East Anglian Whippet Club

East Anglian Whippet Club

10th July 2021

Bitches

Firstly, I would like to thank the Officers and Committee at EAWC for inviting me to judge bitches at their Open Show. Alayna and Team really set the goalposts for how a post lock-down show can be run within the government guidelines and their efforts were appreciated by all.

I had such a quality entry, some of which were at their first show and some that I had been admiring ringside prior to the Covid outbreak. There were some classes that really came down to the wire, all could have taken the top spot on one day or another and I had some very tough decisions.

I was happy to agree to the top awards with my co-judge Holly Taylor-Smith, without the need for the referee.

Lastly, July to October is my busiest time of year at work so I would like to apologise for the lateness in getting my critique to you, rest assured, I have given myself a thorough telling off!

Special Racing/Lure Coursing Bitch (2)

1. Zoraden Fifty Shades Darker. 2 yo, Solid Black with just a splash of white on her chest and toes. A well balanced bitch who has no exaggerations whatsoever. Feminine head, well laid shoulder and return of upper arm. Nicely sprung pasterns and the curviest of outlines. Her colour really aids her beautiful silhouette. Fantastic coat and muscle condition. Was a worthy winner of the class and moved well. I considered her for RBB but by the time of the challenge she had just lost the 'pep' that she showed in her class.

2. Ringmore Day Lily. 6 yo solid Fawn, only a month off her 7tth birthday. In fantastic condition and another certainly worthy of being in this class. Spot on for breed type, curvy outline and super for size. Just moved a little closer behind than 1 but didn't allow the age gap to get in the way and enjoyed her time in the ring.

Minor Puppy Bitch (4/1)

1. Citycroft Americano with Silkridge. Just 6mths the day before the show. Black, framed with white trim. The first thing that struck me with this bitch was not her colouring but her movement. For one so young she really was so together on the move and not letting her ring inexperience show at all. A beautiful head, long neck leading to fabulous front construction. Her coat was in peak condition. Of course, still immature in body but exactly how a baby puppy should be. I'm sure she will have a fantastic show career ahead of her. BPB. Just was a little tired by the end of a long day in the challenge for BP.

2. Railfield Quantrain. 8 mth Fawn. Contrasting type to 1 yet still pleasing to the eye. Well bodied and in super muscle condition. Fantastic shoulder and return of upper arm, deep chest and good infill. Less feminine in head to 1 and just needed to settle behind a little on the move.

3. Collooney Ice Maiden

Puppy Bitch (3)

1. Crosscop Candle In The Wind to Supeta. 10 mth Pale Fawn. Another beautiful quality puppy who will surely have a successful future ahead of her. Gorgeous head and expression, elegant neck and smooth outline throughout. Deep chest and lovely balanced angles front and back. Super quality coat Powerful on the move, really used her low set hocks to drive her forward.

2. Saleehah Swift. 11 mth Fawn with blue mask and white trim. Different in type to 1. Smooth to go over with good shoulder placement and return of upper arm. A little more moderate throughout than 1. Moved well in profile, just needs to settle a touch in front.

3. Brochinbelle Ooh La La At Bowdonia

Junior Bitch (5)

1. Crosscop Proud Mary. 14 mth Fawn Parti. You cannot fault this girl for breed type, she screams Whippet! Fantastic for size and shape. Mild, loving expression and correctly set, fine ears. Long neck leading to good front angulation which is mirrored behind. Graceful on the move, with true, daisy cutting movement. Another seriously considered for RBB

2. 2. Crosscop Star Maker at Willowash. 14 mths Fawn with white trim. Slightly larger in frame than 1, yet not lacking quality. Pretty head, nice moderate angles front and back. Excellent muscle tone and strong thigh. Shorter coupled than 1. Moved herself into second place with her long flowing stride.

3. Jothryn Guilty Pleasure

Yearling Bitch (6)

1. Gilnockie Indigo Blue. 20 mth solid Blue with a touch of white on her toes, chest and nose. A beautifully made young bitch with fabulous breed type and curves. Lovely head and neat fine ears, excellent bone and substance. Flowing curvy top-line compliment by a superb tuck up. Moved true coming and going, just had a little more showmanship on the day compared to 2, which won her this quality class.

2. Gazenorth Tean. 22 mth solid Fawn at her first show. Made smaller in stature than 1, yet not giving anything away in quality. Excellent front construction and infill. Smooth to go over from head to toe. Her hind angulation mirrors the front leading to unexaggerated effortless movement.

3. Shalfleet Bridget Jones

Novice Bitch (6/3)

1. Crosscop Proud Mary (winner of Junior)

2. Southgrove Kiss From A Rose at Zeglynn. 19 mth fawn with white collar and chest. Larger in stamp than the winner of the class (see Junior write up). Stunning head and expression, excellent pigmentation. In superb condition with good flat muscle. Curvy outline and nice low set hocks. Powerful mover.

3. Collooney Ice Maiden

Graduate Bitch (3)

1. Saleehah Moonflower. 2 yo Fawn Brindle with white trim. A beautiful girl with the kindest expression. Compact in stature and excellent for size. Well laid shoulder and good length of rib. Moderately angulated front and back with no exaggeration. Moved true and excelled in profile.

2. Supeta's Little Darlin'. 11 mth Puppy. Totally different in type to 1. Larger and longer in frame yet still very elegant. Pretty, Feminine head, long neck and body. Just needs to drop into herself a little more.

3. Brochinbelle Joyride at Hinxwood

Post Graduate (2)

1. Ringmore Hecate. Just a few weeks shy of 3 years. Cream. A very elegant bitch who draws your attention and not just because of her colour. Clean, moderate angles front and back. Smooth outline and flowing lines. Moved well from all angles.

2. Blusteren Midnight ink At Perromono. A week or so off 4 years. Black with white trim. Excellent for breed type, there is no doubting that this girl is all whippet. Feminine head with neatly set ears. Just a little moderate in angles front and back. Superb tuck up and curves. Moved well.

Mid Limit (4) My favourite and hardest class of the day. Every single one of these 4 bitches could have taken the first place on different merits, all four bitches were of an excellent quality, size and type.

1. Romaclove The Power Of Love. 23mths Blue. Superb mover. Steady, effortless and completely unexaggerated up, down and in profile which won her the class. Excellent for size. Long, strong neck leading to excellent shoulder set and front infill. Nicely sprung pasterns, curvy tuck up and gentle arch over loin. Angles behind mirroring those in front. Her faultless movement made it very easy to award her RBB.

2. Shallfleet Zante Star at Silverfrith JW. 3yo Brindle with white trim. Stunning head with the most appealing of expressions, one of the prettiest heads of the day. Strong underjaw. Long curved neck and nicely made front assembly. Longer in body than one. Unexaggerated hind angulation. Moved well in profile, very relaxed and flowing stride.

3. Citycroft Storm In A Teacup

Limit (7)

1. Citycroft Starfall JW. 4 yo, Fawn.This girl was one of whippets I talked about in the pre-amble. I have admired her from ringside for some time, actually since she was a puppy. Her movement is effortless, coming into a stand in a natural balance without the need for correction. True coming and going, excellent in side profile with a true whippet, daisy cutting action. In body, she is totally unexaggerated. Smooth underhand and beautiful flowing lines. For some, she maybe more up to size than others, but for me this is only one aspect of the standard and she hits the mark with so many other points, she is hard to oversee. Very happy to award her BB, RBIS and BOS

2. Edenwhip Grange Fell at Willowash. 3yo Pale fawn. Different in type to one yet very classic. Excellent head with wonderfully set expressive ears and good underjaw. Slightly straighter front and back than one and more compact in body. Super tuck up and curvy topline. Fantastic size. Very smooth underhand. Strong hindquarters which powered her on the move. True coming and going.

3. Crosscop Just What I Needed

Open (6/2)

1. CH Crosscop Let It Shine for Supeta JW OSW. 4yo Fawn. Very stylish bitch who was in fantastic coat and condition. Well defined, flat muscles, yet still elegant. Smooth underhand, flowing body and topline. Very elegant on the move, true coming and going. Knows her job in the showring and comes into a very balanced natural stack.

2. Ardencote Sweet Destiny for Bluestreak. 4yo Pale fawn and white. Beautiful, pretty head and expression. Excellent for size and type. Good shoulder placement and upper arm, correctly sprung pasterns and nice neat feet. More compact in body than one. Strong loin and hind quarters. Moved well in all directions, just was pipped to the post by one on ring presence.

3. Gazenorth Secret Identity

Veteran (7/1)

1. Ger CH Shiny Sensations Spirit Of Love for Supeta ShCM (imp NLD). 7.5 yo Brindle. Pretty girl who doesn’t look her age whatsoever. Moved with the freeness of a 2 year old and really held my attention in the ring. In fantastic body condition and coat. Happy to award her BVB and BVIB

2. Ardencote Star Maker, 7 yo fawn of completely different type to one and much smaller in all aspects. Another who doesn’t look like they should be in a Veteran class. Just didn’t have the ring presence of 1 but her quality couldn’t be overlooked. A true, petite, whippet in body and movement.

3. Lolani Minas Tirith

Judge: Katie Manners (Mannerpool/Solentwaves)