South West Whippet Club

The South West Whippet Club championship show

Sunday, 18th February 2024

Whippet Dogs

I was delighted to accept the kind invitation to judge the dogs at The South West Whippet Club's 15th championship show, and I was thrilled with my entry of 119. Thank you to the Officers & Committee for their hospitality, and to Rachel and Liz, my excellent stewards, who kept the ring running so smoothly.

It was an absolute pleasure to judge at this show; as my 'local' club, it is one I hold very dear to my heart, having so many wonderful memories and some great successes here over the years. I thank all the exhibitors who took the time and made the effort to bring their Whippets for me to judge.

On the whole, size and toplines were good. However, there were several classes lacking the consistency of breed type I was expecting. Some dogs appeared promising when stacked, but disappointed on closer inspection. My main issues were an abundance of narrow fronts and upright pasterns, plus a lack of the required profile movement, something so important in this breed, and something we cannot afford to lose.

That said, I was overjoyed with my main winners, all of which I would quite happily have at home on my settee. My co-judge, Rachel Smith and I were able to agree on all but one of the major end-of-day awards. Both my CC and RCC were sired by the same dog, also having the same grandfather as my BPD. These particular lines featured heavily throughout my winners, so obviously stamping a definite type.

It ended up as a 'bit of a fawn day', but I can only judge the dogs entered and present; bring me good stripeys, partis and colours, and I will reward them.

Finally, I would like to mention the fabulous atmosphere around the ring. It was refreshing to hear and see such genuine applause and celebration from competitors and spectators alike.

Veteran dog (10, 2 abs, 1 WD)

What a super way to begin a day's judging – a fabulous class of veterans. All a credit to their owners and, all willing to play a very supportive role for the south west sausage producers.

1st Trouton's Runnel Run for Fun

This fawn boy is an old favourite of mine, I've had the pleasure of judging him on a couple of occasions, and he has always appealed. Now, at almost 8 years old, I believe he is better than ever. Classic in outline, so beautifully balanced, your hands just glide over him. Super head and expression, strong neck, the best of shoulders, well proportioned length of rib and loin. Well angulated rear, correct bone and neat feet. Today, he decided to pull out all the stops, moving purposefully around the ring with great enthusiasm, and a textbook daisy-cutting action, all the time holding his super topline. He just got better as the day progressed, and I was delighted to award him a thoroughly deserved RCC. Also, BVIS with the agreement with my co-judge.

2nd Fryer & Fryer's Ch Collooney Eye Love You at Stonefox

Another super typey fawn who I have always admired. Presents a lovely silhouette, with correct topline and underline. Lovely head, good angles front and rear. Excellent depth of chest, strong through the loin, into sweeping rear quarters, defined second thigh. In super muscular condition. Another super mover, a joy to watch. In tip-top condition and well handled.

3rd Shepherd's Ch Citycroft Sundae with Oxana JW ShCM ShCEx VW

Res Poole & Winkley-Balmer's Ch. Edenwhip Quantum of Solace

VHC Rishworth's Richclass King of Kings

Minor Puppy dog (17, 3 abs)

A lovely gathering of babies, all at varying stages of maturity

1st Winkley-Balmer & Winkley's Edenwhip Call Me at Night

6 months fawn, won this class on his overall make and shape. I loved his head and kind expression. Neat shoulders, ribs carried well back, definite arch over the loin. Enough depth a fill for his age. Nicely angulated behind, firm hocks and neat feet. Impressive profile movement. Sound away, a touch untidy coming towards, but should firm up as he grows and settles. A lovely boy.

2nd Allanson & Macdonald's Zoraden Simply the Zest of Macalldon

Another lovely fawn baby, also 6 months. Super head with beautiful rich pigment. Good neck fitting neatly into correctly placed shoulders. Balanced length of ribbing and loin. Good bone, pasterns and feet. Obviously happy to be in the ring, he had a real spring in his step on the up and back, so a little untidy, but steady on the go round, settling into a neat and typical gait.

3rd Fryer & Fryer's Deroonpark Rafferty at Stonefox

Res Poole, Morris & Waddell's Falconcrag Match Maker at Crosscop

VHC Brew's Crosscop Wanna Go for a Ride with Supeta

Puppy dog (8, 1 abs)

1st Morland's Zoraden Master Baker

8 months, fawn with white trim. Super youngster, with lots to admire. I loved his overall make and shape, nicely balanced without any exaggeration.. Masculine head, sweet expression, good neck into well angulated shoulders. Good depth of brisket, ribs carried well back. Defined loin of desired proportions, strong rear quarters. Correct pasterns and tidy feet. Sound and steady away and back, delightful in profile, covering the ground with a free and easy stride. Presented in super condition, my BPD winner, later taking RBPIS.

2nd Howgate & Hull's Palmik Turn It On Again

10 months blue brindle. Different in outline to first, longer and leaner all through. Nice head with neat ears. Ribs carried a long way back, well defined loin with correct topline. Quite long from stifle to hock. Free and easy profile movement, handled to advantage.

3rd Rankine & Levell's Reffton Kiri (imp Esp)

Res Penberthy's Cariadglas Baby Guinness

VHC Arkell's Barnesmore Celtic King

Junior dog (4)

1st Yacoby Wright's Cobyco Catch Your Eye

My find of the day! With a striking resemblance to a certain great uncle, it would have impossible for him not to catch my eye! 16 months fawn, presenting a beautifully balanced outline, correct angles fore and aft, without any exaggeration. Unmistakeably masculine, yet elegant, flowing from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. He has the most beautiful head, with such a kind eye. Long, strong neck, smooth over the shoulders. Plenty of depth and fill. Ribs carried well back, well defined and strong over the loin, super topline and underline. Well muscled rear end with good second thigh. Excellent bone, good spring of pastern and neat feet. Everything you see and feel comes together on the move; sound as a pound up and back, effortless in profile, covering the ground with an easy and efficient stride, driving off his hocks and holding his topline at all times. Presented in first class coat and condition, and handled to perfection. There was nothing to touch him today. Delighted to award him the CC, his third, and later, with the agreement of my co-judge, a well deserved BIS. Congratulations!

2nd Ellis' Citycroft Jules Rimet for Railfield

Rich brindle with white trim, 14 months, needs to mature further and drop and fill into his front. Kind expression, strong neck flowing into neat shoulders. Strong through the back and over the loin. A touch long from stifle to hock. Moved OK

3rd Chappell's Blueflight Brewin Up A Storm

Res Arkell's Hijacked of Suriya

Yearling dog (5)

1st Richards' Richclass From Here On Out

Fit and mature fawn, balanced in outline. Another without any exaggeration. Loved his head and kind expression. Ribs carried well back, well defined loin. Super rear quarters, with good bone and neat feet. Tends to drop his topline a touch when stacked, but won this class on his sound, steady and typical movement.

2nd Arkell's Hijacked of Suriya

Blue brindle of lovely make and shape. Finer all through than first, but well balanced within himself. Lovely head, neck fitting well into smooth shoulders. Good depth and fill, correct topline and underline. Good bone and feet. Moved well with a ground covering side gait.

3rd Price's Kierpark Moonlight Shadow among Silkdance JW

Res Sharp's Barnesmore Spanish Inquisition

VHC Brew's Nevedith Gold Blend

Novice dog (7, 1 abs)

1st Howgate & Hull's Palmik Turn It On Again

As 2nd Puppy dog

2nd Chappell's Blueflight Brewin Up A Storm

This 14 months blue boy appealed for his beautiful overall type and silky smooth lines. Bang on for size, nice head, good neck into well angulated front. Super depth and fill. Ribs carried well back, defined loin. Strong rear quarters, not overdone in anyway. Beautiful coat and skin. He is going through a 'silly phase', but hopefully his owner will persevere; when relaxed and settled, he has the correct topline and showed enough sound and typical movement to earn his placings today.

3rd Middleton's Stormida Neon Tiger

Res Arkell's Chikara iz Doma Proninykh

VHC Stephens' Jasteal Knight of Kynance

Special Beginners dog (13, 1 abs)

1st Trouton's Runnel Run for Fun

And later winning Best SpB in Show, as 1st Veteran dog

2nd Higginbottom's Ranveli Royal Duke of Dawnsafon

Pale fawn, very much my cup of tea. Presents a well balanced, unexaggerated outline. Masculine all through, starting at his handsome head, strong neck into well placed shoulders. Well proportioned length of ribbing to loin, good rear quarters. Moved very well, both up and down and in profile. Unlucky to meet the winner on such fabulous form.

3rd Severn's Boland Baloo for Nattah

Res Baulch's Nattah Potters Magic

VHC Douglas' Courtbirch Start a Fire

Graduate dog (17, 3 abs)

1st Winter, Yeates & Morland's Zoraden Maserati

Rich fawn, mature and presented in super-fit condition. Lovely overall outline, flowing smoothly from his handsome head all through to his superbly muscled rear quarters. Strong neck, well placed shoulders, excellent depth and fill. Strong through the back and over the loin, correct underline and topline. Sound and steady on the away and back, effortless and easy on the go round, covering the ground well.

2nd Perkins' Southgrove Keep It Moving to Zeglynn (imp Ned)

Another rich fawn of good overall type. Maculine head, enough neck and depth. I would prefer a touch more length of rib. Well defined loin, well muscled rear. Moved OK.

3rd Miluk & Miluk's Tumblers Adagio

Res Manners, McDonald & Chant's Florancy Dark and Stormy

VHC Morris, Waddell, Mycroft & Mitchell's Springfern Wild Thing at Crosscop

Post Graduate dog (9, 1 abs)

1st Turnbull's Ticks The Boxes at Turnstone

Pale brindle who won this mixed class on his overall quality and type, coupled with super free and easy movement. Balanced all through, nice head with kind eye. Correct neck into well angulated front, plenty of depth and fill. Ribs carried well back, well defined loin with definite arch, flowing smoothly into strong rear quarters. Good bone, pasterns and feet.

2nd Miluk & Miluk's Tumblers Westwood Prince Liam

Beautifully balanced rich fawn, with a super head, and long strong neck. Well placed shoulders, plenty of depth of brisket. Nice tuck up. Well defined arch over the loin, strong rear quarters. In lovely fit condition, moved well.

3rd Webber's Lolani Ride a Wild Trail JW.

Res Criddle's Palmik the Gambler with Truelove

VHC Wayman's Ranveli Beach Boy at Scarletfair

Limit dog (13, 2 abs)

1st McConkey's Barmoll Billy Joel

Mature fawn with great ring presence. Unmistakeably male. So well balanced in outline. He has the most beautiful head, with the kindest expression and good ears. Strong neck into muscular, well placed shoulders. Good depth of brisket, ribs carried well back. Strong back, well defined loin. Smooth underline and topline. Super rear quarters with moderate angulation. It all comes together on the move, true away and back, with easy and typical profile gait. In beautiful coat and condition.

2nd Soffe's Zoraden Macchiato JW

Close up to winner, rich red fawn with white trim. Balanced in outline, moderate all through without any exaggerations. Attractive head with super pigment. Correct angles front and rear. Strong back and well defined loin. Super condition and muscle. Handled to advantage.

3rd Shepherd's Kidaruka It's Showtime at Oxana JW

Res Hambling's Mossbawnhill Bit of a Dandy at Chaseover

VHC Winstone's Lolani Moonshine over Monelli JW

Open dog (10)

1st Winter, Yeates & Morland's Ch Lolani Cafe Amore

Smokey fawn, presents a very moderate and well balanced picture. You need to get your hands on to appreciate his qualities. Super for size, with no exaggerations. Nice head with neat ears. Super neck and shoulders with great depth and fill. Good ratio of ribbing to loin, which is strong and well defined. Lovely underline and corresponding topline. Super rear quarters with strong second thigh. Beautiful coat and skin. Moved with a sound and efficient, typical gait.

2nd Woodcroft & Yacoby Wright's Cobyco City Limits

A rich fawn who immediately appealed for his overall make and shape. Loved his head, super neck into well place shoulders. Good depth and underline. Strong over the loin with defined rise. Nicely angluated rear with strong second thigh. Good bone and feet. Super on the move, neat up and back with an effortless, free-flowing gait.

3rd Gibbins' Ch Osterfen Janus

Res Brew's Crosscop The Show Must Go On

VHC Perkins & Van der Schaaf's Ch Creme Anglaise Just Julian with Silkridge

Special Open Racing/Lure Coursing dog (6)

1st Winter, Yeates & Morland's Zoraden Maserati

And winning Best R/LC in show on the referee's decision, as 1st Graduate dog.

2nd Webber's Denimblue Willdo JW

Close up to winner, this blue dog is very much my type. Unexaggerated and balanced in outline, very well muscled and in super coat and condition. Super head and expression. Well off for depth and fill, strong through the back and loin. Excellent feet and pasterns, well angulated rear with good second thigh and low hocks. Moved soundly and effortlessly, covering the ground in typical style.

3rd Ryan's Twiggen Tit for Tat

Res Miluk & Miluk's Tumblers Adagio

VHC Manners, McDonald & Chant's Florancy Dark and Stormy

Louise Tope (judge)