who won crufts was answered on Gundog Day when a yellow Labrador from Wales, Trieymoedd Snipes Whisper Clyde, took the Northesk Memorial Trophy and the title of Best in Gamekeeper Classes at Crufts 2026. The win came during BASC classes held at the NEC in Birmingham on 8 March, where gamekeeper handlers showcased dogs that combine breed type with field ability.
Who Won Crufts: How Clyde won BASC’s gamekeeper classes
Clyde, owned by gamekeeper Harry Lewis and handler Amber Williams, stood out for athleticism, type and temperament. Amber described the four-and-a-half-year-old as a “gentle giant, ” noting a busy season in the field: the dog has been out nearly every day and has spent 60-plus days picking up. The pair improved on last year’s performance, having finished second in the same class the previous year.
The Northesk Memorial Trophy and the Best in Gamekeeper Classes title were presented in the main arena after class winners were selected earlier in the day. The trophy presentation was made by BASC president The Marquess of Hamilton. Glynn Evans, BASC’s head of game and wildlife management, highlighted the standard of dogs in the gamekeeper classes and underscored the partnership between handler and dog that these classes reveal.
What Happens When thousands of dogs arrive at the NEC?
As Crufts 2026 continues across the halls of Birmingham’s NEC, more than 18, 600 canines are expected to compete across disciplines including agility, freestyle heelwork to music and flyball. Entry numbers have risen compared with 2025, with 18, 698 entries noted and 4, 299 competitors travelling from outside the UK. More than 200 pedigree breeds contest the various prizes over the event’s schedule, with displays such as the West Midlands Police Dog team providing additional public programming.
Best in Show is due to be crowned on the final evening; last year a dog from Italy won Best in Show for the first time when Miuccia, a four-year-old whippet from Venice, took the top award. Questions such as who won crufts and which breeds take the top honours drive attention through the weekend as handlers and the public watch a mix of working, pastoral and terrier categories as well as crowd-facing competitions.
These strands — a working-dog spotlight on Gundog Day, rising entry numbers and an international field — combine to shape Crufts 2026 as both a showcase of traditional working partnerships and a broad festival of canine sport. The BASC gamekeeper classes, in particular, put field-working dogs and their handlers in the spotlight, reaffirming the connection between daily work on shoots and performance in the ring.
