Northern Ireland Whippet Club

Northern Ireland Whippet Club

championship show, September 29th, 2024

I was very pleased to receive such good entry, both for numbers and for quality for my eight whippet breed club championship show in the UK. The breed is in a very strong position and is always a delight to judge. With no less than 17 champions entered, this appointment was certainly no exception to that.

I had a busy day judging several breeds. The whippets were judged at the end, and consequently I unfortunately did not have time to write extensive critiques this time.

Minor Puppy Dog (3)

1. Silkridge Black Caviar

A six months old, black dog with white markings. He covered excellent ground with beautiful curves to his shapely body. Darkest of eyes. Long, elegant neck. Pleasing front with very good forechest for age. Excellent topline and underline. I would not want any more angulation behind than this, but he used his legs very well from all angles and kept his outline well. Best Dog Puppy

2. Southpoint Who Whom Whose From Crosscop

Another six months old dog, very elegant with an attractive smooth outline. His head needs to develop some more masculinity with maturity. Beautiful, long and elegant neck, well set. Enough front. Excellent topline and underline. Moved steadily and soundly for one so young, but did not cover quite as much ground on the move as the winner.

3. Ballauren’s Last Dance

Puppy Dog (3,1)

1. First Class Soulad By Ranveli

A well developed and very attractive puppy. Beautiful head and expression. Long neck. Smooth and curvy in his outline standing. Moderate, balanced angulation both ends. I would prefer him to cover slightly more ground on the stack, but he compensates for that by covering plenty of ground in movement, extending very well, also very parallel coming and going, if a little less curvy on the move.

2. Zenobia Just An Illusion With Sweetaurora

A shapely dog with a very attractive silhouette as he has a very curvy underline and an excellent arch of loin. His muzzle and jaw needs to strengthen with age and he needs to develop more fill in his front. Moved very easy on his feet and well balanced.

Junior Dog (9,1)

1. Collooney We’we Got This

A dog with plenty of quality about him. His head and expression is stunning. Long neck. Very good front with excellent layback of upper arm. Excellent length of leg. Beautiful curves to his topline and underline. He moved very well from all directions. One to watch for the near future.

2. Edenwhip Call Me At Night

Another outstanding dog, fawn. He has a beautiful balance, combining substance with elegance. Strong, masculine head, well shaped, but could do with a more alert expression. Strong neck, well set. Excellent angulation both ends. Smooth curvy outline. An exceptional mover from all angles.

3. Mossbawnhill Chasing It All For Zigouse

Yearling Dog (4)

1. Bowdonia Feet of Flames at Jalwhipp

An impressive white and brindle dog who has come a long way in a short time. He combines substance with elegance to an optimal degree, he is well up on legs and covers plenty of ground at the same time to make for ideal proportions. Typical, masculine head with a very good skull, acceptable ears. Strong and crested neck, well set into shoulders. Very good forechest and front fill. Smooth and curvy in his outline, he has excellent muscle tone without being bulky. He moved very well indeed from all angles, co-ordinated, parallel and sound and at all times keeping his shape and balance to win the CC

2. Dante of Gentle Mind

Light fawn dog, very delicious, still strong and masculine. He has a beautiful expression. Excellent neck with strength, well set. Lovely chest and body, deep and capacious. Excellent underline and pleasing topline standing, but tended to flatten out a bit on the move, but kept his attractive balance.

3. Courtbourne Natal at Abelark

Novice Dog (2,1)

1. Collooney Jack The Lad

Very elegant dog. At two years old, he could do with some more bone and substance. Elegant head. Long neck. Would prefer more spring to his pasterns. Very pleasing curvy body shape. Strong hindquarters. Somewhat busy on the move, but kept his balance and outline.

Graduate Dog (6)

1. Falconcrag Match Maker at Crosscop

A very high quality dog, quite delicious as he has an outstanding smoothness about him, even if he has just enough topline. Typical head. Long neck. Very good front. Beautiful, curvy underline with length of brisket. Perfect angulation behind. Very light and effortless on the move. Beautiful coat and colour.

2. Edenwhip Love at First Sight

Another very attractive dog, combining substance with elegance and covering very good ground. Typical head, questionable ears. Strong neck, well set. Very good forechest and depth of brisket, the starting point of his beautiful underline. Reasonable topline. Strong thighs. Another who moved very well, covering ground.

3. Zenobia Just An Illusion With Sweetaurora

Post Graduate Dog (2,1)

1. Zigouse Fly Me To The Moon via Kastrach

Strong and masculine dog who also has elegance and quality about him. Beautiful head and lovely expression. Long and crested neck. Too straight in his pasterns which negatively influenced his front movement. Deep chest. Excellent underline. Tended to fall off a bit in his topline, but this improved in movement. Strong thighs. Could do with some more suppleness on the move, but kept his overall balance on the move.

Mid Limit Dog (5)

1. Dreamjet Float My Boat at Runforest JW

Masculine dog of quality, he combines substance with elegance. Excellent head, darkest of eyes contributing to his bright and alert expression. Attractive crested neck. Very good forechest. Excellent underline. Tended to fall away a bit in his topline. Well angulated behind. Very well muscled. A very good mover from all angles and with plenty of energy.

2. Ranveli Royal Duke of Dawnsafon

Well balanced, masculine dog, combining substance with elegance. Attractive head and expression. Excellent neck into shoulders. Good front, but could be a little deeper in his chest. Well angulated behind. A very good mover from the side, keeping his silhouette. Not as good as the winner coming and going.

3. Edenwhip Wayne’s World

Limit Dog (9,1)

1. Mossbawnhill Bit of a Dandy

A beautiful, very classical whippet male who ideally combines substance with elegance and has excellent curves to his topline and underline. I loved his type and quality. Attractive head. Very good neck, well set into shoulders. Excellent front. Excellent topline and underline. Well angulated behind, he covers an ideal amount of ground. If only he would give some more of himself on the move, he would be very hard to beat – but he sadly lacked in energy and will to perform if sound enough.

2. Brochinbelle Wee Dancer with Jalwhipp JW

A very well proportioned dog who covers an ideal amount of ground. Long head and neck. Questionable ears. Attractive curvy underline. Enough topline standing, but tending to flatten out on the move. Rather straight in pastern. Moved quite well from all angles.

3. Crosscop Twist & Shout

Open Dog (4)

1. Stonefox Ice Pick Willy at Runforest JW

Quite a big dog, but not coarse. He has an attractive head. Strong neck, well set. Deep chest. Moderate, but balanced angulation both ends which is the foundation for his very pleasing, balanced movement. A bit on the taller side for optimal balance, but keeps his curves on the move.

2. Barnesmore Weapon of Choice

Very eye-catching dog of very pleasing type and lovely overall quality. He has a beautiful neck and front. Deep and capacious chest. Unfortunately overangulated behind which restricted his movement and somewhat high stepping in front.

3. Fallswater Fame N Glory

Veteran Dog (1)

1. Ch. Wheelspin Silver Shadow among Silkdance

A beautiful, very classical whippet of excellent type and quality. He combines substance and elegance to a very high degree and his outline is a smooth as silk with beautiful curves in the right places. Classical head with ideal width of skull, lovely expression. His solid fawn colour fits him very well indeed and enhanced his lovely topline and underline. He is a sound and supple mover, but could do with more energy on the move which stopped him from going all the way. Still very much a classic! Best veteran.

Champion Dog (9,1)

1. Ch. Crème Anglaise’s Just Julian

An upstanding, masculine particolour dog with obvious quality, but I would not want him any leggier. He has a beautiful expression, keen and alert. Long neck. Curvy topline which he retained on the move. Very good forechest. Well angulated behind, but without exaggeration. In ship-shape condition and quite an exceptionally good mover from all angles, sound and long reaching, showing animation and suppleness. resCC

2. Ch. Ranveli Diki Diki

A classical whippet of excellent type and proportions. Lovely, masculine head and expression. Strong neck, well set. Deep and capacious chest. Balanced angulation both ends. In excellent condition. He used his legs very well from the side, retaining his balance and enough topline. Tending to side track a bit coming and going.

3. Ch. Wheelspin Silver Shadow among Silkdance

Veteran Bitch (2,1)

1. Rushdens’ Got The Look

A very feminine bitch of ideal size. She has a whippet head of the old school, very keen expressive a keen hunter. Very good ears. Strong neck. Good front. Pleasing topline, but lacking in underline and could loose some weight. Beautiful coat. An eager mover.

Minor Puppy Bitch (1)

1. Collooney Ginger Rogers Khabaray

Six months old on the day. She has very pleasing proportions, well up on legs and covering ground with very pleasing body curves. Needs to gain some more bone and substance with maturity. Very elegant head, could do with a strong jaw. Long neck. Well angulated both ends. Kept her balance on the move, but tended to pick up her front legs quite a bit.

Puppy Bitch (2)

1. Bohosoul Bewitched

Ten months old, very attractive, classical bitch with excellent type and quality, combining substance with elegance. Typical head. Strong neck, well set. Deep and capacious body. Typical topline and underline. Well angulated both ends. She moved well from all angles, keeping her balance and outline. Best Puppy

2. Crosscop Take On Me Arrodare

Instantly most attractive bitch with a very long neck and plenty of elegance and class about her, she makes no secret about where she was bred. Beautiful outline, indeed stunning, I found it hard to take my eyes off her. Needs to develop in front and gain some more sturdiness about her. If or when she does, could turn out sensational.

Junior Bitch (7)

1. Collooney Celeste

A beautiful, classical young whippet bitch, brindle and white, combining substance with elegance and excellent size. Excellent head, well proportioned and with ideal skull, beautiful expression. Very pleasing neck and front construction. She covers very good ground with her body and is deep and capacious. Excellent underline, enough topline, she retained this on the move. Strong thighs. Well angulated behind without exaggeration. A typical, sound and functional mover. Overall she is a really typical whippet and must be a champion in the making. resCC

2. Mossbawnhill Made of More

A very stylish young bitch, blue brindle and white. She excellent in her long and elegant neck. Excellent head. Moderate angulation in front. Typical curves to her topline and underline. When she settled, she moved well.

3. Shannavarius Villanelle Vana

Yearling Bitch (8)

1. Starceylon Regina Di Quadri JW

Bitch combining elegance and femininity with substance and delightful curves which she kept on the move. Excellent skull and expression. Long neck. Pleasing front, if not yet fully developed. Excellent flowing topline and underline. She moved well from all angles. Excellent potential.

2. Crosscop California Barbie from Supeta

Another very attractive bitch, classical in type and outline. Excellent head and expression. Attractive neck. Lovely curves to her underline and topline standing, but not keeping her topline as well on the move as the winner. She is however truly delicious and teeming with quality.

3. Ranveli Royal Touch

Novice Bitch (5,1)

1. Crosscop Tiny Dancer

A beautiful bitch, not small, but definitely feminine and exquisite. Excellent head with good skull. Beautiful neck, well set. Lovely curves to her body, both in underline and topline and with that glasslike look where nothing has been left to coincidence. She kept her topline reasonably well on the move and used her legs well.

2. Crosscop Call Me Maybe at Limubox

Bitch of excellent size and with a very shapely body. Refined head. Long neck, but not the neckset of the winner. Excellent topline and underline. Moved medium well, if not up to the winner.

3. Mossbawnhill Legend Has It

Graduate Bitch (6)

1. Gilnockie Kinda Cool

Sensational particolour bitch, excellent type and quality and just about the perfect mover. Feminine head with quality, beautiful expression. Long neck, well set. Balanced angulation both ends. She moves just like a whippet should with very long and low strides, excelling in suppleness, energy and balance, I have hardly ever seen a whippet move as well as this in the UK. Somewhat tense in her temperament, but having been given several chances improved enough to win the class, but could go no further today. Would have loved to see her completely calm and collected. Surely a future champion.

2. Zenobia Love Actually JW

Classical, typey fawn bitch. Typical head. Long neck. Curvy body. Balanced angulation both ends. She kept her attractive body silhouette well on the move. Another pleasing mover, but still not up to the winner.

3. Crosscop Let’s Dance with Sweetaurora

Post Graduate Bitch (3)

1. Groomsville Hologem Heavens Dream

A very typey bitch due to her beautiful shape in her topline and underline. Elegant head, pleasing ears. Long neck. Excellent body silhouette. Generously angulated behind. Not quite as impressive in movement, but fair enough.

2. Starceylon Queen of Dorne and Zenobia JW

Black bitch who covers plenty of ground. Typical skull, pleasing expression. Neck well set. Very good front. Excellent underline, but could do with more shape to her topline. Lovely coat and colour. A better mover than the winner, but lost out on shape.

3. Rushden Custom Made

Mid Limit Bitch (5,1)

1. Crosscop A Dream Come True for Dalerafenn

A very classical whippet, combining substance and elegance and standing so very well over her legs and feet. Typical head with a good skull. Beautiful, well set neck. Very good front. Deep and capacious chest. Attractive, curvy underline, just enough shape to her topline. Well angulated behind. Moved well enough to win the class.

2. Bohosoul Storming Thru

Elegant, feminine bitch with enough substance. She has a lot of quality about her. Extraordinarily expressive. Not the neckset or front angulation of the winner. Used her legs well on the move, especially from the side.

3. Collooney Because I Can Khabaray

Limit Bitch (11)

1. Ranveli Glowtini

Very attractive brindle bitch of excellent type and quality and with lovely curves. Excellent head with bright and alert expression. Very good neck into shoulders. Typical and shapely silhouette with lovely curves to topline and underline. Balanced angulation both ends. A purposeful mover if a bit side tracking coming and going. Should make a champion.

2. Brochinbelle A Wee Floosie at Aarminias

An instantly attractive substantial bitch, I would not want her any stronger than this, but she is still very whippety and full of quality. Excellent head and expression. Very well set neck. Should not be any broader in her front and a little heavy over the shoulders, but she has an excellent forechest. Strong bone. Well angulated both ends. A sound and efficient mover from all angles, holding her outline quite well.

3. Crosscop True Love

Open Bitch (9,2)

1. Ch. Collooney Dita Von Tease

A top quality bitch with classical combination of substance and elegance. Typical strong skull, excellent expression. Strong neck, could be a little longer. Deep and capacious body with pleasing curves. She has very good angulation both ends and is illustrating sound construction, balance and the look of a brood bitch all over her. By far the best mover in the class, demonstrating suppleness, daisy cutting movement and soundness from all angles.

2. Barnesmore Drop Dead Gorjus

Bitch of excellent size and type. Very feminine. Attractive head. Long and strong neck. Deep and capacious chest. Excellent topline which she retained on the move. I would prefer less angulation behind, but can just about accept this much. Well handled. She moved with normal soundness from all angles.

3. Gilnockie Indigo Blue

Champion Bitch (7,2)

1. Ch. Crosscop Bumble Bee by Arrodare

A very beautiful, classical white and fawn whippet bitch with a perfect balance, illustrating the ideal combination of elegance with substance. Classical head, feminine with very good width of skull. Bright expression, at all times responding to her handler. Long neck which she used to her advantage at all times. Beautiful, flowing body curves in both her topline and underline. She stood very well over her legs and feet. Ideal depth and width of body. Perfect mover coming and going as well as low and daisy cutting from the side, at all times keeping her shape and balance. Just loved her! CC & BOB.

2. Ch. Citycroft Americano with Silkridge

A very attractive black and white bitch and an especially lovely mover. Feminine, refined head, I would prefer a stronger muzzle. Long neck, well set. Excellent body curves. Lovely coat and colour. In ship shape condition and very well presented. She can outmove the best of them from any angles and displayed plenty of suppleness and extension.

3. Mossbawnhill Second To None

Espen Engh, Norway (judge)