Holly the pointer wins the AKC National Championship dog show

A pointer named Cookieland Seasyde Hollyberry ("Holly" to her friends) was named Best in Show at this past weekend's AKC/Eukanuba National Championship dog show in Long Beach. Along with the coveted title, Holly earned her owners (Sean McCarthy, Tammy McCarthy and Helyne Medieros -- all of New York City) a cool $50,000 cash prize.

Pointers are classified as sporting dogs -- those that were bred to help hunters in the field. (Think retrievers, setters and spaniels.) 

In the final round of competition, Holly represented the sporting group against a Scottish deerhound, an Alaskan malamute, a Sealyham terrier, a Brussels griffon, a standard poodle and a Pembroke Welsh corgi (that's the type without the tail -- as opposed to the Cardigan Welsh corgi
-- if you're keeping track).

The National Championship show also featured obedience and agility competitions, in which another sporting dog -- a labrador retriever named Tyler -- was named National Obedience Invitational Champion).

Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel will air highlights of the show on Jan. 31 from 8 to 11 p.m.

-- Lindsay Barnett

Photo: Matt Rourke/Associated Press