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California Journey wins top prize at Westminster Dog Show

Posted at 12:13 AM, Feb 17, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-17 00:13:23-05
C.J., a German Short Haired Pointer, wins Best in Show on the second day of the 140th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show at Madison Square Garden on February 16, 2016 in New York City. The "Best in Show" award is the top honor in the annual competition. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

C.J., a German Short Haired Pointer, wins Best in Show on the second day of the 140th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show at Madison Square Garden on February 16, 2016 in New York City. The “Best in Show” award is the top honor in the annual competition. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

The competition was ruff at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, where perfect canines showed off their pageant, poise and form.

But California Journey, CJ for short, a German shorthaired pointer prevailed as winner of the Best in Show award on Tuesday night. He is a 3-year-old male and the third dog of his breed to take the top prize.

The contest is the second-oldest continuous sporting event in the United States after the Kentucky Derby.

Handler Valerie Nunes-Atkinson embraces German shorthaired pointer named C.J. after he won "Best in Show" of the 140th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York on February 16, 2016.  The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is a two-day, all-breed benched show that takes place at both Pier 92 & 94 and at Madison Square Garden.  / AFP / Timothy A. CLARY        (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

Handler Valerie Nunes-Atkinson embraces German shorthaired pointer named C.J. after he won “Best in Show” of the 140th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York on February 16, 2016. (Photo credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

Close to 3,000 dogs from around the country compete in the annual show.

This year — the 140th for the show in New York City — it was an even tougher contest, because the club allowed seven new breeds to compete.

Here are additional winners by category:

Best hound: My Sassy Girl, a female borzoi

Best toy: Don’t Stop Believing, a male shih tzu

Best non-sporting: Southern Bell, a female bulldog

Best herding: Rumor Has It V Kenlyn, a female German shepherd

Best sporting: California Journey, a male German shorthaired pointer

Best working: Run Play It Again Ham, a male Samoyed

Best terrier: Good Time Charlie, a male Skye Terrier