Whippet Club Of Scotland

Show: Whippet Club of Scotland Championship Show

Date: 24th August 2019

Judge: Miss Hanna Russell (Arjuna)

Having been born and raised in Scotland, the Whippet Club of Scotland was my home club while growing up and it was an honour to be asked to award CC’s for the first time by a breed club so close to my heart. My heartfelt thanks to the committee for a wonderful day in an excellent new venue, with special thanks to my two stewards Heather and Sheelagh.

We always seem to hear much about the problems and faults creeping into our breed; heavy fronts, lack of front extension, over-angulated rears, flat toplines and underlines etc., and I am not going to deny that I have seen and worry over these too. However, with the depth of quality and soundness that I judged today I must say I truly feel that the breed is in overall great shape in its homeland. There are some dedicated breeders that are doing a good job of keeping the breed true to type and with some superb calibre puppies and youngsters judged today my fears for the future were well and truly allayed. The problems mentioned above do exist, but very few were in evidence today and in most classes I could easily have handed out more prize cards. So, a big thank you to all the exhibitors for giving me such a fabulous entry of real quality to judge.

With such a fantastic entry and where so many decisions were made with just a hairs width separating placings, in many cases presentation and conditioning played a part, especially in the upper classes. Presenting your dog so that the judge sees the very best of its attributes is a skill, and one that would be very useful for more exhibitors to think about learning. I am not speaking of racing around a ring flat out, or being flashy with your handling style, I merely speak of those little tricks that the best handlers know to make your dog catch the eye. Please also consider the physical conditioning of your dogs for a show. There were a few dogs present that appeared beautiful when stacked but when hands went on and movement (especially going away) was assessed, muscle tone was lacking resulting in weakened rear movement.

I was so pleased that having judged each class on its own merit I ended up with such a beautiful, typically whippety final line-up for each sex. I hope it was evident that I was looking for a balanced, moderate whippet with elegance and strength and with a correct, natural unexaggerated gait. The decisions for the best in show awards were difficult (especially the delightful puppies) and could easily change on other occasions.

MPD (6, 1a)

1st: Wilson & Ballantyne’s Jasarat Valentino for Speymalt. Fawn and white trim baby of just 6 months. What a start to the day, this handsome and classy baby has all the attributes to go far if he continues in this vein! Most handsome of heads with a lovely expression, lovely length of neck into well laid shoulders with excellent return of upper arm, beautifully bladed bone with well sprung pasterns and good feet. Well filled in front without being in any way heavy. Good top and underline with lovely depth of brisket for a baby. Correct moderate rear angles and well let down hocks. He is a lovely size and moved with correct extension, accuracy and fluidity for one so young. He took my eye every time he entered the ring. A close decision amongst some beautiful puppies but delighted to award him BPD & BPIS.

2nd: Dillon & Bailey’s Stonefox Ice Pick Willy at Runforest. Brindle with white trim, another quality baby of just 6 months. Built on a bigger frame than 1st but many of the same attributes apply. He has a lovely head and expression, unfortunately not helped by his markings which from some angles can make him appear lacking in stop which is not the case. Good neck into shoulder with good return of upper arm. Lovely top and underline. Unexaggerated rear and moved accurately and with reach and drive. Just preferred the size and return of upper arm of 1st.

3rd: Holland’s Elmanash Tornado Twist

PD (9, 2a)

1st: Allen’s Zoraden Shades of Bracken. Lovely fawn boy of 10 months old. Masculine head with good neck into nice shoulder placement with a good return of upper arm. As much fill in front as I’d like to see on a youngster but sure he will fine off as he grows. Lovely top and underline with depth of brisket and good ribbing with strong loin. Nice rear angulation and moved accurately.

2nd: Ainscough’s Kidaruka Mother Of Mercy. Nearly 12-month-old fawn boy. Beautiful head and expression. Nice neck into shoulders with a good return of upper arm. Good depth of brisket with a good top and underline with lovely rear angles. Moved accurately but could perhaps be given a little more freedom in profile movement to make the most of his reach and drive. Just preferred the lay of shoulder of 1st.

3rd: Neale’s Runaround Jazz Singer at Stormalong

JD (8, 0)

1st: Leslie’s Windwalker Endeavour. 14-month-old fawn dog. What a lovely boy! Nothing exaggerated about him and very correct in most aspects. Lovely head and expression. Lovely length of neck into very well laid shoulders with a good return of upper arm. Nice bone with well sprung pasterns and good feet. Well filled in front with lovely depth of brisket. Correct top and underline and lovely unexaggerated rear. He moved beautifully in all directions. One to watch.

2nd: Cuthbert’s Marvidara Be My Baby at Marvidara. 15-month-old fawn and white dog. Another lovely youngster to which the same comments as 1st apply. Just unfortunate to be going through one of those teenage phases, so not quite as together looking as 1st at the moment.

3rd: Smith’s Marvidara Baby Driver at Cardinghill.

YD (6, 0)

1st: Howgate & Hull’s Palmik King of Clubs JW. Dark brindle and white of 20 months. A very handsome boy presenting a balanced picture. Lovely head and expression with a wonderful neck into the best of shoulders and a lovely return of upper arm. Good bone and nice feet. Lovely fill in front and great depth of brisket without being heavy. Good top and underline with a sweeping yet unexaggerated rear. He does tend to crab a little on the up and back but it is easy to see that his movement is still accurate and beautiful in profile. Perhaps switching him to the other hand on the up and back for a while may encourage him to straighten his body on the move. I know he already has a CC to his name and I’m sure there are more to come.

2nd: Holland’s Elmanash Glenfidditch. Fawn boy of 23 months. Very balanced dog with a lovely whippet outline. Elegant but masculine head with a good length of neck into nice shoulders and a good return of upper arm. Nice depth and length and lovely top and underline. Good rear angulation and he moved well in all directions.

3rd: Price’s Wheelspin Silver Shadow Among Silkdance JW

ND: (8, 0)

1st: As 1st MPD

2nd: As 1st PD

3rd: As 2nd MPD

GD (3, 0)

1st: Pilkington & Myers Supeta’s Show And Tell Astrazone. Brindle and white. Handsome head with a lovely expression. Good neck into well laid shoulders. Lovely bladed bone and well sprung pasterns. Good fill and depth. Beautiful underline and lovely unexaggerated rear angles. He does tend to lean forward and it can make him look like he is lacking return of upper arm and his topline can fall away a little over the croup but when pushed back into himself it becomes apparent that this is not a fault in construction, it is just that he leans into his lead. He moved accurately and freely in all directions.

2nd: Leitch’s Donpipique Walk The Line of Sacagawea. Cream boy of nice type but one that could perhaps benefit from a few of those little handling tricks to make the most of his potential. Lovely head with a good length of neck. He is a little upright in front construction but his handler’s tendency to push his head back makes this appear worse than it is upon closer inspection. He has lovely bone and well sprung pasterns with good feet. He has a beautiful top and underline and a very well-constructed and unexaggerated rear. Moves accurately but could do with a little more freedom being given to make the most of his reach and drive.

3rd: Perkins’ Jasarat Jetsetter of Zeglynn ShCM

PGD (8, 0)

1st: Cuthbert’s Zigouse International Love for Lunaire. Fawn and white. Nice dog on a larger frame. He has a handsome head and nice neck into shoulder. Good return of upper arm and a well filled front with good depth. He has a nice top and underline but is unfortunately marked over his loin which can make his topline appear that it starts a little too far forward which is not the case. Nice rear angles and won the class on his smooth, accurate movement.

2nd: Martin’s Cornstalk Sat Nav at Lorabar. Brindle dog built on a more elegant frame than 1st. Lovely head and expression. Good length of neck into nice shoulder. Could have a better return of upper arm but his handler’s tendency to push his head backwards does not help. Nice top and underline and well angulated rear. Moved well in all directions.

3rd: Webber’s Zoraden Paint It Black

LD (17, 2a)

Lovely class full of quality dogs who could easily exchange places on another day.

1st: Hawker’s Jothryn Future Legend with Mollytop JW. Fawn with white trim of lovely size. A handsome and unexaggerated boy. Masculine head with lovely expression. Lovely length of neck into lovely front assembly. Good lay of shoulder and return of upper arm, well filled in front and with good depth of brisket. Nice bladed bone with well sprung pasterns and good feet. Shapely top and underline and lovely rear angulation. He moved accurately and freely in every direction. At just 18 months he still has some finishing to do but such a lovely example. Pleased to award him the RCC.

2nd: Neale’s Runaround Starman at Stormalong JW. Fawn boy I have long admired from ringside. Masculine yet elegant he has a beautiful whippet outline. Lovely head with a good neck into shoulder. Good return of upper arm with nice fill in front and good depth. Shapely top and underline with beautifully unexaggerated rear. He moves accurately in all directions but just doesn’t have the extension of 1st.

3rd: Ellam & Robinson’s Tarward Jaguar avec Clionys JW

OD (8, 0)

1st: Shepherd’s Citycroft Sundae with Oxana JW ShCM. Fawn with white trim. What a joy this boy is, in no way exaggerated but eye-catching and so very whippety. He oozes quality, masculinity and elegance combined. Shown in perfect condition and to every advantage, he is compelling to watch and his handler does a perfect job of getting the best from him. The loveliest of heads with the most beautiful expression. A lovely strong, elegant neck flows into beautifully laid shoulders with great return of upper arm. He has a well filled front and excellent depth of brisket. Quality bladed bone with well sprung pasterns and beautifully neat feet. He has lovely curves and his top and underline are shapely and smooth. Perfectly angulated rear with no exaggeration. His movement is foot perfect and effortless in every direction and he has beautiful extension without any unnecessary effort. Delighted to award him the CC and RBIS.

2nd: Whyte’s Marvidara Best Man JW. Fawn with white trim. Another real quality dog unlucky to meet 1st on top form. Lovely head and neck into beautiful shoulders with good return of upper arm. Lovely fill and depth with beautiful curvy, smooth top and underline. He has lovely bladed bone and well sprung pasterns with neat feet. Unexaggerated rear angulation and accurate, fluent movement. He is a top-quality dog and pushed hard for the RCC but with the decisions being as tight as they were he just didn’t have quite the showmanship as the CC and RCC winners.

3rd: Mitchell’s By Design of Nevedith

Champion Dog (4, 0)

My goodness this was a difficult class to judge – there is a very good reason that these boys are all champions! This really was a class where I was nit-picking and to be frank it came down to showmanship on the day and having seen them all before I know that on a different day, under different conditions and with each on different form the placings could be scrambled in any way.

1st: Poole & Winkley-Balmer’s Ch Edenwhip Quantum Of Solace JW. Lovely quality brindle boy. He has exactly the right blend of substance and style. Beautiful head and expression. Good neck into shoulder with a good return of upper arm. Quality bladed bone and well sprung pasterns with good feet. Lovely fill in front with excellent depth of brisket and curvy top and underline. Unexaggerated rear angles. He has accurate footfall and moves with great extension. A real showman in complete harmony with his handler.

2nd: Allen’s Ch Zoraden Gingerbread Latte JW. Fawn with white trim. Another beautiful dog of a slightly different stamp to 1st. Handsome head. Good neck into well laid shoulders with good return of upper arm. Well filled front and lovely depth of brisket. Shapely top and underline with well angulated, unexaggerated rear. Very accurate in movement but just doesn’t have the reach in front of 1st.

3rd: Head’s Ch Promised You A Miracle Da Roseira Brava at Demerlay

VD (4, 1a)

1st: Smith’s Ch Courthill Crimson Shadow ShCM. Nearly eight-year-old handsome brindle boy of lovely size and substance. He has a lovely head into good shoulders with a good return of upper arm. Good depth and fill with shapely top and underline and a nicely angulated rear. He moves with accuracy, purpose and drive. Very well handled despite doing his very best to be an awkward so and so! BVD.

2nd: Thomson’s Berwicklaw Harbour Master ShCM. Brindle boy of 10 years old. Nice head with lovely expression. A little more upright in front than 1st. Good depth and fill with a nice top and underline and good rear angulation. He moved well in all directions. Just preferred the front construction of 1st.

VB (9, 0)

A lovely class of veterans. The first three are all bitches that I have long admired so it was a tough decision.

1st: Winkley-Balmer’s Ch April Showers at Crosscop. 7-year-old beautiful fawn bitch. Such a feminine girl with curves in all the right places. Beautiful head with lovely neck into shoulders and good return of upper arm. Lovely bladed bone and beautifully sprung pasterns. She has a great curvy top and underline and a correctly angled and powerful rear. She moves perfectly in every direction with fluidity and grace. Shown in perfect condition and absolutely at one with her handler. BVB and very pleased to award her BVIS with her beautifully sympathetic replacement handler.

2nd: Snelgrove’s Huntinghill Jazzmatazz. Fawn with white trim of 8 years old. I have loved this bitch for a long time. She has the sweetest expression. Lovely head set on a perfect length of neck into well laid shoulders. Good fill in front with nice bladed bone and neat feet. Good top and underline and with unexaggerated rear. Moved accurately in all directions just doesn’t have quite the reach of 1st.

3rd: Short’s Ch Collooney Whoopee Do Dora JW

MPB (11, 2a)

As with MPD this was another class of beautiful babies.

1st: Smith’s Northwhip Never Say Never at Coynachie. Lovely fawn baby of 6 months. What a pretty girl, most beautiful head and expression with a lovely neck into well laid shoulders. Good return of upper arm with good fill in front for one so young. Well bladed bone with well sprung pasterns and good feet. Nice top and underline and well angled rear. She moved accurately and fluently. BPB & RBPIS.

2nd: Bayley’s Northwhip She’s A Lady. Litter sister of 1st and most of the same comments apply. I just preferred the head and expression of 1st and although she was accurate in footfall she just didn’t have quite the fluency of her sister.

3rd: Whitehead, Smith & Mixides’ Citycroft Storm In A Teacup

PB (12, 0)

1st: Webber’s Zoraden Fifty Shades Darker. What a lovely 10-month-old black bitch shown in beautiful condition with a typical whippety outline. Lovely head with nice neck into well laid shoulders. Good return of upper arm and well filled in front. Lovely bladed bone with good spring of pastern and neat feet. Lovely curvy top and underline and an unexaggerated rear. She moved well in all directions but just didn’t have the freedom of movement that the MPB winner has.

2nd: Howgate and Hull’s Palmik Carousel. A nice fawn pup of ten months old but different in type to 1st. Built on a slightly bigger frame she has a lovely head and expression with a nice neck into shoulder. As much fill in front as I’d like for a puppy but sure she will fine off a little as she matures. Good top and underline and an unexaggerated rear. She moved well in all directions.

3rd: Newton’s Nevedith Beau Peep

JB (11, 4a)

1st: Robertson’s Moonlake Medium Blonde. Lovely quality 16-month-old fawn bitch. Very pretty head and expression. Nice neck into shoulder with a good return of upper arm. Correctly bladed bone and well sprung pasterns with neat feet. Lovely top and underline with unexaggerated rear angles. She moved very well in all directions but could be given a little more freedom to really show the best of her extension.

2nd: Wilson & Winkley-Balmer’s Edenwhip Grange Fell at Willowash. Another quality fawn bitch of 16 months old. Most of the same comments as 1st apply. She is just a little heavier in front at the moment and going through a teenage phase. I’m sure she will improve with maturity.

3rd: Head’s Demerlay Magical Mitzi

YB (9, 2a)

1st: Howgate and Hull’s Palmik Queen Of Diamonds JW. Really nice brindle and white bitch of 20 months. I have seen this bitch from ringside several times but it took getting my hands on her and really studying her today to appreciate just what a quality bitch she is. Beautiful head and expression atop a good neck which flows into well laid shoulders with a good return of upper arm. Good fill in front without being overdone and lovely bone. Good top and underline and lovely rear angulation. She moves accurately and freely in all directions. I’m sure it won’t be long before she takes top honours.

2nd: Yacoby-Wright’s Cobyco Cover Girl. This 12-month-old fawn bitch is built on a bigger frame than 1st. She has a nice head with a good neck into shoulder and good return of upper arm. Nice top and underline and unexaggerated rear. She moved well in all directions but is just going through a teenage phase at the moment and lacking the maturity of 1st.

3rd: Jones’ Jothryn Blondes Av More Fun

NB (20, 5a)

1st: As 1st MPB

2nd: As 1st PB

3rd: Holland’s Elmanash Mystical Mirage

GB (10, 2a)

1st: Snelgrove’s Kamasal Starlight Rascal ay Huntinghill. Lovely quality fawn bitch with white trim. Beautiful head and expression with a good neck into well laid shoulders. Good return of upper arm with a well filled but clean front. Lovely bladed bone and neat feet. She has a lovely curvy top and underline and an unexaggerated rear. She moves accurately in all directions and with a freedom and fluidity that won her the class.

2nd: As 1st JB

3rd: Hedley’s Knoxhill Let’s Dance

PGB (19, 4a)

1st: Cowie’s Benroy Boogie Woogie. Very nice fawn and white parti bitch. Attractive head with a good neck into shoulder and good return of upper arm. She has nicely bladed bone and good feet. She has a lovely top and underline and correctly angled rear. She won this class on her accurate and free movement.

2nd: Muir’s Citycroft Firenze for Loualba JW. Quality fawn bitch with a pretty head and expression. Nice neck into shoulder and good return of upper arm. Good depth and fill with a nice top and underline. Correctly angled rear. Moved well in all directions just lacking the freedom of movement of 1st.

3rd: Thomson’s Cornstalk Witchcraft by Berwicklaw

LB (26, 8a)

A class full of beautiful quality bitches and a joy to judge.

1st: Brown’s Ardencote Sweet Destiny for Bluestreak. What a wonderful revelation this beautiful fawn and white bitch is! Full of quality and type and in absolute harmony with her handler she really took my eye. Beautiful head with the sweetest expression, she has a lovely neck into beautifully laid shoulders with a lovely return of upper arm. Excellent depth and fill without any heaviness. Lovely bladed bone with well sprung pasterns and neat feet. She has a beautiful curvy and flowing top and underline and perfectly unexaggerated rear. She was foot perfect in all directions and moved with fluidity and grace. What a joy she was and at I’m sure she’ll continue to improve with more maturity. Very unlucky to meet the CC winner but thrilled to award her the RCC.

2nd: Finch and Jones’ Jothryn Heaven Sent to Zenobia JW. Lovely quality fawn bitch. Nice head and expression with good neck into shoulder and return of upper arm. Good depth and fill. Nice top and underline with a well angulated rear. She moved accurately but just didn’t have the fluidity and freedom of movement of 1st.

3rd: Whitehead, Smith & Mixides’ Winter Is Coming to Citycroft

OB (10, 2a)

1st: Morris and Waddell’s Ch Nothing Compares To You at Crosscop JW ShCM. I’m sure there isn’t much I can say about this stunning fawn beauty that hasn’t already been said. To me she is the epitome of a whippet. The perfect balance of strength and power coupled with elegance and grace combined with style and showmanship in spades. Completely unexaggerated in any way there is little to fault on this beautifully balanced girl. She has a beautiful head and expression which sits on a long elegant neck flowing into wonderfully laid back shoulders with a great return of upper arm. Perfect depth and fill without being in any way coarse, and beautifully bladed bone with perfect spring to pasterns and good feet. She has a smooth, flowing and curvy top and underline with unexaggerated rear angulation. She moves with a lightness and freedom, “effortless” is what my notes from the day say. In harmony with her handler and moved at a slightly steadier pace today than I have sometimes seen her she just floated around the ring. On perfect form and an absolute joy to judge. Delighted to award her the CC and BIS.

2nd: Morris, Waddell & Mycroft’s Ch Crosscop Let It Shine for Supeta JW. Daughter of 1st and another real beauty. Again, a lovely head and expression with a good neck into shoulder with a nice return of upper arm. Good depth and fill and lovely top and underline with correctly angled rear. She moved well and fluently in all directions. Was closely considered for the RCC but she is still a young bitch and has some maturing to do.

3rd: Smeath’s Willingwisp Rumba

Champion Bitch (5, 1a)

Wow, another really tough class to judge. All 4 of these bitches are wonderful specimens and I admire them all. They could all change places on a different occasion, but I had to go with performance on the day.

1st: Howgate & Hull’s Ch Palmik En Vogue JW ShCM. Lovely fawn bitch that I have loved for years. Beautiful head and expression with a lovely neck into well laid shoulders and great return of upper arm. Great fill and depth and lovely top and underline with correct unexaggerated rear angulation. She has lovely bladed bone, good pasterns and neat feet. She is foot perfect in every direction and moves freely and with great drive.,

2nd: Mitchell’s Ch Crosscop Glittering Prize. Another fawn beauty with a lovely head and expression. She has a lovely long neck into beautifully laid shoulders with a good return of upper arm. Good depth and fill with a curvy top and underline and correct rear angulation. She has lovely bladed bone with good spring to pasterns and neat feet. She moves wonderfully in all directions and is perfectly handled to get the very best from her. A real quality bitch but just lacking the maturity of 1st.

3rd: Yacoby-Wright’s Ch Cobyco Candy Creme