VOA文化艺术2024--Miniature Poodle Wins Westminster Dog Show

Miniature Poodle Wins Westminster Dog Show

A miniature poodle named Sage¹ won the top prize Tuesday night at the 148th Westminster Kennel² Club dog show.

That is the 11th victory for poodles at the famous dog competition in New York City - only wire fox terriers have won more times.

Kaz Hosaka is the handler for Sage. "No words," he said about Sage's win and added, "So happy - exciting." He also was the handler of Spice, when that miniature poodle won the 2002 Westminster.

But Hosaka said this latest victory would be his final competition after 45 years.

Hosaka said Sage "gave a great performance for me." The black poodle won over six other dogs to take the "best in show." Second place went to Mercedes, a German shepherd.

Others in the final round included Comet, a shih tzu, Monty, a giant schnauzer, Louis, an Afghan hound, Micah, a black cocker spaniel, and Frankie, a colored bull terrier.

While Sage was going around the competition ring, a protester interfered³ in the event. The protester carried a sign urging people to "boycott⁴ breeders" and tried to enter the ring. Security guards seized the activist⁵. Police and the animal rights group, PETA, said three demonstrators were arrested.

Rosalind Kramer, a judge at the event, called the final lineup "excellent, glorious." Monty's handler and co-owner, Katie Bernardin added, "just to be in the ring with everyone else is an honor."

Dogs first compete against others of their breed. Then the winner of each breed goes up against others in its "group." The seven group winners meet in the final round.

The "best in show" winner gets a trophy⁶ and a place in dog-world history, but the prize does not include money.

Besides the winners, other dogs were also popular with the crowd. A lagotto Romagnolo named Harry⁷ made people laugh by sitting up and begging for a treat from his handler; and a vizsla named Fletcher appealed to the crowd by jumping up on its handler after finishing a turn around the ring.

There were also some very big dogs at the event. One was Ralphie, a great Dane weighing 80 kilograms. His much smaller handler, Shane Jichetti, said it takes a lot of experience to show an animal so big. But she added, "If you have a bond with your dog, and you just go with it, it works out."

The Westminster show dates to 1877 and centers on the traditional purebred judging that leads to the "best in show" prize. But over the last few years, the club has added agility⁸ and obedience⁹ events open to mixed-breed dogs.

This year, a border collie-papillon mix named Nimble became the first non-purebred winner of the agility competition.

Kramer, the best in show judge, made a point of thanking "every dog, whether it's a house dog or a show dog."

"Because," she said, "you make our lives whole."

Words in This Story

handler - n. a person who guides and controls a dog in public

exciting - adj. causing feelings of interest and enthusiasm

ring - n. an area that is used for shows or contests

breeder - n. people who raise particular kinds of dog

glorious - adj. deserving fame and honor

bond - n. something that is shared

agility - n. quick, easy and smooth movement

1 sage   

n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的

参考例句：

• I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人贤明的忠告。
• The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.这位哲人是百代之师。

2 kennel   

n.狗舍，狗窝

参考例句：

• Sporting dogs should be kept out of doors in a kennel.猎狗应该养在户外的狗窝中。
• Rescued dogs are housed in a standard kennel block.获救的狗被装在一个标准的犬舍里。

3 interfered   

v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉

参考例句：

• Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

5 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

6 trophy   

n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品

参考例句：

• The cup is a cherished trophy of the company.那只奖杯是该公司很珍惜的奖品。
• He hung the lion's head as a trophy.他把那狮子头挂起来作为狩猎纪念品。

7 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

8 agility   

n.敏捷，活泼

参考例句：

• The boy came upstairs with agility.那男孩敏捷地走上楼来。
• His intellect and mental agility have never been in doubt.他的才智和机敏从未受到怀疑。

9 obedience   

n.服从，顺从

参考例句：

• Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
• Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。