Crufts 2022 final: when is finale of the Birmingham NEC dog show on TV and what is Best in Show competition?

The world’s most famous dog show has returned after a two-year hiatus due to Covid.
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Thousands of dogs, owners and spectators from all over the world have travelled to Birmingham this month, as the most famous dog show returned for the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last year’s Crufts, which was going to be held in July, was cancelled due to the pandemic, but the event is back with more than 20,000 dogs taking part in 2022.

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So when is the show’s final, and what is the Best in Show award? This is what you need to know.

What is Crufts?

Crufts is an international dog show held annually in the United Kingdom and is the largest show of its kind in the world.

The event organised by The Kennel Club sees canines compete in obedience and agility competitions over four days, with one pooch being crowned Best in Show.

The first show organised by Charles Cruft was named ‘The First Great Terrier Show’ had 600 entries and took place in 1886.

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It was then followed by the first ‘Cruft’s Greatest Dog Show’ at Islington’s Royal Agricultural Hall in 1891 when all breeds could compete – attracting around 2,000 entries.

The show is named after Charles Cruft, the general manager at a dog biscuit maker.

Cruft travelled to dog shows in Britain and overseas each year and saw the need for a single event that would lead the way for standards of judging and excellence.

How can I watch Crufts?

There will be coverage of all four days of Crufts on Channel 4 and More4, as there has been since 2010.

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If you live outside of the UK, You can watch all of the main arena action and obedience ring across all four days via Cruft’s YouTube channel.

You can catch up on the judging and highlights from the previous days on Channel 4 and More 4.

If you want to watch the event in person, tickets are on sale now through the Crufts website, and prices vary depending on which day you want to go.

Children aged under nine can get in free across the four-day event.

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For Saturday, general admission for an adult is £27, and for children aged 9-15, students and OAPs, it is £18.36.

For Sunday, general admission for an adult is £23.76, and for children aged 9-15, students and OAPs, it is £17.28.

When does the finale take place?

The Crufts finale will take place on Sunday, March 13, 2022, with the results announced at the end of the day.

We will then discover which dog has taken home the Best in Show trophy.

What is the Best in Show award - and what’s the prize?

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The Best in Show is awarded annually to the dog chosen as the overall winner of the Crufts dog show, and is the most prestigious award in dog showing.

Dogs start by competing against others of the same breed, gender, age and previous wins.

An overall male and female winner then go head-to-head to determine the Best of Breed winner.

The next stage sees all of the Best of Breed winners in each of the seven groups (Toys, Gundogs, Utility, Hounds, Working, Pastoral, and Terriers) competing to win the Best in Group award.

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The seven Best in Group winners then compete to find the Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show.

Best in Show winners receive a cash prize of £100 and a replica of the solid silver Crufts Keddall Memorial Trophy.

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