Bodacious, a 4-year-old Saint Bernard from Florence, has earned the prestigious Best of Breed and Working Group Second award at the 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City. The 2026 show featured over 3,000 champion dogs from all 50 states and 17 countries.
Bodacious, officially known as GCHG Heart Mountain’s Bodacious at Sapphire Mountain BCAT, is owned by Jann Butler, Terri Ebert and Will Bratcher of Florence. He was bred by Whitney Menning and was handled by Elizabeth Salewsky. Outshining a field of hundreds of the top dogs in the country in the Working Group, Bodacious was selected for this honor by Judge Sioux Forsyth-Green from Pinehurst, North Carolina. Bodacious finished right behind the Working Group winner, Penny, a Doberman Pinscher who went on to be awarded Best in Show.
Bodacious was awarded Best of Breed and a Working Group Third at last year’s (2025) Westminster Kennel Club Show. The last Saint Bernard to be awarded a placement in the Working Group prior to that was 22 years ago, in 2003. With his Working Group Second placement, Bodacious etched his name in the history books once again. The last Saint Bernard to receive two working group placements was 98 years prior, though, no Saint Bernard has ever been awarded two back to back group placements.
Bodacious in front of Madison Square Garden after his big win with handler Elizabeth Salewsky. Photo courtesy of Jann Butler.
“Winning a best of breed at Westminster is an amazing achievement for any breeder or owner,” said Butler. “To be awarded a back to back group placement is over the top. Bodacious performed beautifully in front of an electric audience at a sold out Madison Square Garden. Bodacious responds well to the energy and noise in the Garden. I think he believes it is a party planned just for him. We are thrilled to bring this prestigious win home to Florence.”
Bodacious wasn’t the only local Five Valley Kennel Club member dog at Westminster this year. Two other dogs also received a coveted invite to what is often known as the “Super Bowl of Dog Shows” and finished in the ribbons. A Cocker Spaniel named Braun, officially known as GCHS CH Stargazer’s Sensational in the Buff, ATT, was bred/owned/handled by Darlene Jevning of Victor to earn his invite. Braun went on to receive an Award of Merit from Judge Cindy Vogels with handler Michael Pitts at the end of his lead. In addition, a Spinoni Italiano named Winslow who is officially known as GCHS CH Collina D’Oro Fine Sight to See CGC TKN was awarded Best Opposite Sex by Judge Edmund Dziuk. He is owned by Barbara Horrell of Darby and was handled by Kelly Shupp. Winslow was awarded a Best of Breed in 2025.
A Cocker Spaniel named Braun, bred/owned/handled by Darlene Jevning of Victor, received an Award of Merit from Judge Cindy Vogels with handler Michael Pitts at the end of his lead.
A Spinoni Italiano named Winslow was awarded Best Opposite Sex by Judge Edmund Dziuk. He is owned by Barbara Horrell of Darby and was handled by Kelly Shupp.
Five Valley Kennel Club President Terri Ebert noted, “It is a pretty exceptional moment to have three dogs from the Five Valley Kennel Club receive invites to Westminster Kennel Club in the same year. In recent years, our club members have been really showing up on the national scene with multiple club member dogs receiving invites to AKC National Owner Handled Series National Championships, AKC Rally National Championships, AKC FastCat National (100 yard dash for dogs) and Dock Diving Championships. In addition, we have a significant number of Therapy Dog teams in our club who are out doing great work in our community every day.”
For full results and video highlights, visit the Westminster Kennel Club website https://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/
For additional details about the Five Valley Kennel Club member dogs you can find profiles posted on the Five Valley Kennel Club Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FiveValleyKennelClub/
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