BEST JUNIOR HANDLER WINNER
2021 • GUNNAR , A WIREHAIRED POINTING GRIFFON HANDLED BY LILY BENNETT
In a unique situation that proved her abilities , sixteen-year-old Lily Bennett entered the Best Junior Handler finals ring with “ Gunnar ,” a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon that she had just met only two days before and left the ring as the Best Junior Handler at the 145th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Presented by Purina Pro Plan ® on June 14 , 2021 .
When Lily ’ s own dog suddenly went down with bloat , his six-year-old half-brother , GCHS Whiskeytown Stonehenge Riding Shotgun JH , owned by Kendall DeSanto , Kathryn DeSanto , and Lily Bennett “ stepped in .” The pair bested a field of 75 junior showmanship competitors to be among the eight finalists who advanced through preliminary rounds over two days on the historic grounds of the Lyndhurst Estate .
Finals judge , Mrs . Dylan Kipp Keith , evaluated how well the junior handlers presented their dogs with regards to teamwork , control , composure , and an economy of movement while highlighting their dog ’ s best qualities . Despite understandable jitters , Lily handled Gunnar cleanly and without distraction and was awarded the Westminster Junior Showmanship Scholarship for $ 10,000 . In addition to claiming Westminster ’ s top prize for a junior , Lily ’ s own dog made a complete recovery .
WKC member and Co-Show Chairman David W . Haddock , Judge , Mrs . Dylan Kipp-Keith ,
Lily Angeline Bennett , Jacob Waters , Ava Hata ,
Jessica Braatz and the 2020 Best Junior , Johnathon Wehry .
TOP AND MIDDLE : CHRISTINA FRAUSINI , BOTTOM : JOHN ASHBEY
68 WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB 2022