Darlington Dog Show Society Ltd

DARLINGTON CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 16/9/22 WHIPPET CRITIQUE

My thanks to the society for their invitation to judge the whippets at this beautifully laid out show, and to my ring steward who worked hard, single-handed, to keep things running smoothly. I apologise to the exhibitors for the frequent changes in the ring set up. I was doing my best to have the whippets in the sun and at the same time shelter them from the bitter cold wind. I’m sure that some of the whippets would have changed places today had they been showing in warmer conditions. It was lovely to have several whippets who had both breed type and were correct for size – not just in height but in length too. They were rewarded.

There was a surprising increase in split incisor teeth (W) and a few suspect bites. I was delighted that both BOB and BVIB made the cut to the final 8 in their respective hound groups and the BPIB won Hound Puppy G1 and then, on Sunday he went on to take Best Puppy In Show. Many congratulations to them all. The beautiful rosettes that I presented to the main winners, were made by our own Jill Scott-Bisset.

VD (2 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Hoopers Torbers Peaceful Warrior

Parti coloured boy of 10 years in superb condition. Well-shaped head with excellent underjaw. Strong neck of correct length leading into well laid back shoulders. Excellent depth, with correct tuck up and well angulated rear quarters. Short hocks. Moved soundly coming and going and with good drive from the rear. Sadly, he was affected by the cold in the veteran challenge and had to pay the price.

2nd: Searles’ Quick Silver He's The One For Whipsearle VW VW

Fawn and white of 8 years. Well angulated throughout. Carrying a little more weight than the winner. Straight front with good pasterns. Excellent topline. Broad well angulated thighs. Short Hocks. Long tail. Moved well.

MPD (5 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: Smiths Palmik Who Knew at Lorbri

Attractive fawn baby who was pretty raw as one would expect for 6 months. Well put together though with a good topline and underline. Good front and rear angulation. His neck was well set into his shoulders. Correct pasterns. Nice feet. Moved very well and was sound.

2nd: Barkas’ Citycroft Line Of Duty

This fawn boy was similar in conformation to the winner, but with more length. Attractive head shape with strong underjaw. Fine ears. Straight front with good return of upper arm. Broad thighs with well angulated rear quarters. Short hocks. Moved well coming and going and in profile.

3rd: Brews Boxing Helena's Victor ENA NAF

PD (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st BPIB & Res DCC & Hound Puppy G1: Wheelers Ranveli Diki Diki

What a lovely, balanced, elegant boy this brindle lad is. Masculine with no trace of coarseness. Correct size and length throughout. Loved his head and expression. Excellent shoulder angulation with correct return of upper arm. Long, strong neck leading through his shoulders into correct topline. Excellent spring of rib and depth of chest. Super underline. Strong, well angulated thighs. Moved so soundly ,with correct drive from the rear and with an easy front reach when viewed in profile. Pushed the CC winner hard. Never let his handler down. Was pleased to see him win HPG1 and then delighted to see him go BPIS on Sunday. A bright future ahead of him!

2nd: Dillon & Baileys Dreamjet Float My Boat At Runforest

Masculine lad on a larger frame than the winner. In excellent condition. Good neck, well set into his shoulders. Bladed bone. Lovely topline. Good rear quarters with broad thighs. Short hocks. Nice feet. Moved well in profile with powerful drive from the rear.

3rd: Furniss’ Jazzellie Reach For The Sky

JD (5 Entries) Abs: 0

1st: Mcmillan, Morris & Waddells Crosscop My Boy

This sympathetically handled masculine brindle dog with white trim has a good deal to like about him. Fine ears. Long neck set into well laid shoulders. Excellent top line. Good return of upper arm. Excellent depth and underline. Good rear quarters. Correct tail set. Moved out well.

2nd: Hunters Collooney Was Meant to Be at Sulahmara

I really liked this quality brindle and white boy, but sadly, he did not want to play nicely today, or these placings may have been the other way around. Lovely head and expression. Good neck well set into his shoulders. Nice size. Good spring of rib and depth of chest. Correct fill in in front. Well angulated rear quarters. Short Hocks. Nice feet. Once he gets himself collected, will be one to trouble the rest.

3rd: Quince & Sloans Crosscop California Sunset

YD (6 Entries) Abs: 1

1st: Dillon & Baileys Collooney Eat My Shorts At Runforest JW

Well balanced masculine youngster, litter brother to second in the previous class and completely different. Well schooled and cooperative, he used himself to best advantage. Good neck set into well laid shoulders. Good return of upper arm. Well sprung, deep ribcage with pleasing underline. Preferred his topline on the move to 2nd. Broad thighs. Short hocks. Nice feet. Moved sound and with good reach and drive.

2nd: Dargue & Hallidays Brochinbelle Wee Dancer With Jalwhipp JW

Well balanced angulation front and rear. Excellent depth and good underline. Correct length of loin. Broad thighs, excellent second thigh. Short hocks. Nice feet. Just carrying a little too much weight for me which I felt affected his topline, both static and on the move.

3rd: Moulds Crosscop Waterloo Sunset

PGD (9 Entries) Abs: 2

1st: Martins Bowdonia Go The Distance For Stalwart

Reading the catalogue later, this brindle with white trim dogs’ sire is a favourite of mine and he has passed on many of his good conformation points to his son. Lovely balanced outline. Masculine head and expression. Excellent neck let into well laid shoulder. Good return of upper arm. Correct spring of rib and depth of chest. Excellent turn of stifle and broad thighs. Nice pasterns and feet. Best movement in the class. Would have preferred a little less weight but his overall qualities won him this class.

2nd: Metcalfes Aarminias Dance Like A Dafty

Fawn with white trim. Attractive head and expression. Good length of neck with broad base, let into well laid shoulders. Excellent top line. Correct pasterns and feet. Broad thighs. A little longer through the second thigh than first. Short hocks. Sound mover with good drive from behind.

3rd: Parkes & Mckays Crosscop Born To Move For Jubrancy

LD (17 Entries) Abs: 4

1st & DCC & Res BOB: Tysons Starceylon Summer Bran

This black with white trim male fitted the bill for me. Mature and put down in clean, gleaming hard condition, he had the elegance and grace of outline the standard requires, with no exaggerations. Balanced. Correct length through both the ribcage and his arched loin. He stood over his ground without excessive length in either the body or the rear quarters. Masculine head with no trace of coarseness. Long neck which flowed into well laid shoulders and excellent return of upper arm. Correct topline which complimented his curvy underline. Broad thighs, short hocks. His movement had reach and drive and was completely effortless. Sound coming and going, he did not put a foot wrong either here, nor in the challenge for the CC. Could not be denied.

2nd: Livseys Bryntreia Sea Of Love

Blue brindle with white trim. Another masculine male built slightly longer than 1st but still excellent quality throughout, and of a nice size. Broad head with well shaped eye and correctly set rose ears. Long neck let into well laid shoulder and correct return of upper arm. Bladed bone. Strong pasterns with slight spring, nice feet. Good depth of chest and spring of rib. Broad thighs. A little longer through the second thigh than the winner. Short hocks. Sound as a pound. Moved with good extension front and rear.

3rd: Gibbins’ Osterfen Janus

OD (9 Entries) Abs: 0

By now the wind was really quite cold and it really was affecting some of the whippets.

1st: Fryers Ch Collooney Eye Love To Tease at Stonefox

I have long admired this masculine brindle boy from the ringside. Very attractive head with strong underjaw. Broad base to his neck, well set into his shoulders. Good return of upper arm. Slight spring to his pasterns. Good depth of chest and spring of rib. Broad thighs. Short hocks. Moved very well in profile and with good drive from his rear quarters.

2nd: Winter, Yeates & Morlands Lolani Cafe Amore

This fawn with white trim was completely different from the winner but his overall quality could not be denied. Well balanced. Long neck, well set into his shoulders. Good spring of rib and depth of chest with a lovely curvy underline. Correct length to his loin. Broad thighs and well developed second thighs. Nice feet and pasterns. Moved so sound coming and going and with good reach and drive in profile. Kept his topline.

3rd: Wheelers Ranveli Sunshine Man

VB (3 Entries) Abs: 0

1st & BVIB: Mckenzies Aberlark Cookies N Cream

7 years old parti girl of a nice size. Didn’t seem to let the cold wind bother her at all. Pretty head and expression. Strong neck let into well placed shoulder. Good return of upper arm and well filled in in front. Good spring of rib and excellent depth. Curvy underline and good topline which she maintained on the move. Sound and with correct profile movement. Made a very good account of herself in the Veteran Group ring and I was pleased to see her make the final cut. Well done!

2nd: Whitaker-Crosbys Mulcair Meerkat Marble JW Sh.CM

Slightly taller fawn girl than winner and at 9 years, in lovely condition. Feminine head with pleasing expression. Well balanced angulation fore and aft, with equal lengths from her shoulder and upper arm. Good spring to her ribcage and a lovely curvy underline. Strong loin. Excellent pasterns and feet. Moved well and sound.

3rd: Heads Ch Demerlay Regency Romance JW

MPB (5 Entries) Abs: 0

1st & BPB: Sampsons Dapperdiva Milk And Honey

Pretty fawn with white trim baby. Lovely shape to her head and fine ears. Beautiful arch to her well set on neck. Good front and rear angulation, with excellent return of upper arm. Well filled in front. Good pasterns. Broad thighs. Lovely underline. Didn’t seem to mind the cold too much and was handled well to her best advantage on the move. Should have a bright future.

2nd: Myers’ Supeta's Taste The Rainbow With Astrazone

Brindle with white trim baby with a lot to like. Pretty head. Long neck set into well laid shoulders. Straight front with good pasterns. Good depth to her chest and excellent topline. Broad thighs with correct length through the second thigh. Short hocks. Moved very well and it was a close run thing between these 2 promising babies.

3rd: Howgate & Hulls Palmik A Million Dreams

PB (7 Entries) Abs: 3

1st: Howgate & Hulls Palmik Truth About Love

Pale fawn litter sister to 3rd in the previous class. Very feminine and just needs time to finish off her qualities, which of course, she has. Lovely neck set into well laid shoulders. Good return of upper arm. Excellent depth for her age. Good fill in to her front. Strong, broad thighs. Well bent stifles. Nice feet. Moved very sound coming and going.

2nd: Wheelers Ranveli Glowtini

Another top quality, balanced brindle puppy who should do well. Litter sister to BPD. Pretty head. Long neck flowing into good front angulation. Good pasterns and feet. Excellent topline which she kept on the move, despite the cold wind. Lovely curvy underline. Broad well angulated rear quarters. Short hocks. Sound as a pound. Like the winner and her brother, a very promising puppy.

3rd: Cannons Pursenet My Joy

JB (9 Entries) Abs: 3

1st: Cannons Pursenet Love Me Tender

This was a very attractive brindle girl who would benefit from a little better ring presentation. Lovely head shape and expression. Excellent neck, running through to a decent topline. Her underline was curvy to match. Good angles to both her front and rear angulation. She used everything well on the move but could have produced a better picture. Her quality won through.

2nd: Hoopers Veredon Veuve Cliquot Avec Torbers

Pretty fawn girl who really did not like the cold wind at all! A little taller and more rangy than the winner. Good length to her neck with broad base, well set into her shoulders. Excellent return of upper arm. Very curvy underline with correct length of loin. Broad thighs. Short hocks. Would have been happier in a warmer climate. Sympathetically handled to best advantage.

3rd: Coopers Sylleka Shantay You Stay At Ballauren

YB (10 Entries) Abs: 1

What a super class this was and I had some difficult decisions to make.

1st & BCC & BOB: Tysons Starceylon She's a Mover

A new one to me, this feminine black with white trim filled my eye. She is 100% whippet breed type through every inch. Beautifully balanced outline from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tail. Going over her, my hands just flowed. Head, neck, topline, underline, length, angulation, condition, it was all just as I wanted it to be. There were no exaggerations, and she was textbook whippet size. Then when she moved, it all came together. She was handled at the perfect pace to show off her daisy cutting front action, her rear drive and her soundness. In spite of the cold, she never put a foot wrong. I just preferred her topline in the challenge for BOB. Not an easy decision to give the bitch CC (her second) and BOB to the same kennel as the dog CC, but one I would not shrink from. She stole my heart! Was delighted to see her make the cut in a strong Hound Group.

2nd: Mcdowells McBrock Deep Love

This fawn and white girl was no disgrace to be second in this class and her day will come too. So nicely made all through, although of a different build to 1st, she has some excellent quality which could not be overlooked. Put it all together and you have sound movement with good reach in front and excellent drive from behind. We will be seeing more of this girl too.

3rd: Newtons Nevedith El Ite

PGB (15 Entries) Abs: 2

1st: Tysons Starceylon She's a Mover

As before.

2nd: Morlands Lolani Mocha Martini at Zoraden

Black masked red with white trim. Another whippet girl who was oozing breed type. No need to ‘look underneath’ to see that these were female. Good neck let into well laid shoulders. Excellent return of upper arm. Good pasterns and feet. Super depth and spring of rib. Strong, well made, well angulated rear quarters. Short hocks. Moved very well in profile and sound as they come. As the winner – top quality!

3rd: Service & Pooles Crosscop Proud Mary

LB (10 Entries) Abs: 4

1st & Res BCC: Browns Ardencote Sweet Destiny for Bluestreak

What a pretty, feminine fawn and white girl of correct size. Sweetest head and expression. Good neck set into well placed shoulders and front assembly. Bladed bone. Curvy underline with a topline to complement it. Strong rear quarters with correct angulation and broad thighs. Short hocks. Moved sound and with good extension and drive. Simply had to have the Res CC.

2nd: Mcmillan, Morris & Waddells Crosscop You Are My Destiny At Ardencote

This fawn and white girl was slightly taller and more rangy than 1st but of good quality. Like many others by now, the cold was affecting her. Well shaped head set on a long neck. Good shoulder placement. Excellent underline. Broad thighs. Well balanced length through first and second thigh. Long tail. Fine coat. Moved well coming and going and in profile.

3rd: Grisolis Loroli Lady Lakeside

OB (11 Entries) Abs: 2

1st: Samsons Romaclove The Power Of Love

Blue girl who had a lovely balanced outline and looked like she could do a days work. Her neck was set correctly into her well placed shoulders. Upper arm of correct length and angulation, along with her pasterns, which completed her front assembly. Curvy underline through to strong, well angulated rear quarters. Nice feet. Moved well in profile with good reach from her front, and drive from behind. Sound as a pound.

2nd: Mckay & Mycrofts Envisage This At Supeta

This girl is a favourite of mine but today wasn’t her day. She really was affected by the cold wind and there was no hiding it. Lovely shape and balance to her pretty head with strong underjaw. Long neck, let into well laid shoulders. Excellent upper arm. Good spring of rib and depth of chest. Correct length of loin. Good pasterns and feet. Broad thighs. Short hocks. Moved sound.

3rd: Turners Gilnockie Have Faith

Judge Ann Beckett-Bradshaw