Australian Shepherd from Birmingham wins place in Crufts Best in Show final

Viking, an Australian Shepherd from Solihull, Birmingham, and his co-owner Melanie Raymond won the Pastoral Group title at Crufts 2024 today (Saturday 9 March), qualifying them for one of just seven places in the Best in Show final on Sunday evening.

Viking (Ch Brighttouch Drift The Line Through Dialynne), aged three, co-owned by Melanie Raymond, John Shaw and Kerry Kirtley, will return to the Resorts World Arena at the NEC Birmingham on Sunday, along with six other dogs to compete for the coveted Best in Show title at Crufts. 

People around Britain and the world will be watching to see which dog is crowned Best in Show on Sunday, as the final is shown live on Channel 4 and available to be streamed on the official Crufts YouTube Channel - youtube.com/crufts. 

Over 19,000 dogs are competing over four days for one of just seven places in the Crufts final and a chance to win the most celebrated title in the world of dogs.  

Proud owner Melanie said: "Viking has had a fabulous year and Crufts is the pinnacle of everything so something we want to win! Viking was on fire, I had to keep up with him and to be fair I've only got little legs!"

Helen Kerfoot, Crufts Show Manager, said: "Many congratulations to Viking and Mel on winning the Pastoral Group title today. Earning a place in the Crufts Best in Show final is a remarkable achievement.

"Crufts celebrates happy, healthy dogs, and the special relationship between dogs and their owners, which Mel and Viking demonstrated perfectly in the ring today."  

Crufts takes place from 7 - 10 March 2024 at the NEC, Birmingham. For more information and results from the show, visit crufts.org.uk.