"Grant" - Bergerie Knur

Bergerie Knur Wins Supreme Best In Show - Crufts

 

How many will remember "Grant", officially known as Bergerie Knur, who entered the hearts of millions as he won that all-importnat title of "top dog" of the 74th Annual Crufts Dog Show at Olympia in 1970? Many will never forget the terrific excitement at the ringside when, after winning Best Of Breed, from an entry of 197, under Miss Lily Turner and seeing off some strong competition to win the Working Group, Grant was declared "Supreme Best In Show" - the first Pyrenean Mountain Dog ever to win this coverted award.

Bergerie Knur - The Early Years

Grant was bred by Miss P M Grant-Dalton out of Moncal Laudley Yaronola and Bergerie Abila de Fontenay and was one of a litter of eight born on 26th July 1967. As a young puppy he came into the ownership of Mr & Mrs F Prince of the Bergerie Kennels. Although rarely shown during his teenage period, he did win 2nd place in the Open Dog Class at Crufts, at the age of 19 months. Later on that year, as he matured, he won won Best Of Breed at the Working Breeds Show and received the Green Star at the Irish Kennel Club Show in Belfast.

 

Crufts 1970

Prior to 1970 the award of Supreme Best In Show was decided upon by a panel of three top judges, 1970 was the first time that an individual judge was responsible for making that final decision. The late Stanley Dangerfield was that first individual Best In Show judge. Interviewed after the show, he said :

 

"To judge at Crufts is an honour, principally because it is accepted as one. To the outside world, for a dog judge never to have worked at Crufts is a black mark! To judge Best In Show at Crufts is a special honour. And to be the first ever to have judged Best In Show alone, at Crufts, is promotion in the ranks of Hilary, Crippen, Bannister and Blake. In other words a historical event."

Grant Withdraws From Comppetition

 

After his win at Crufts, Grant was withdrawn from the show scene but in the months that followed he was probably the most photographed do in the world. His picture regularly appeared in the national press and in dozens of magazines and periodicals, both in the U.K. and overseas. One of the most attractive photographs, taken with one of his puppies, was later acquired by Royales and printed, by them, as birthday card and later as a Mother's Day card. Grant was called upon to make regular public appearances at village fetes, general canine activities and anywhere that interest was shown in this gentle giant, who was regarded, by many, as a true representative of the breed.

The End Of An Era

 

In the summer of 1973 the Bergerie Kennels closed and all of the dogs went to new homes. Grant went to live with Pat & Joyce Stannard and their four Pyrenean bitches at Pennco and was to remain there for the rest of his life. Sadly in 1977, the terminal cancer, from which he was suffering. came to a head. He was peacefully put to sleep on Christmas Eve. Joyce Stannard observes:

 

"It was not a merry Christmas for us that year, but we felt privileged to have helped him to enjoy a happy retirement."

For the many thousands who saw him on television and on cinema newsreels, he will probably always be best remembered on that Saturday evening when he stood in the main ring of the National Hall at Olympia, with his proud owner, Mr Frederick Prince, and received the massive Best In Show trophy from H.R.H. Princess Margareta of Sweden, an achievement which to date has not been equalled by any other Pyrenean Mountain Dog.