits with his Komondor dogs during the first day of the Crufts dog show in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A Great Dane called Clyde has his nails filed during the first day of the Crufts dog show in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A Great Dane jumps up at its handler as it is judged during the first day of the Crufts dog show in Birmingham. The four-day show features over 25,000 dogs, with competitors travelling from more than 40 countries
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show New Foundland dogs sit and await their class during the first day of the Crufts dog show in Birmingham
In pictures: The Crufts dog show in Birmingham The Crufts dog show A dog owner stands with her Shetland Sheepdog as she awaits judges scores during the first day of the Crufts dog show in Birmingham
The event in at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, televised by Channel 4, has seen four days of competition. Ricky had competed under his official name of Afterglow Maverick Sabre.
A Samoyed named Dan The Man led by Sue Smith from Norfolk was runner-up, although finalist Colin the Pomeranian was said by host Clare Balding to have “stolen the hearts” of viewers.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies