Crufts 2022 winner Baxer the Flat Coated Retriever crowned Best in Show to public delight

The winner of Crufts 2022 has been crowned, with Flat Coated Retriever Baxer winning the coveted Best In Show award just moments after being named best in his category of Gundogs.

The six year-old form Norway won over a public vote and the heart and mind of the judges after an impressive score in the individual category, before winning Best In Show in the prestigious pooch competition.

After the competition was cancelled last year due to Covid-19 Crufts came back with a bang this year, with more than 20,000 dogs taking part and right up there.

Read more: Russians barred from showing as Crufts 2022 as millions flee Ukraine

Best in Show winners receive a cash prize of £100, as well as a replica of the solid silver Crufts Keddall Memorial Trophy. They also often receive sponsorship deals and stud fees.

The first Best in Show competition was in 1928, when Greyhound Primley Sceptre was crowned the first Best in Show champion.

The last competition in 2020 saw a wire-haired Dachsdund, Maisie who has held on to the trophy for two years after the 2021 show was cancelled over public health concerns.

Since then, there have been 78 Best in Show winners, with 43 different breeds out of the 220 available taking home a trophy.

This year the international feel to show included the banning of 50 competitors from Russia in push against Russian aggression in Ukraine.

But this all eyes were on seven finalists including year the only drama was the crowd cheering as Baxer picked up his own winner's rosette and gently held it in his mouth.

And then there was the public pee by Toy Poodle Waffle from Preston, Lancashire who won the Utility Group title at Crufts 2022 on Saturday qualifying him for a place in the Best in Show Final tonight.

His little leg lifting performance was applauded by the crowd and the year old apricot Poodle went on to be awarded first reserve in show.

Thousands of dogs, owners and spectators from all over the world have travelled to Birmingham this month for the international dog show, the largest show of its kind in the world.

The event, organised by The Kennel Club, is open to 220 pedigree breeds with an additional category for mix breeds called Scrufts, plus obedience and agility competitions which run over four days.

The Greyhound won in the Hound group.

Lenor the Border Collie won the Pastoral Group.

Beautiful Akela the Siberian Husky won the Working group.

And finally little guy Conan the Yorkshire Terrier won the Toy group.