The English toy spaniel GCH Royalist Ready to Reign (Dash), owned by Pinehurst resident Beth Dowd won Best in Breed Monday afternoon at the 136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, but lost out in the Toy group category Monday night.

Dowd's Welsh springer spaniel GCH Clussexx Red Dragon competes in the breed category this afternoon. If the dog wins this afternoon, he will compete in the Sporting group tonight.

Samantha Heiser, who is competing in junior showmanship with Shetland sheepdog GCH Shadow Hill Star Chaser, is one of four preliminary winners from more than 100 entries. That competition continues this afternoon. The dog is co-owned by Heiser and Jane Hammett Bright, who has been Heiser's instructor since she was 11.

GCH Bon Clyde's Take One, a border collie out of Sanford, won his breed competition Monday and competed in the herding group last night.

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show continues tonight at 8 p.m. on USA network with the sporting, hound and working groups, followed by Best in Show. Those interested in up-to-the-minute updates on this afternoon's breed competitions can visit www.westminsterkennelclub.org.