- Best in show is awarded on night two at Madison Square Garden
- 2020 Westminster Kennel Club dog show – in pictures
1.23am GMT
Daniel the golden retriever wins the Sporting group for the second year in a row! The crowd goes wild! We have our first winner of the night. Could this finally be the year the golden breaks through?
Is this the year!?
Daniel the Golden Retriever comes out on top in the Sporting Group and advances to Best in Show. #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/RVchd886zJ
The winner of the Sporting Group is Daniel the #GoldenRetriever! #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/IZ3RuK6fQU
1.15am GMT
Unsurprisingly, the biggest cheers of the night have been for Daniel the golden retriever. Goldens are the third most popular breed in the United States according to AKC registration. Alas, despite their popularity, a golden has never won Westminster. Howie the clumber spaniel also drew a warm reception from the Garden crowd.
There’s nothing like this slow-mo from Howie the Clumber Spaniel. #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/Ej2neh6Kau
1.03am GMT
First up tonight is the Sporting group … and we’re about halfway through. They will be judged by Ms Theresa L Hundt of Sandy Hook, Connecticut. This group has produced a total of 20 best in show winners through the years – second only to the Terrier group (47) – most recently the German shorthand pointer named CJ in 2016.
Here’s what the American Kennel Club has to say about the Sporting Group:
Naturally active and alert, Sporting dogs make likeable, well-rounded companions. Members of the group include pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels. Remarkable for their instincts in water and woods, many of these breeds actively continue to participate in hunting and other field activities. Potential owners of Sporting dogs need to realize that most require regular, invigorating exercise.
12.49am GMT
Four of the seven group winners who will compete for the title of best in show were decided on Monday night. The remaining three groups (Sporting, Working and Terrier) will be judged tonight in advance of the final showdown.
Bourbon the Whippet won the Hound group …
The winner of the Hound group is Bourbon the #Whippet! #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/qWQcIzG2YD
The winner of the Toy group is Bono the Havanese! #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/W7TRbHPXST
The winner of the Non-Sporting group is Siba the Standard Poodle! #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/QfN1JkmaCi
The winner of the Herding group is Conrad the Shetland Sheepdog! #WKCDogShow pic.twitter.com/6YqIjs5zsY
12.38am GMT
Hello and welcome to the final night of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show! We’re ringside at Madison Square Garden for the 144rd edition of the nation’s most prestigious conformation show, the oldest continuously held sporting event in the United States after the Kentucky Derby, and there’s an unmistakable electricity in the air as the title of America’s top dog will be chosen from the more than 2,500 canines from 205 different breeds and varieties. Tonight one will emerge from the pack.
Last year it was King, the wire fox terrier. Who will bring home the hardware in 2020?
12.13am GMT
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here is a look at scenes from Westminster so far.
Related: 2019 Westminster Kennel Club dog show – in pictures
