Whippet Club Of Wales

The Whippet Club of Wales 40th Anniversary Championship Show

Saturday 3rd December 2011

Whippet Dogs

Many thanks to the Committee of the Whippet Club of Wales for inviting me to judge Dogs at their 40th Anniversary show and to Sue and Peter, my able stewards, who kept things running smoothly. Although I was delighted with my overall winners, I was disappointed with the lack of depth of quality in some of the classes. There were dogs who were made and moved correctly, but who lacked that ‘extra special’ something. However, I definitely found those qualities in both my CC, Res CC and Best Puppy winners. They have it by the bucketload! I was delighted too that Espen Engh, my co-judge agreed with me on the Dog CC winner for Best In Show. The reserve CC winner and the Best Puppy Dog surely have very bright futures. We will see more of them I am sure. Some of the dogs were a little on the feminine side, with narrow skulls and a few had a somewhat startled expression. My favorite grumble – a few unwashed whippets! No excuses!

Minor Puppy Dog (14)

1st = Woods “THE LAIRD OF ARDENCOTE”

Dark fawn brindle. Very nicely made all through. Good masculine head and ears. Excellent shoulder placement going down into straight front with good feet. Good depth of chest and spring of rib with plenty of heart room. Good length of loin. Very sound moving too and from, with good drive and a nice low front action. Covering the ground well. Should have a bright future.

2nd = Russells “GLANTAM SHOOTING STAR”

This young fawn with white trim was a real baby. Just turned six months but has a lot of quality that when he gets his act together will trouble the best. Beautifully balanced, lovely head, ears and expression. Long neck with excellent shoulders and upper arm. Good spring of pastern. Good topline, and excellent depth of chest for one so young. Lovely size and type. Moved well but needs more time to be ‘controlled’. Do persevere, he’s worth it!

3rd = Wilkinsons “BENZFREYA DRUMMER BOY”

Puppy Dog (10)

1st & Res BPIS = Waymans “COBYCO CHASING STARS AT SCARLETFAIR”

Red and white parti boy. Beautifully modeled throughout with no exaggerations. Lovely masculine head and expression, good ears. Long neck, let into the best of shoulders. His front and rear angulation combined with his length of loin, give him good balance, both static and on the move. He had lovely drive from behind, reaching well under his body and a low forward reaching front movement, which I loved. Good feet and nails. Great depth for his age. Excellent topline. Lovely size. In the challenge for best puppy he looked so good that I couldn’t concede, so we had to call in the referee. I am sure this boy will go on to higher things.

2nd = Hollands “ELMANASH ARAGON”

Pale brindle and white parti. Another quality puppy with a bright future. Shorter coupled than my class winner, but with many of his positive attributes. Good front and rear angulation. Sound moving to and fro with positive drive from the rear. Still needs to drop in brisket, but he is only 6 months old and so time is definitely on his side! Good slope of pastern and lovely feet. Well let down hocks. Will do well.

3rd = Cowtons “HUNTINGHILL JAZZMASTER FOR AAMURUSKO”

Junior Dog (14)

1st & Res DCC = Dillons “COLLOONEY BILLY THE WHIZZ”

One of the stars of the day for me. The more we asked of him, the more he gave, in fact I think he just got better and better as the day went on! Fawn and white who exudes quality and breed type. Correct shaped skull and eye which gave him a lovely masculine expression with no trace of coarseness. Moderate neck let into good, well laid shoulders. Good depth of chest, and spring of rib, good fill in, in front. Good length and arch to loin. Excellent topline and a curvy underline with good tuck up. Well balanced rear quarters and well let down hocks, which he used to his advantage on the move. I loved his low reachy front action, rear drive and soundness. I had no hesitation and was delighted to award him the Reserve CC. (his first I believe) and I am sure it will not be long before he starts to trouble the very best. Has a very bright future.

2nd = Morris & Waddells “COLLOONEY LOOK NO FURTHER THAN CROSSCOP”

Red and white trim dog with a lot to like about him. Attractive masculine head and expression. Well balanced. Long neck. Good shoulders and upper arm. Good length to loin. Well angulated rear quarters. Broad thighs. True coming and going. Moved with good reach. Beautiful conditioning, both muscular and coat. Certainly fit for purpose!

3rd = Piries “BOSMERE BLUEBERRY RIPPLE AT LIMASFAULT”

Yearling Dog (13)

1st = Dillons “COLLOONEY BILLY THE WHIZZ”

2nd = Jones “HARROPINE DYNAMITE”

I really liked this pale fawn boy who was SO unlucky to meet the winner in such good form. Quality head and sweet expression. Very whippety. Good neck and shoulders. Lovely topline and underline. A shade shorter through the ribcage than my winner. Excellent movement, sound, reachy style. Good feet and pasterns. Needs to be allowed to drop his head down to be able to use his front correctly and for static balance. Well muscled but I would not like any more on him. Lovely boy.

3rd = Hardings “MARLEBEN MYRACLE MAGICIAN FOR CADERLETH”

Maiden Dog (7)

1st = Woods “THE LAIRD OF ARDENCOTE”

2nd = Johnstons “DANLUKE DICKY BEAU”

This red and white dog was reserve in MPD. He has some very nice qualities but needs to drop down into himself yet. Again, time is on his side. Masculine head. Good ears. Long neck with a good shoulder. Lovely topline. Good rear quarters. Good feet and nails. His young handler got the best out of him on the move.

3rd = Armstrongs “BARNESMORE TIGERS SHADOW”

Graduate Dog (12)

1st = Dillons “COLLOONEY BILLY THE WHIZZ”

2nd = Piries “BOSMERE BLUEBERRY RIPPLE AT LIMASFAULT”

This boy was 3rd in Junior dog. A shade more grown on than I like, he was masculine without being coarse. Lovely head and expression. Good sound front assembly, balanced with good rear angulation. Good depth and spring of rib. Lovely topline with plenty of length and a curvy underline. Good feet and nails. Good bone and lovely condition. Movement very positive and sound.

3rd = Andrews “CITYCROFT RULE THE WORLD AT SHARMUS”

Post Graduate Dog (11)

1st = Wilsons “MEANDI SUNNY BOY”

Fawn brindle and white whose quality won him the class. Masculine, whilst a nice size. Well balanced front and rear angulation. Good forechest. Good topline combined with excellent length of loin. Good pasterns, legs and feet. Excellent muscle, coat and skin. Good bone. Was one of the soundest movers in the class. A really nice type of whippet.

2nd = Jones “HARROPINE DYNAMITE”

3rd = Heads “DEMERLAY HATS OFF TO LARRY”

Mid Limit Dog (10)

1st = Ritchie & Ritchie-Smiths “DEMERLAY VANILLA SKY OVER GWENDARIFF JW”

The best class so far! Elegant fawn and white dog I have admired from the ringside. Handsome and masculine with no trace of coarseness. Quality throughout. Good underjaw, low set ears. Good neck going into well laid shoulders and excellent upper arm. Good forechest. Lovely depth of chest with good underline and tuck up. Correct loin. Broad well angulated rear quarters. The best of pasterns and feet. He moved with a good correct reachy front action and used his rear quarters well underneath his body for propulsion. So Sound. An honest dog whose day will come I’m sure.

2nd = Waddells “CROSSCOP REASON TO BELIEVE JW SH CM”

These first 2 dogs could change places on another day. This brindle and white dog had a lot to like. Masculine and well balanced with a good shapely outline. Good head shape and correct eye. Moderate neck with well placed shoulders. Good depth of chest and spring of rib. Moved soundly with excellent drive from his rear quarters.

3rd = Johnstons “COLLOONEY TRICKY DICKIE JW SH SM”

Limit Dog (17)

1st = Pooles “DEMERLAY REGAL RENOWN AT BROCKFIELD JW”

This was a lovely class to judge with some real quality and sound moving dogs. Fawn Brindle and white boy. Masculine, beautifully balanced, with elegance and grace. He has a lovely outline. Good length through the loin. Lovely front angulation with correct bone. Super underline. Good broad thighs. Stood over his ground. Lovely front action and drive from behind. Good topline which he kept on the move.

2nd = Strong & Clintons “MARLEBEN MAGIQ MARQUIS AT MACKJAMA”

Fawn brindle boy slightly finer through the head than my winner. Well made all through. Good head and expression. Good neck let into well laid shoulders. Good spring of rib and correct depth of chest. Good topline. Broad rear quarters. Well let down hocks. Nice bone. Moved very well coming and going and in profile.

3rd = Cowtons “HARRI HESTER OF AAMURUSKO

Open Dog (15)

1st & DCC & BIS = Ahrens & Primaveras “CH & INT CH WHIPPROSE IRISH COFFEE AT SOBERS”

This gorgeous brindle boy was exactly what I was looking for. Lovely head and expression. Fine ears. Long neck let into beautifully laid back shoulders. Straight front. Good depth of chest and spring of rib, Super topline and curvy underline. Good strong thighs, well muscled. Good fine coat. He has the elegance and grace of outline, symmetry and quality through every inch. Masculine without being coarse. His conformation is exactly what you require to move in the wonderful easy action that he does. Coming and going he is straight and true, and in profile - a joy – long low reachy strides that just eat up the ground. I was delighted to have the opportunity to award him the DCC and equally delighted that my co-judge agreed to him as Best In Show. A real delight.

2nd = Martins “COLLOONEY MOCHACCHINO”

Fawn and white. Honest dog with no exaggerations. ‘He does exactly as it says on the tin’! Well angulated front and rear, good fill in in front, masculine, lovely size. Good bone and feet. Beautifully balanced he oozes type and quality in a package with no frills. He is what you see. Today he wasn’t going to put in an ounce more effort than he needed to but he couldn’t be denied his place. Sound, true mover with good extension and drive.

3rd = Coulters “IR CH COLLOONEY MOVE ON OVER”

Veteran Dog (10)

1st & BVIS = Ellis “CH RAILFIELD RAINDUST”

Attractive fawn dog with white trim that could still give the youngsters a run for their money. Elegant and graceful, his qualities continue to shine through. Lovely head and expression. Good ears. Good depth and spring of rib. Good forechest and fill in in front. He moved with style and drive and I was delighted that with my co-judge, we could award him the Best Veteran. A real credit to his owner.

2nd = Hamars “JANELYN GOLDTEC PACO”

Brindle boy who is still looking good! Well made all through. Good topline. Excellent front and rear angulation. Good spring of rib and length to loin. Moved well in profile. Sound coming and going. In great condition.

3rd = Mulligans “WILLINGWISP RUNN N RIOT AT ASHKYEM SH CM”

Judge Mrs Ann K. Beckett-Bradshaw (Hutaka)