A new Best in Show 2026 winner was crowned over the weekend at the world-famous dog show Crufts. A Somerset-hailing Clumber spaniel named Bruin took the prize alongside handler Lee Cox.
Crufts 2026 Best in Show winner
This weekend (5-8 March) saw dog lovers from around the world gather at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre for the annual Crufts dog show. Organised by the Royal Kennel Club, this year the world-renowned event attracted over 18,600 competitors.
At the end of the day, there can only be one winner, though, and it was Bruin, a Sh Ch Vanitonia Soloist Clumber spaniel and winner of Best Gundog, who also took home the prestigious accolade of Best Dog for 2026 under judge Tamas Jakkel.
Bruin, who also won the Eukanuba Champion Stakes in 2025, is a four-year-old pup from Somerset. He is a home-bred dog handled by his owner, Lee Cox, who fondly described him afterwards as “a dog of a lifetime” and "my heart breed".
"It was a childhood dream", admits Lee. "I know it's a cliche, but it's true. I was that boy looking over the balcony at Earls Court, looking at Best in Show."
It's the first win for a Clumber spaniel since 1991. The Clumber spaniel is considered a rare “vulnerable native breed” in the UK, with fewer than 300 births each year.
Clumber spaniel dog breed origins
The Clumber Spaniel is one of the oldest and most distinctive spaniel breeds, with roots dating back to around 1770. The breed is closely linked to Henry Pelham-Clinton, 2nd Duke of Newcastle, who developed and maintained the dogs at his family estate at Clumber Park. The park eventually gave the breed its name. Early Clumber spaniels were prized as steady, methodical hunting dogs, especially valued for flushing game birds such as pheasant and partridge through dense woodland.
The breed quickly gained prestige among the British aristocracy and became a favourite within the royal household. Both King Edward VII and his son George V were known to keep Clumber spaniels, helping cement the dog’s reputation as a 'gentleman’s gundog'. Their calm temperament and loyal nature make them ideal companions not only in the field but also in the home.
What do Clumber spaniels look like?
Physically, Clumber spaniels are heavy-boned, low-set dogs with a broad head, droopy ears, and a dense, predominantly white coat, often marked with lemon or orange. Despite their somewhat laid-back appearance, they are highly intelligent, determined workers with an excellent sense of smell. Compared with many other spaniels, they move more deliberately while hunting, relying on persistence rather than speed.
Because of their thick, silky coat and tendency to shed, Clumber spaniels require consistent grooming to keep their fur free from tangles and debris. Regular brushing also helps manage the loose hair they naturally produce. With proper care, training, and exercise, the Clumber spaniel is known for being affectionate, patient, and particularly good with families.
Top image: The Clumber Spaniel, Vanitonia Soloist "Bruin" and handler Lee Cox pose for photographs at the trophy presentation after winning the Best in Show competition on the final day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 8, 2026. (Credit: Oli Scarff / AFP via Getty Images)
