Crufts Best-in-Show: Ricky the poodle really is the top dog

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 on 9 March 2014 in Birmingham, England (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

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.”

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.