Dog Named Buddy Holly Is First of Its Breed to Win Westminster Show 

Buddy Holly, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, poses for pictures after winning the best in show competition during the 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, US, May 9, 2023. (Reuters)
Buddy Holly, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, poses for pictures after winning the best in show competition during the 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, US, May 9, 2023. (Reuters)
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Dog Named Buddy Holly Is First of Its Breed to Win Westminster Show 

Buddy Holly, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, poses for pictures after winning the best in show competition during the 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, US, May 9, 2023. (Reuters)
Buddy Holly, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, poses for pictures after winning the best in show competition during the 147th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, US, May 9, 2023. (Reuters)

A petit basset griffon Vendeen named Buddy Holly won best of show on Tuesday in the 147th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, beating out more than 3,000 dogs from 210 breeds and varieties to claim the most prestigious such US prize.

A six-year-old male from Palm Springs, California, Buddy Holly became the first of his breed to win. The dogs were bred to track hares in the Vendee department of western France.

"I never thought PBGV would do this, Janice Hayes, the dog's co-owner and handler, said after the show. "Buddy Holly is the epitome of the dog show."

Each breed produces a winner, representing the best of what artificial selection can create from the descendants of wolves.

Breed winners are separated into seven groups to determine the best of show finalists: hound, toy, non-sporting, herding, sporting, working and terrier.

Buddy Holly won the hound group.

The prize for reserve best in show, or runner-up, went to the winner of the toy group, a Pekingese named Rummie, from breeder and owner David Fitzpatrick.

Judges examine the dogs up close, placing their hands on the animal, then watch the handlers lead them around the floor, grading them on breed standards for appearance, temperament, size, coat and other characteristics.

The show, which dates to 1877 and has become a mainstay annual television event, was held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the New York City borough of Queens, site of the US Open tennis tournament.

Traditionally held at Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan, the show was moved upstate to a smaller arena on the expansive grounds of Lyndhurst Mansion during the previous two years because of the coronavirus pandemic.



Rains from Typhoon Wipha Batter Hong Kong as it Heads for Mainland China

Collapsed bamboo scaffolds of a residential building are seen as Typhoon Wipha approaches, in Hong Kong, China, July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Collapsed bamboo scaffolds of a residential building are seen as Typhoon Wipha approaches, in Hong Kong, China, July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
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Rains from Typhoon Wipha Batter Hong Kong as it Heads for Mainland China

Collapsed bamboo scaffolds of a residential building are seen as Typhoon Wipha approaches, in Hong Kong, China, July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Collapsed bamboo scaffolds of a residential building are seen as Typhoon Wipha approaches, in Hong Kong, China, July 20, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Rain pounded Hong Kong on Sunday as Typhoon Wipha skirted southwards, packing winds exceeding 167 kph (103 mph), disrupting 400 flights and public transport, felling hundreds of trees, and damaging a construction site.

Just after 4 p.m. on Sunday, weather authorities lowered the typhoon signal in the Asian financial hub to 8 from the maximum of 10, which had been hoisted for nearly seven hours, while more than 110 mm (4 inches) of rain fell within three hours.

Much of the rain concentrated on the northern region neighbouring the mainland, the city's observatory said, warning of more to come.

In a statement, the government said 26 people sought treatment in public hospitals, while 253 flocked to its shelters, and 471 fallen trees were reported, Reuters reported.

In North Point near the city's harbour, large swathes of scaffolding were swept off a residential building and onto the road.

As Wipha tracks westward across the South China Sea it is expected to make landfall later on Sunday between Zhuhai and Zhanjiang in the southern province of Guangdong, state-run broadcaster CCTV said.

Authorities in neighbouring Macau, the world's biggest gambling hub, also downgraded the typhoon signal to 8 from 10, warning of flooding in its inner harbour area and urging residents to stay safe, public broadcaster TDM said.

Hong Kong's airport authority said 80,000 travellers were hit by the rescheduling of 400 flights forced by the typhoon.

Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled all flights with Hong Kong airport between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. It waived ticket change fees and arranged for rebooking.

Most public transport in Hong Kong was suspended, including ferries amid high sea swells.