East Anglian Whippet Club

East Anglian Whippet Club Open Show Bitches 2024

Thank you to the committee for inviting me to judge at your show and thanks to the exhibitors for your entries. A big thank you also to my two stewards! I was really pleased with my entry and I had a lineup of beautiful whippet bitches to choose from. We had mixed weather on the day, and during the cold and windy periods, it did affect some exhibits more than others, meaning that some places could change on a different day.

Baby Puppy Bitch (2, 0 abs)

Loved judging this class of two beautiful babies both enjoying their first time in the ring, confident and very happy which was so great to see.

1. Wood’s Ardencote Justa Dream. 4 month old fawn. Very feminine and with a really sweet expression. Excellent for breed type. Moderate and matching angulation front and rear. Excellent top and underline for one so young. Vert together for her age, in particular on the move, which won her this class. 

2. Whitehead and Smith’s Lancar Dream Queen of Wands (Imp LVA) NAF. 5 month old fawn. Another bitch with a sweet and gentle expression. Well laid back shoulders and good return of upper arm. Strong hind quarters but a little more second thigh than I prefer. Top- and underline very good for her age. She was really enjoying her time in the ring, and therefore a bit bouncy at times which I must add was lovely to see!

Special Race/Lure Coursing Bitch (5, 2 abs)

1. Maxwell’s Maccus Cirilla of Cintra. 4 year old fawn. Quality bitch of a good size and breed type. Really liked her overall shape, with matching top and underline. Would prefer a little more front angulation, but has very moderate hind angulation so she does present a very balanced overall picture. Moved well in all directions. Best Special Race/Lure Coursing in Show on agreement from my co-judge.

2. Webbers’s Zoraden Fifty Shades Darker JW. 6 year old black. Another bitch of a good size. Strong neck leading into well laid shoulders and correct return of upper arm. Presents a really curvy picture with that desired S shape. Her hind angulation matches that of her front, she has strong rear quarters which she uses well on the move. She was really feeling the cold weather, more so than the winner, who put in a really strong performance, but these places could change on a different day.

Minor Puppy Bitch (5, 0 abs)

1. Ellis’ Railfield Singing In Therain. 8 month old fawn and white of the correct size. Kind expression. Well made with correct front and hind angulation. Correct bladed bone and tight feet. Slight rise over the loin and with a curvy underline. Moved very soundly in all directions and very together for her age which won her this class.

2. Morrison, Waddell, Mycroft and Mitchell’s Crosscop Tiny Dancer. 8 month old fawn. Quality bitch with a feminine head and alert expression. Nice rose shaped ears and a strong arched neck. Moderate front and hind angulation. Preferred the more developed top- and underline of the winner, but this should come with age. Moved well.

Puppy Bitch (4, 0 abs)

1. Mycroft, Mycroft, Morris and Waddell’s Crosscop California Barbie From Supeta. 11 month old fawn. Pretty bitch with an alert expression who caught my eye as soon as she entered the ring. Good neck into shoulders, with moderate angulation front and rear. Excellent curvy top and underline. Strong hind quarters. Sound up and back, and really excels in profile. Didn’t put a foot wrong for her handler and I was delighted to award her Reserve Best Bitch and Best Puppy Bitch, and later on agreement from my co-judge Reserve Best in Show and Best Puppy in Show.

2. Reed and Pace’s Dreaming On And On. 9 month old fawn who was unlucky to meet 1 and many of the same comments apply. Excellent for size and type. Presents a balanced picture with moderate angulation. Slight rise over the loin and a matching underline. Moved soundly up and back. Just preferred profile movement of 1.

Junior Bitch (2, 1 abs)

1. Howgate and Hull’s Palmik Take Me Home JW. 14 month old fawn and white of a nice shape and type. Excellent head and expression with correct rose shaped ears. Correct flat bone and well knuckled feet. Moderate front angulation, excellent top and underline and presents a curvy outline. Strong well defined loin, and strong hind quarters with low hocks. Moved very soundly in all directions. 

Yearling Bitch (4, 0 abs)

1. Whitehead and Smith's Crème Anglaise's Lady Bridgerton of Citycroft (Imp NLD)

I loved the head and expression of this 18 month old fawn and white particolour, very kind and sweet. She is the perfect size for me and is so feminine and so very balanced with no exaggerations. Her shoulders are well laid back and she has great return of upper arm. Her hind angulation matches that of her front. She has excellent top and underline, presenting the desired S shape. On the move she was foot perfect, loved her! Delighted to award her Best Bitch and later Best in Show on agreement from my co-judge.

2. Middleton and Gilhooly's Stormida Squirrels for Tea. 21 month old brindle and white particolour. Another bitch with a feminine head and sweet expression, and with correct rose shaped ears. She is of a good size, has a moderately angulated front and a nice curvy overall shape. Slight spring of pastern and well knuckled feet. Moved well.

Novice Bitch (3, 2 abs)

1. Cooper's Crosscop Im Alwayz Yours at Ballauren. 11 month old fawn and white. I really liked this bitch for her type, size and overall shape. She is very smooth to go over. She is very balanced with moderate, matching front and hind angulation and no exaggerations. Pretty head with kind expression. She has excellent top- and underline. Moved very soundly in all directions.

Graduate Bitch (7, 1 abs)

1. Falconer's Kuriwao Serrafina Star. 2 year old fawn. Another feminine bitch with a lovely head and expression. Long arched neck leading into well laid back shoulders and return of upper arm. Flat bone, slight spring of pastern and well knuckled feet. Deep chest with plenty of heart room. Good topline, if being picky I would prefer a touch more tuck up but I think this would improve if she was carrying slightly less weight. Correct hind angulation and well let down hocks. Moved very well in all directions. 

2. Smith and Goddard-Smith's Afterglow Princess Royale for Neviwesh. 3 year old brindle with white trim. Pretty bitch with a beautiful alert expression and rose shaped ears. A different type to 1 and built slightly heavier. Well angulated front and smooth shoulders. Correct bone, good spring of pastern and good feet. Lovely curvy topline and a matching underline. Strong hind quarters which she used well on the move. She didn't give her handler an easy job today, but deserved her place in this lovely class.

Post Graduate Bitch (2, 0 abs)

1. Perkins' Southgrove Kiss From a Rose at Zeglynn. 4 year old fawn with white trim. Really liked this bitch for size and overall type. She has the prettiest of heads with correct rose shaped ears. Strong neck leading into well laid back shoulders and enough return of upper arm. Correct top and underline. Moderate hind angulation with low hocks. Moved well, especially in profile. 

2. Home and Fisher-Home's Jasarat Caramel Calypso. 2 year old fawn. Very feminine and good for type. Clean head, with a sweet expression and strong underjaw. Overall well balanced and moderate front and hind angulation. Slight spring of pastern, correct flat bone and good feet. Really liked her curvy top and underline. Strong well defined loin. Holds her topline well on the move.

Mid Limit Bitch (5, 1 abs)

1. Myers' Supeta's Taste the Rainbow With Astrazone. 2 year old brindle. Pretty bitch with a beautiful alert expression and rose shaped ears. Good for size and substance. Moderately angulated front and smooth shoulders. Correct bone, good spring of pastern and good feet. Lovely curvy topline and a matching underline. Strong hind quarters which she used well on the move. Excellent profile mover and sound on the away and back. 

2. Reed and Pace's Dejare a Dash of Hope JW. 3 year old fawn and white parti colour. A different type to 1 but still very feminine and well put together. Has a lovely gentle expression, and a lovely coat. Strong neck, moderate angulation front and rear, and has the desired slight rise over the loin and matching underline with excellent tuck up. In lovely fit condition. Sound mover.

Limit Bitch (6, 4 abs)

1. Howgate and Hull's Palmik Truth about Love JW. 2 year old fawn. Nice head with slight stop, kind expression and strong underjaw. Strong neck leading into a correct front assembly with smooth shoulders. Good fill in front. Correct bone and feet, and with slight spring of pastern. Matching top and underline, with a strong loin. Well developed hind quarters which she used well on the move. Moved well in all directions.  

2. Cooper’s Sylleka Shantay You Stay at Ballauren. 3 year old fawn and white bitch. She has a pretty head with a sweet expression. A balanced bitch with correct front and hind angulation. Deep chest with plenty of heart room, slight rise over the loin and good tuck up. Sound up and back and moves well in profile. A well made bitch, just a little bigger than I prefer.

Open Bitch (6, 3 abs)

It was a close decision between these two.

1. Morris, Waddell, Mycroft and Mitchell's Crosscop You Are My Destiny at Ardencote. 4 year old fawn and white. Very feminine bitch of a lovely type. Spot on for size. Kind expression, slight stop and strong underjaw. Rose shaped ears. Good neck into shoulder. Moderate front angulation, flat bone and strong well knuckled feet. Good fill in front. Moderate hind angulation. Good top and underline, presenting curvy outline which she held on the move. Moved soundly up and back and excellent profile mover. 

2. Barnes' Doddridge Strictly Cha Cha JW. 21 month old brindle. Another very feminine bitch, of a slightly different type but still so whippety. Excellent for size. Clean head, long arched neck, smooth shoulders. Overall very well balanced with matching moderate front and hind angulation. Super top and underline, with the desired S shape. Moved effortlessly around the ring, and true coming and going.

Veteran Bitch (5, 2 abs)

A lovely class of veterans.

1. Home and Fisher-Home's Citycroft My Fair Lady of Jasarat JW ShCM. 9 year old fawn. The happiest bitch of the day, she just couldn't stop wagging. So lovely to see an oldie still loving the show ring. So very feminine, melting expression, slight stop and strong underjaw. Long arched neck leading into smooth shoulders. Moderate front angulation, correct bone and well knuckled feet. Deep chest, lovely overall shape with matching top and underline. Hind angulation moderate with low hocks. Moved well. Best Veteran Bitch and Reserve Best Veteran in Show.

2. Maxwell's Blusteren You Pretty Thing. 8 year old fawn. Another bitch of a lovely type and many of the same comments apply. Just preferred the shoulders of 1.

Special Beginners Bitch (4, 1 abs)

1. Cooper's Crosscop Im Alwayz Yours at Ballauren. 1st in Novice. Best Special Beginner in Show on agreement from my co-judge.

2. Whitesquall Mionetto. 7 month old brindle. Feminine bitch with a lovely head and expression. Moderate angulation front and rear. Presents a curvy outline with a good topline with slight rise over the loin, and a matching underline. Moved very well in profile. Just needs time to mature and body up - this will all come with age.  

Clara Allansson (Macalldon)