The former star of a Liverpool soul group which skyrocketed to fame in the 70s and 80s has taken home one of Crufts' coveted first place awards.
Chris Amoo, a founding member of The Real Thing whose biggest hits included "You to Me Are Everything", "Can't Get By Without You", and "Can You Feel the Force?", won the Hound group title at Crufts 2023 with his beloved Irish Wolfhound, Paris, yesterday, March 11.
This means his five-year-old canine, whose registered name is Ch Sade Paris, qualifies to compete in tonight's Best in Show final.
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Chris, whose Afghan Hound Viscount Grant won the Crufts Best in Show title in 1987, said his win was "absolutely unbelievable" I can't explain it. It's great, it's amazing." He added that Crufts was "the best dog show in the world, without a shadow," and that Paris was "a very special dog".
The soul legend has appeared at dog shows several times in the past, both as a competitor and a judge. In Crufts 2013, his Afghan Hound won third place in its category. In 2015 he appeared on the judging panels for the Irish Wolfhound 25th French Breed Show, and in 2016 was on the judges panels at the Certificat d'Aptitude au Championnat and the European Irish Wolfhound Club show.
Who are the Crufts 2023 winners so far?
Gundog - Otrca the Lagotto Romagnolo, owned by Mr and Mrs Zdunic Sinkovic from Croatia
Working - Archie the dobermann, owned by Mandy Everley from West Sussex
Pastoral - Blondie the English Sheepdog, owned by Mr N. Kanales
Terrier - Blanca the wire fox terrier, owned by Mr F W Schoneberg
Hounds - Paris the Irish Wolfhound, owned by Chris and Julie Amoo from Warrington
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