German short-haired pointer wins at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in NYC (2)

The 3-year-old is the first sporting group winner to take Best in Show since 2009, and the 20th from the group to win over all.

'He was born this way,' CJ's handler Valerie Nunes-Atkinson said in a press conference after winning the award.

'We always say that from the moment CJ was very young, when he walked across the room, we thought: "Oh, boy. We have a special one".’

CJ was the No. 1 German short-haired pointer in the U.S. last year.

He impressed the judges with his graceful, balanced stride and prototypical deep brown hair on his head, combined with a sleek white body complete with freckled brown spots.

'He oozed that pointer style.

'It was clear he wasn’t a sight hound. He exhibited all the qualities you want in a pointer. And the other thing is that he was light and fluid on his feet.

'Those two qualities were very important to me,' Dr. Richard Meen, who selected the winner from the seven canines, told USA TODAY Sports.

Second place, or Reserve Best in Show went to Lucy the Borzoi.

Ironically, Valerie is normally Lucy's handler.

A Dogue de Bordeaux, a breed of French mastiff weighing up to 140 pounds, waits lazily in the competition area

A group of Samoyed dogs, which takes its name from the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia, prepare to compete in the ring

A Pointer gets a manicure in the benching and grooming area of the competition