National Whippet Association

National Whippet Association Championship Show 10/08/24 – Bitches.

Such a wonderful experience to be able to judge alongside my daughter Rachel, who was assessing dogs, at such a friendly & welcoming show with such a lovely entry. Our thanks go to the Committee for making this possible & to the exhibitors for their entries. I was ably assisted by two very efficient stewards who kept the ring flowing & ensuring that the exhibitors were kept informed throughout.

Our final decisions for BIS, RBIS, BOS, BPIS, BVIS, BSpBeg & B R/C were made amicably, sadly with my BCC going very slightly lame after an exuberant lap of honour in the bitch ring where she slipped. However, I was more than happy to agree the awarding of BIS to the super dog, CH. Cobyco Catch Your Eye DCC, RBIS to the lovely Ch. Ranveli Diki Diki RDCC with BOS going to lovely bitch Veredon Veuve Cliquot Avec Torbers my BCC winner.

BVIS went to the lovely veteran dog Crème Anglaise’s One More Knight At Scarletfair (Imp Nld) VW, BPIS to the super bitch puppy Railfield Singin In Therian, BSpBeg to the good bitch Freehamlet Saint Matilda & B R/C to the lovely dog Zoraden Bright Star.

My winners, and placed, gave me great satisfaction in that I was able to see most of the ‘blueprint’ I have in my head, but we all know that the perfect dog has yet to be born. I wanted a Whippet with a good head & correct bite & teeth placement, a long & muscular neck, good front construction allowing for forward reach, elbows under & that lovely shape with fill when viewed from the front. Correctly ribbed back, firm in loin & a body of correct depth & firm topline and with sweeping lines & curves into correctly angled rear quarters which would be used on the move, the powerhouse driving off the hocks. A muscular Whippet yet with elegance & good overall lines.

However, there were those that did not ‘fit’ my blueprint in many areas & this saddened me on the day. Teeth & their placement & size in the mouth lacked in quite a few today. I know that there has been much written about fronts but when presented with a few narrow fronts, upright upper arms, with no width & depth making for poor heart & lung room with proud elbows, which when viewed on the move from behind showed inward turning feet with elbows pointing out, not a pretty sight & frankly not fit for function in my opinion.

On the opposite side there were a few very wide bossy fronts with rounded muscle over the shoulder, not attractive in a Whippet & lacking the elegance required. In these examples of course the whole front construction was not correct or acceptable. I also found a few that were noticeably short ribbed & too long in loin. And something I have not judged before, a couple with what I considered were verging on cat feet. Rear quarters overall were good & I am glad that the recent concerns about over angulation behind have not become quite so evident.

I apologise for my preamble comments here, it by no means reflects on all the exhibits or my winners, nor of course the lovely day, but on reflection following the judging I was saddened to see some of these faults emerging more than I have witnessed before.

Baby Puppy Bitch (6,0abs) and what a delightful way to start the day!

1st Mrs. C Perkins & Mr. K Van Der Schaff - Crème Anglasie’s Entourage With Silkridge naf taf; Such an attractive baby puppy, lovely head & expression, correct length & set of neck into her good front construction. Has depth for her age & a curvy underline, nice topline & ribbing, all finished off with correctly angled rear quarters. Movement yet to settle fully but a delightful baby puppy. BBPB

2nd Mr. M Cahill & Mr. AJ Timberlake – Ardencote Dance A Dream At Chipperlake; loved this baby girl with the sweetest of heads & expressions. Lovely overall construction with good depth, elbows under, well ribbed back, curvy lines under, topline flowing into well angled rear quarters. Moved out ok but of course with age she will tighten more.

3rd MRS J P Wood – Ardencote Justa Dream

Special Veteran Bitch (7-10 years) (12, 2abs)

1st Mrs. C Fisher-Home & Mrs. J Home – Ch Citycroft Crème Caramel Of Jasaret JW

I have always liked this bitch & have awarded her well in the past. She still does not disappoint in her overall angulation front & rear and flowing shape, lovely depth of body & well ribbed back, firm in loin & still sound on the move. Such a lovely head & expression & presented in good condition. BVB

2nd Mr. RM Hooper – Torbers Rare Magic

Lovely in head & firm neck into a well laid shoulder, good for fill, good for depth of body & ribbing, firm back & loin flowing into curvy rear quarters with well let down hocks. A sound moving, unexaggerated bitch of good proportions & condition who flows under the hand.

3rd Mrs. L Jones & Mr. T Timberlake – Railfield Rain Lookout

Special Veteran Bitch (10 years +) (1,0abs)

1st Mrs. S Wignall – Starswift Siouxsie Sioux

Although alone this fawn bitch has a lovely shape and good overall angulation, with a good flow from neck to shoulder. Has the depth to her body & well ribbed back, firm in loin into curvy rear quarters. A touch loose on front movement now but a credit to her owner.

Minor Puppy Bitch (5,0abs)

1st Mr. P & Mrs. T Lawley – Lawleymoon Ria Oliva

A real baby with the sweetest of heads & expression, good length neck flowing into her nicely laid shoulder. Sufficient depth for age, elbows under, nice length of body & ribbing, firm in loin into correctly angled rear quarters. Movement needs to tighten a touch more, but she is still a baby waiting for maturity.

2nd Miss Z Perkins – Zeglynn Ginger Punch

Very similar remarks apply, again a lovely head & expression, good neck flowing into nicely angled shoulder with sufficient depth of body for her age. Ribbed back ok and firm in back & loin, curvy rear quarters. Just felt that once she drops into her frame with maturity her overall shape will improve more.

3rd Mrs. K & Mr. D Chappell – Blueflight Mystique

Puppy Bitch (5,1abs)

1st Mr. T Ellis = Railfield Singin In Therain

A feminine and well angulated bitch with good front construction & fill, lovely in head & length of neck, good for depth of body & tuck up, elbows under, well ribbed back and firm in loin and back. Correct rear proportions with nothing exaggerated, stifles with width across & nicely set hocks. Presented in lovely condition, moved out well if just a tad untidy at times due to her exuberance. A lovely puppy. BPB & BPIS

2nd Mrs. V Leathart – Ringmore Jocasta

Of classic Whippet shape, good in head & neck which flowed into her well angled front construction with sufficient fill, correct depth & tuck up, elbows well set, well ribbed back with firm back & loin. Sweeping rear quarters with well let down hocks, no exaggerations & presented in lovely condition. Needs to tighten a touch more in front on the move but drove out well.

3rd Mr. RK Green & Miss. J Ratcliffe – Crosscop Take Me On Arrodare

Junior Bitch (4,1abs)

1st Mr. M Howgate & Miss. Y Hull – Palmik Take Me Home JW

A lovely head & expression on this quality bitch who, for me, was the soundest in this class. Good length & breadth of neck into her well angulated front construction with fill, good set to her elbows, body of depth, curvy tuck up, she was well ribbed back & firm in loin and back. Correctly angled rear quarters, width across the stifles, nicely set hocks & presented in a lovely, muscled condition. Given a second glance later for top awards.

2nd Mrs. E Walker – Runaround Rosetta Of Shoalingham

Another lovely bitch with a good overall outline who just lost out to 1st on her movement today. Good in head & expression, neck flowing into well laid front with sufficient depth of body and sweeping tuck up. Firm in back & loin into curvy rear quarters, well conditioned and stood on good feet and bone.

3rd Mrs. S Courtney – Loroli Stoned In Love With Courtbirch

Yearling Bitch (7,1abs)

1st Miss. S Hoskins – Shelsue Jungling Jennie

This feminine bitch was a lovely shape overall with good angulation front & back. A good head & expression, neat ears, good length & breadth of neck, nicely ribbed back with depth of body & elbows set under. Loin & back in firm condition, lovely body condition overall, a curvy rear end, & for me, she moved out the best here today.

2nd Mrs. F Finch – Zenobia Love Actually JW

Another lovely headed bitch with a good length & breadth of neck into a well shoulder & return of upper arm. Elbows well set under, sufficient depth & tuck up, nicely ribbed back with firm loin but needs to come up & tighten a touch in her topline. Curvy angled rear quarters into well set hocks.

3rd Mr. N & Mr. D Richards – Richclass Miss Atomic Bomb

Novice Bitch (10,1abs)

1st Mrs. S Courtney, Mr. D Wallace & Mrs. D Gower – Nattah Chasing The Wind To Courtbirch

Nice shape to her head & good expression, lovely neck of correct length flowing into her well angled shoulder & upper arm. Lovely depth of body sweeping up to her rear quarters, elbows well set under, good ribbing into firm loin and back, well conditioned & firm topline, and correct curves to her rear end. Moved out well to take this class.

2nd Mrs. L & Mr. G Brough – Crosscop Call Me Maybe At Luimubox

A younger bitch still slightly immature here and would prefer a touch more under jaw. A shapely girl with a good neck flowing into her well laid front, good body depth & set to her elbows, curvy underline & nicely ribbed back. Nicely angled rear quarters & set of hocks.

3rd Mrs. V Leathart – Ringmore Jocasta

Graduate Bitch (10, 1abs)

1st Mrs. F Spademan, Mrs. S Mycroft, Mrs. L Morris & Mr. G Waddell – Crosscop California Barbie From Supeta

Very smart bitch with a lovely overall outline, good head & expression and length & breadth of neck flowing into a well laid shoulder. Sufficient depth of body, elbows well set, and curvy underline. Well ribbed back into firm loin & firm across her back of correct length. Sweeping rear quarters into well set hocks, she moved out very well, another given a second glance later.

2nd Mrs. S Wignall – Starswift Seductress

Such a lovely head & expression on this girl and a very good overall shape with curves. Good in neck & flow to a well constructed front, sufficient depth of body & fill with neat elbows set under. Curves to her underline & topline & nicely ribbed back with form loin. Good angulation to her rear quarters with well let down hocks. Moved out well.

3rd Miss. C Tristram – Pagarni’s Princess Elsa

Spec. Beg Bitch (9, 1abs)

1st Mrs. A Prowse – Freehamlet Saint Matilda

Quite a shapely bitch, not overdone in any area although I would not like her any longer. Nice head with good expression, neck of good length into her well laid shoulder with return of upper arm & elbows set under. Well ribbed back from good body depth, firm in loin with good bend of stifle with super width across & well set hocks. Moved out well.

2nd Mrs. C Edwards – Landsbirch Isadora

Classic bitch of curves but just felt that a slightly better head & expression would finish the picture nicely. Good length & breadth of neck flowing into her nicely constructed front, good body depth & sufficient fill, elbows correctly set below, and well ribbed back into a firm loin. Good width across the stifles & curvy rear quarters,

3rd Dr. S & Mrs. J Lawson – Kipipiriking Magic De Noel

Post Grad Bitch (11, 0abs)

1st Mrs. A & Miss. A Longhurst – Abbeyhurst Dancing Queen JW

A smart bitch of lovely proportions and no exaggerations, another given a second glance later. Lovely expression on her good head with a correct length neck, with breadth, flowing into a well constructed front with fill and super depth to her body. Well ribbed back, elbows well set, firm loin and back, a curvy underline & a lovely topline. Lovely rear quarters & well set hocks, moved very well & in correct muscular condition overall.

2nd Mrs. W & Dr. N Jones – Mac Bells Purple Patch Over Chelynnah (Swed. Imp)

Such a kind head & expression, neck of good length & breadth into her well laid shoulder, perhaps a touch more upper arm would complete the front picture. Lovely body depth & well set elbows, good for fill and ribbing into a firm loin and curvy underline. Curvy topline into well angulated rear quarters, good in stifle & hocks. Moved out well.

3rd Miss. C Tristram – Pagarni’s Princess Elsa

Mid Limit Bitch (12, 0abs)

1st Ms. J Wilton Clark – Shalfleet Easter Sonnet JW

Such a lovely bitch, very smart with a lovely overall picture of curves, angles and no exaggeration but just wish on the stance she wouldn’t stand so back into her shoulders at times. Lovely angles front & rear, good for depth & fill with elbows set under. Well ribbed back, curvy underline & firm loin and back. Correct rear quarters, good stifles with breadth across & well let down hocks. Moved soundly. Another glanced back to later.

2nd Miss. E Higginbottom, Mr. R Wheeler & Mrs. K Rutter – Ranveli Royal Touch

Lovely head & expression on this bitch of curvy, sweeping lines. Correct neck of length & breadth into a well laid front with good fill. Good depth to her body with elbows set under, well ribbed back into a firm loin. Shapely underline & a good, & firm, topline all flowing into her curvy & correctly angled rear quarters. Another nicely conditioned bitch.

3rd Mrs. L Grisoli – Stonefox Gotta Have Faith At Loroli

Limit Bitch (9, 0abs)

Sadly, saw a bitch withdrawn from this class after being stung prior to entering the ring.

1st Mr. RM Hooper – Veredon Veuve Cliquot Avec Torbers

Such a classic, shapely bitch with a lovely head & expression and a fabulous bite. Neck of length with strength flowing into her well laid shoulder & return of upper arm, super depth of body & fill, elbows well set under. Correct curvy underline, well ribbed back into a good firm loin & back, topline of gentle curves. Super curvy rear quarters, but no exaggeration, width across the stifles & well set hocks. Sound & effortless moving here with reach from her good front & drive by using her hocks to advantage on the move, something that is not always evident in some. On the day I was happy to award her the BCC & later BOS in show.

2nd G. Maxwell – Maccus Rosa Gallica Daphne JW

Have judged this lovely girl some while ago & she did not disappoint here either. An honest bitch with no exaggerations and lovely under the hand. Good in head & expression, super neck of length & strength into her correct front construction. Body of depth with good fill, elbows correctly set under, well ribbed back & firm in loin & back. Curvy underline & topline finished off with sweeping rear quarters used well on the move. Moved soundly with reach & drive, effortless around the ring and delighted to award her RBCC

3rd Mr. J Service & Mr. G Poole – Crosscop Proud Mary

Open Bitch (14, 3abs)

1st Mrs. L Yacoby Wright – Ch. Citycroft City Lights

A super bitch of curves with a lovely head & expression, good in neck for length & strength into her correctly laid shoulder & return of upper arm. Body of good depth & fill, elbows correctly set and well ribbed back into a firm, good length of loin. Gentle curve to her topline into her rear quarters with good width across her stifle & well let down hocks. Moved out well here & presented in lovely condition, another to get a second glance.

2nd Mr. M Howgate & Miss. Y Hull – Palmik Truth About Love JW

Another curvy bitch who just flows under the hand. Sweet head & expression, firm neck of good length into a well laid shoulder & return of upper arm, correctly set elbows. Lovely overall lines with good depth to her body, well filled front and well ribbed back. Firm in back and loin, good overall muscular condition and correctly angulated rear quarters with good stifles for length & width and well set down hocks. Moved out well here.

3rd Mrs. C & Mr. R Perkins – Ch. Citycroft Americano With Silkridge

Spec. Open Racing/Lue Coursing Bitch (7, 0abs)

1st Mr. L Sampson – Ger Ch. Shiny Sensations For Your Eyes Only To Dapperdiva (Imp NLD)

A smart & curvy brindle bitch with a lovely head & expression. Neck of good length with strength throughout flowing into her well laid shoulder & return of upper arm. Has fill and good depth of body, elbows under and a curvy underline with good ribbing back & firm loin. Topline flows into correctly angulated rear quarters, good width across her stifle & well let down hocks. In good firm condition.

2nd Mrs. V Leathart – Ringmore Hecate

Lovely curvy fawn bitch with a good expression, neat ears and a firm neck of length into her well laid back shoulder and good return of upper arm. Body of depth & fill in front, well ribbed back into a firm loin and back and a curvy underline. Good for topline flowing into curvy rear quarters, hocks set down, with width across stifles and presented in good muscular condition.

3rd Ms. D Webber – Zoraden Fifty Shades Darker JW

Judge; Ann Snelgrove