Three-year-old poodle King, whose full name is Nord Champion Topscore Contradiction, beat 21,000 other dogs to carry off the prestigious title at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

The winning poodle was the only pet of a couple who claimed they "knew nothing about dogs".

He had won a number of dog shows in both Norway and Sweden before becoming the first European winner of the prestigious Cruft's title.

Foreign dogs have been allowed to compete since last year after quarantine laws were relaxed.

Owner Kari Glenna said: "It's just absolutely amazing. This is our first show dog but he is just a pet.

"I don't know anything about dogs but I think he won because he likes to run around the ring."

Judge Pamela Cross Stern said King was a glamorous dog. She said: "Constructionally he was very well made. He epitomised his breed. He was a poodley poodle."

CHAMPION REPEATS IDITAROD VICTORY
Previous race record is beaten by 2 hours, 12 minutes.
Associated Press, March, 2002

Waving a large American flag as he entered the finish area, Martin Buser captured his fourth Iditarod Tuesday and completed the 1,100-mile race in record time.

He and his dogs ended their trek from Anchorage in eight days, 22 hours, 46 minutes - the first musher to do so in less than nine days.

Buser will become an American citizen Wednesday in a ceremony under the burled arch that marks the Iditarod finish line. His wife, Kathy Chapoton, and sons Rohn and Nikolai were decked out in red, white and blue and waving small flags at the finish.

The 44-year-old Buser was born in Switzerland but has lived in Alaska for 23 years. He said he was motivated to become an American citizen after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.