South West Whippet Club

Thank you to SWWC for the invitation to judge at your lovely club and to my stewards Karen and Bill for helping to keep things running smoothly. I was delighted to receive a super entry; thank you to all the exhibitors for your entries; it was greatly appreciated as was the gracious manner in which my decisions were accepted.  

My lovely co-judge Louise Tope and I very much admired each others principal winners and were in agreement on all but one of the top awards.  

A few general observations to begin with;

The whippet breed standard states that movement should be “true coming and going”. Unfortunately, I found more bitches than not to be either very wide behind and/or extremely untidy in front; toeing in, sometimes almost plaiting in front or with wide and erratic front movement. In some classes it was hard to find more than a couple of bitches who displayed correct, sound whippet movement. It is easy to get drawn in to looking for flashy profile gait above all else and while I love to see a whippet moving out with a free and easy stride; it should not be to the detriment of sound movement on the up and back. As breeders it is certainly something to pay attention to when considering future breeding plans before it becomes an even bigger problem than it already is.  

There were many that I found to be too long in loin and lacking the curves that are synonymous with the breed. When stacked some had almost no discernible topline; being flat from the shoulders onwards. This was further highlighted when watching them on the move; with many flattening out even further.

As is ever the case, there was a huge variety in type and size. I was looking for a balanced, moderate, sound moving , well muscled, curvy bitch of nice size and in the majority of classes I was able to find the type that fit my interpretation of the standard. I was delighted with my winners and there were several bitches that I would have been more than happy to award a CC.

VB (9,1a)

1. Gallie’s Gwendariff Thanks A Latte. A lovely way to start the day. 9 year old fawn bitch. She is elegant, curvy, correct size and so sound on the move. Fabulous front construction; clean well laid shoulders, she displays such a classically whippety outline with a lovely topline and defined tuck up. A picture of balance which was very evident on the move where she held her topline while moving out with drive and purpose. In lovely condition; a credit to her owners.  

2. Brown’s Ardencote Star Maker. Another correct size fawn sharing many of the same attributes as first. Feminine, quality and with a gleaming coat. This bitch is beautiful to go over; she is so smooth, moderately angulated and balanced. She moves well in all directions. A close decision.    

3. McConkey’s Barmoll Bailey’s on Ice

MPB (12, 1a)

1. Samson’s Zoraden Orange Is Da New Blue. 6 month old red fawn of ideal size. She was a real baby; just as I would expect at her age but already so composed. Her head is just beautiful; feminine and with a gorgeous expression, fine and neat ears. Topline is still to fully develop but I am sure with maturity this will come. Well filled front, very clean shoulders and depth of chest for her age. Lovely neat feet and well sprung pasterns. Her rear quarters matched her front presenting a very balanced picture. She came in to her own on the move – being the most settled in the class both in profile and on the up and back. Presented in fabulous condition.  

2. Gillespie’s Penbriar Touch A Dream. 8 month fawn. A quality moderate, compact and well balanced puppy. She already has such a curvy outline; with corresponding top and underlines and balanced front and rear angulation. Another with a very pretty head and in beautiful coat and condition. Not quite as settled on the move as the winner today.  

3. Blair’s Silkridge Sunday Girl at Twinhoe

PB (9) A close decision between the top 3 in this class; first just being the most settled on the move.

1. Howgate & Hull’s Palmik 10 month old fawn and white bitch with such a well constructed front; with ideal angulation, bladed bone in to neat feet and well sprung pasterns, super depth of chest, good tuck up and already displaying a lovely topline; presenting an overall picture of balance and true whippet shape. She excelled on the move; moving with reach and drive in profile and accuracy to and from. As always from this kennel she was in super condition and presented beautifully by her handler. I was pleased that my co-judge agreed for her to be BPIS.  

2. Wignall’s Starswift Seductress. Another lovely fawn puppy; very similar to first in many respects. Full of quality and breed type. She is well balanced. Just not as steady on the move today. I am sure she will mature in to a lovely bitch.  

3. Perkins & Mowbray’s West Chelan Just Josie with Silkridge (Imp It)

JB (11, 1a)

1. Perkins & Van der Schaaf’s Crème Anglaise’s Cassablanca with Silkridge JW (Imp Nld). 16 month old pale fawn bitch who has the most stunning head; her dark eye giving her such a beautiful expression. Her front assembly is absolutely text book; well filled in front, super return of upper arm and clean well laid shoulders. This enabled her to move with real purpose in profile with perfect footfall. She is ultra feminine and of lovely size. Her sound movement coming and going won her the class.  

2. Wheeler’s Ranveli Royal Touch 16 month old pale fawn; she also has a gorgeous head with perfect rose shaped ears, and alert expression. Lovely size and very feminine and elegant; balanced angulation front and rear. Just a little longer through the body than is my ideal. Moved out very well in profile.  

3. Hoskins’ Shelsue Jingling Jennie

YB (6, 3a)

1. Sampson’s Dapperdiva Milk And Honey JW. Now almost 2 years old; this fawn bitch is very much the type and shape that I was hoping to find. Fabulous front angulation; matching with her well muscled rear quarters and ideal body proportions all adding up to a very balanced whippet. She has the S shape curves that the breed should possess. Her coat is beautiful and she has a very pretty head, good under jaw and neat ears, which she showed off to her advantage being very responsive to her handler. She is not a flashy mover; but covers the ground well with a daisy cutting action and holds her topline at all times.  

2. Howgate & Hull’s Palmik Pale fawn of lovely quality and in superb condition, very well put together throughout, scopier than first but very well balanced in angulation. She excels on the move in all directions. Presented in wonderful order.

3. Barnes’ Doddridge Strictly Cha Cha

NB (8,1a)

1. Howgate & Hull’s Palmik Take Me Home. 1st Puppy Bitch

2. Turnbull’s Gwenny Dream Diva At Turnstone. This lovely fawn and white bitch was much more settled in this second class and really showed off her lovely movement. She is feminine, elegant and curvy. Pretty head and very alert inquisitive expression.  

3. Hoskin’s Shelsue Jingling Jennie

SBB (12)

1. Saxby’s Sandspring Sea Coral. Fawn and white of a lovely type and overall shape. I found her to be very well put together without exaggeration. She had a well angulated front and corresponding hind quarters. Pretty head with appealing expression. She was super sound on the up and back and moved with adequate reach and drive in profile.  

2. Tristram’s Pagarni’s Princess Elsa. Correct size, elegant and curvy fawn; a little more compact in the body than 1. She too had a very nice front assembly. Did have a tendency to shorten herself up a little on the stack but as she relaxed I could see she had a very nice outline. She is a sound and efficient mover.  

3. Wignall’s Starswift Seductress

GB (13,3a)

1. Tristram’s Pagarni’s Princess Elsa Second in SBB

2. Falconer’s Kuriwao Serafina Star. Red fawn bitch of a good size. Very good front angulation, well laid and smooth shoulders. Just enough topline and a well defined underline. Nicely muscled moderately angulated rear quarters; which she used to propel herself around the ring with drive.  

3. Soffe’s Penbriar Rocket Star

PGB (13,1)

1. Morland’s Zoraden You Are My Universe JW. This 22 month old fawn bitch had it all for me today; correct size, curvy and balanced outline, coat like silk, well muscled and moved like a dream. She just flows under the hand from her gorgeous head, into the smoothest of shoulders, over her fabulous topline and right down to her neat feet. Her return of upper arm is superb and allows her the freedom in front to move out with panache. Her rear quarters are in harmony with her front; being well angulated and powerful. Although she is by no means flashy she is just so correct – completely true coming and going and moves with the daisy cutting action in profile that the breed standard calls for. She has both style and elegance in abundance. A truly quality bitch who I was delighted to award her first CC. She was later awarded RBIS in agreement with my co-judge.  

2. Gillespie’s Penbriar Betwitched. Beautiful black from a bigger mould but who is still extremely feminine; she has curves In the right places. She really is such a gorgeous shape. She is very well put together; being balanced in her front and rear angulation and with correct body proportions. She was a sound and steady mover.  

3. Saxby’s Runaround Amazing Grace At Sandspring

LB (11, 2a)

1. Rees’ Kierpark Dancing Queen. Very appealing pale fawn brindle who has matured very well; I feel she has now dropped in to her frame and looking the best I have seen her. Slightly longer than most of my other winners but I found her to be well balanced and full of quality. Good angulation front and rear, correct bladed bone, good feet and pasterns were well sprung. Smooth shoulders flow into a gentle rise over the loin. Her movement gave her the edge over second; being very tidy in front action and also moving out with ease; covering the ground effortlessly.  

2. Blake’s Silkridge In A Moment At Mazargo ShCEX. Fawn brindle who presents a very attractive picture being curvy in outline and well balanced in angulation. Presented in fabulous muscular condition by her excellent handler and moved out very well; particularly in profile.  

3. Morris, Waddell, Mycroft & Mitchell’s Crosscop You Are My Destiny At Ardencote

OB (5) This was a fabulous class; all 5 won classes at my previous appointment and I would have been happy to award all of them a CC today. I was truly spoilt for choice.

1. Yacoby-Wright’s Ch Cobyco City Lights. 4 year old golden fawn bitch of the highest quality. Her outline is my ideal; body not too long, correct proportion of rib to loin, sweeping underline and a gentle curve over the loin. Well filled front, excellent return of upper arm and the smoothest of shoulders. Neat feet and adequate spring of pastern. Rear quarters were moderately angulated with good width of second thigh. It all comes together to present a picture of elegance and balance. She was so well muscled but not over done in any way. On the move she is fluid and effortless in profile and entirely true coming and going. I loved her. RCC.

2. Brown’s Ch Ardencote Sweet Destiny For Bluestreak. Fawn and white bitch who I awarded the RCC to previously and I still think she is beautiful; perhaps looking even better now at 6 years old than the last time I judged her. She is of ideal size, proportions and type. She is so feminine, balanced and moves extremely well in all directions.  

3. Perkins Silkridge Jasmine

SRCB (5)

1. Sampson’s Shiny Sensations For Your Eyes Only To Dapperdiva (imp Nld) Scopy brindle bitch in fabulous condition. Attractive head with lovely expression. Nicely constructed in all respects; having good angulation front and rear. A little longer than is my personal preference but she still had a very shapely outline. She held her topline well on the move where she excelled in profile movement.  

2. Leathart’s Ringmore Hecate. Very feminine cream of correct size. She is moderate and elegant and has lovely curves. She has the most lovely head and expression. A really classic type of whippet.  

3. Soffe’s Penbriar Rocket Star  

Rachel Smith (Citycroft)