Westminster Sporting Group Winner Is ‘Daniel’

A consummate show dog, “Daniel,” the Golden Retriever who took Sporting Group First at the 2020 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, fed off the energy of the crowd chanting his name at Madison Square Garden. In his signature style Multi-BIS/Multi-BISS GCHP Hillock’s Jack Daniel’S RA JH CA RATN CGC WCX OS SDHF VC trotted confidently around the ring and stacked like a king for handler Karen Mammano of Webster, New York. “I truly believe he is one of the best,” says Mammano, who took the 5-year-old male to No. 1 Golden Retriever in all systems in 2018 and 2019.

“It was so surreal, and unexpected, to win, that made it even better.” Taking his 26th Best in Specialty Show at the 2019 Golden Retriever Club of America National Specialty, Daniel’s record includes an impressive 19 Bests of Show and 61 Group Firsts. The sixth generation of Hillock Golden Retrievers, Daniel is the highest achiever for breeder Tammy Tomlinson of Ligonier, Pennsylvania. “Daniel is one of those dogs in which you can just look into his soul. He is sensitive and can pick up on what you want him to do. He has what I call ‘heart,’ the willingness to walk into the ring and give 100 percent,” she says. Co-bred by Lisa and Jim Cohen of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Daniel is co-owned by Tomlinson, Jim Cohen, and Robert Samios of Jamestown, Pennsylvania, who is training the versatile Golden for his Senior Hunter title. Now retired though he will be shown at select shows and specialties, Daniel is fed Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Salmon & Rice Formula dog food.