Three Counties Agricultural Society

Firstly, I would like to thank three Counties for my invitation. Thanks also to Jeannie and Lynne, my stewards who looked after me so well, and kept the ring going so efficiently, allowing me to get through the enormous entry in time for the group. Finally, a huge thank you to the exhibitors for bringing your beautiful whippets under me. It was extremely flattering and humbling to receive such an amazing entry.

I was looking for a traditional whippet with the classic moderate build that enables it to do its job. Extreme length of body and hind angles, whilst enabling spectacular profile movement, does not allow the agility and speed needed to perform effectively.

On the downside, there were a number of coarse, heavy fronts, which spoil the elegance of our beautiful breed and some over muscled hind quarters, which cause bulgy thighs instead of the smooth, flat muscle we expect to see. Finally, there were a surprising number of whippets with disappointing fore and hind movement.

Luckily, I was able to find exactly what I was looking for in every class, which, I’m afraid, is going to make my critique rather samey! I would also like to say that in most classes, I could easily have awarded more red cards than I had placings!

Minor Puppy Dog (5:0)

1st McDonald’s All Eyes on Me Reverhof at Solentwaves (imp Lva). Well balanced 8 month old boy, good depth of chest for his age, lovely flowing lines, well bent stifle, and nice spring of pastern. Could be a bit more settled on the move, but I could see that he is true and has lovely profile movement.

2nd Powell, Mycroft and Mycroft’s Supeta’s Jamie Dodger for Almakaeala. Another quality puppy, slightly larger set, and a little more raw than 1. Masculine head and well-made front, lovely body shape, with good length of neck and loin, good top and underlines. Movement true coming and going.

3rd Winkely-Balmer & Winkley’s Bohosoul Firestarter by Edenwhip

Puppy Dog (11:1)

1st Wilton-Clark’s Shalfleet Oliver Twist. Shapely young dog of ideal size. Moderate outline, with good spring of rib. Lovely topline which he retained on the move. Lovely length of neck set on well laid shoulders, unexaggerated hind end. Easily the best mover in this class.

2nd Brodie & Owen’s Wolfcastle Crown Jules. Larger made boy, but still typey. Lovely lines, correct neck and shoulder, well muscled loin. Lovely easy profile movement.

3rd Poole, Morris & Waddell’s Falconcrag Match Maker at Crosscop

Junior Dog (11:2)

1st Tyson’s Starceylon Dancing Master JW. Nicely made black presented in gleaming condition. Very typey in outline. Nice head and expression, good length of neck and well laid shoulder. He stands over plenty of ground, and moved well round the ring.

2nd Glithero & Philo’s Palmik Against All Odds for Coppershell. Taller brindle boy, but typey and still filled my eye. Nicely curved outline, powerful quarters. Really powered round the ring.

3rd Jones’ Jothryn Johnny Be Good

Yearling Dog (5:2)

A small class but filled with quality.

1st Hughes & Jackson’s Penbriar Corruleum Sky. Blue boy who exudes whippetty type. Shapely and elegant with no exaggerations, well made front, flowing lines and correctly made hind quarters. A pleasure to watch on the move.

2nd Yacoby-Wright’s Ch Cobyco Catch Your Eye. Nicely balanced fawn boy with masculine head, nicely laid shoulder, long neck and sweeping lines, lovely topline and tuck up and strong rear. Excelled in profile movement. Just a little more heavily built than my ideal.

3rd Severn’s Boland Baloo for Nattah

Novice Dog (8:2)

1st Palmik Against All Odds for Coppershell

2nd Perkins’ Silkridge Rapture with Zeglynn. 11 month old brindle/white trim. Presenting a lovely shape with nice topline and length of loin. Moved well all round. Needs a little time to come into himself.

3rd Rodgers’ Wentvalley Pied Piper

Graduate Dog (15:4)

1st Tristram’s Supeta’s Just Do It. Fawn/white parti-colour who excelled in movement. Well balanced, shapely boy, with correctly placed shoulder, nicely rising loin, good bone and feet, and well muscled thigh.

2nd Jones’ Jothryn Johnny Be Good. Brindle of nice size, 3rd in Junior. Nice head and expression, typey moderate, outline and unexaggerated hind leg. Moved well all round. Less mature than 1.

3rd Saxby’s Sandspring Sea Master

Post Graduate Dog (12:3)

1st Turnbull’s Ticks The Boxes at Turnstone. Typey pale brindle of nice size; balanced and unexaggerated. Lovely head and expression and will set ear carriage. Correctly made front quarters, good length of neck and body, with lovely topline which he kept on the move, nice spring of pastern, and good bone. Moved well coming and going, and with drive and purpose. RCC.

2nd Wayman’s Ranveli Beach Boy at Scarletfair. Brindle boy presenting a lovely outline, nice head with a kind expression. Good length of neck and correctly placed shoulder, lovely moderate rear. Really covered the ground on the move.

3rd Yeates, Winter & Morland’s Zoraden Maserati

Limit Dog (15:3)

What a class. I can honestly say that I could have placed every one of the dogs in this class!

1st Soffe’s Zoraden Macchiato JW. Fawn/black mask of lovely type. Nice outline with slight arch over loin. Good shoulder placement, plenty of length and well made strong quarters. Movement true coming and going, and excellent in profile.

2nd Shepherd’s Kidaruka It’s Showtime at Oxana JW. Very little to choose between these two. Fawn boy of lovely shape, great depth of brisket, correct top and underlines with lovely curves. Nicely angulated hind leg and powerful rear. Powered round the ring.

3rd Wayman’s Collooney Charlie Brown at Scarletfair JW

Open Dog (8:1)

1st Holland’s Elmanash Glenfidditch. Handsome, unexaggerated fawn boy who is whippet through and through. He is masculine yet retains the elegance we expect in the breed. Lovely flowing lines from nose to tail. Correctly made front with lovely smooth shoulder, well let down brisket, nicely ribbed, with perfect topline and good tuck up, strong quarters with good bend of stifle and nice second thigh. Moved well fore and aft, and his profile movement is effortless. He seemed to get better and better as the day went on. I was happy to award him his crowning CC and BOB.

2nd Winkley-Balmer & Winkley’s Edenwhip Can I Be Him. Lovely typey fawn boy of ideal size. Correct shoulder placement, lovely, elegant neck and flowing lines, good length of loin, and unexaggerated rear. Another whose movement I could watch all day. Pushed hard for top honours today.

3rd Yeates, Winter & Morland’s Ch Lolani Café Amore

Veteran Dog (5:0)

Another beautiful class with several of my favourite boys!

1st Trouton’s Runnel Run for Fun. 8 year old fawn boy whom I have loved for ages. He has is of classic type, lovely moderate outline with all the right curves. Well laid shoulder, and nicely filled front, correctly made hind quarters. A delight to watch on the move. Best Veteran in Breed.

2nd Shepherd’s Ch Citycroft Sundae for Oxana JW ShCEx VW. Fawn/white trim, also 8 years old. Another typey boy with lovely moderate silhouette. He has good depth and length, plenty of bone, and good pasterns. Moved with plenty of drive.

3rd Cahill & Timberlake’s Enolacans Antonio Banderas at Chipperlake

Minor Puppy Bitch (11:2)

1st Le’vell’s Velandor Ballerina Baby. Pretty fawn baby of 8 months. Sweet head and expression, good shoulder placement, and lovely length of body. True on the move coming and going, and in profile. She needs a little more confidence but has lots of potential.

2nd Ellis’ Railfield Singing in Therain. Pale fawn girl of just 7 months. Nice outline with well laid shoulder, good depth for her age, plenty of length and well made rear end. Moved beautifully in profile, but still needs to settle a bit coming and going.

3rd Perkins’ Zeglynn Ginger Punch

Puppy Bitch (11:2)

1st Lister & Swarbuck’s Edenwhip Ima Bright Star. Pretty fawn baby of a correct size. Lovely head with a sweet expression, typical outline with no exaggerations, good bone too. Good length and balance, nicely set front and well made rear. Nice topline which she kept on the move. Best Puppy Bitch and Best Puppy.

2nd Short’s Collooney Celeste. Pale brindle of 9 months. A rangier type than 1, well balanced curvy outline, good front and infill, lovely topline and tuck up, strong, quarters. Excelled in profile movement.

3rd Copper’s Crosscop Im Alwayz Yours at Ballauren

Junior Bitch (12:1)

Another beautiful class where many lovely bitches had to go cardless.

1st Walker’s Runaround Rosetta of Shoalingam. Lovely classic fawn girl of just 12 months. Pretty head with melting expression. Nicely made front with good infill, well laid shoulder and typey outline. Moved well both coming and going and in profile.

2nd Howgate & Hull’s Palmik Take Me Home JW. Elegant fawn girl, a little taller than 1. Lovely outline with gentle arch and correct underline, good angulation, nice bone and feet. Moved with plenty of drive.

3rd Gillespie’s Penbriar Touch A Dream

Yearling Bitch (11:3)

1st Scott-Bisset’s Wayland Spice Girl. This girl exudes whippetiness from every pore! Lovely curvy outline with good angles front and rear, classic topline which she kept on the move, good depth of chest and well sprung rib cage. True coming and going, lovely easy profile movement.

2nd Hopkins’s Shelsue Jingling Jennie. Fawn girl of similar type to 1, but needing a little more time to fill out. Sweetest of heads, shapely outline with nicely made shoulder and good length of neck and loin. Moderate hindquarters with good 2nd thigh. Moved well all round.

3rd Booker’s Longmire Blue for You

Novice Bitch (19:4)

1st Runaround Rosetta of Shoalingam

2nd Pollock’s Crosscop Glamour in Pink from Supeta. Pretty 10 month old baby with gentle expression. Good depth for her age, nicely balanced body and moderate outline. Moved well all round.

3rd Short’s Collooney Bellissima Bloom

Graduate Bitch (18:8)

1st Reece’s Saleehah Stardancer. I judged this brindle girl as a puppy. I loved her then and am happy to see she is fulfilling her promise. She has a classic outline, with moderate lines, a good topline which she keeps on the move, well set shoulder and good bend of stifle. Easily the best mover in the class.

2nd Finch’s Starceylon Queen of Dorne and Zenobia JW. Typey black girl, longer set than 1, gorgeous feminine head with sweet expression, well laid shoulder and nicely filled front. True coming and going.

3rd Hoskins’ Bodlon Kind of Magic at Shelsue

Post Graduate Bitch (14:8)

1st Hills’ Shimmeree Cool Calico. Beautiful blue girl, a true whippet in every way. She is balanced with no exaggerations. Classic curvy outline with correct topline held on the move and a good underline. Sweeping lines, lovely length of neck, correct shoulder placement and moderate rear. True movement fore and aft, and effortless power in profile. Beautifully presented. Happy to award her the CC.

2nd Wilton-Clark’s Shalfleet Easter Sonnet JW. Elegant brindle girl balanced with smooth lines, good depth of chest and nicely made front, lovely, curved underline, good bone and nicely sprung pasterns. Excellent movement all round.

3rd Reed & Pace’s Dejare Dream On

Limit Bitch (18:2)

A really strong class where I didn’t have nearly enough cards to go round.

1st Maxwell’s Maccus Rosa Gallica Daphne JW. Another I have placed highly before. Lovely fawn bitch with flowing lines, sweet head and expression, long, elegant neck, sweeping lines, good length of loin, curvy top and underlines, and well made hind quarters. Movement true and with plenty of drive.

2nd Service & Poole’s Crosscop Proud Mary. Sweet fawn/white particolour of lovely size exhibiting classic elegance. Pretty head, feminine outline, well laid shoulder and nicely constructed hind quarters, presented in lovely hard condition. Moved with drive and purpose.

3rd Reed & Pace’s Dejare A Dash of Hope

Open Bitch (10:2)

1st Morris, Waddell, Mycroft & Mitchell’s Crosscop You Are My Destiny at Ardencote. Nicely balanced fawn lady with classic lines. Sweet head and expression, lovely long neck and flowing lines. Well laid shoulders, good depth of brisket, nice tuck up, and strong, correctly made quarters. Workmanlike and elegant. Moved nicely fore and aft and profile movement was a true example of effortless power. RCC.

2nd Howgate & Hull’s Palmik Truth About Love JW. Pretty, pale fawn girl, slightly rangier than 1, but nonetheless typey and elegant. Good length of neck, running into correct topline, plenty of heart room, good length of loin, and moderately angulated hind leg. Presented in beautiful condition with good muscle tone. Moved well all round.

3rd Short’s Ch Collooney Dita von Tease

Veteran Bitch (11:5)

1st Hills’ Shimmeree Black Satin JW. Lovely curvy 8 year old girl presented in gleaming condition. Super head and neck, flowing into correct topline and strong loin. Nicely made hind quarters, with good second thigh. Lovely to watch on the move.

2nd Smith’s Welstar Airs and Graces at Cryhavoc. Elegant fawn 7 year old. Lovely curvey outline, good depth of chest, and strong quarters. Nice bone and well sprung pasterns. Moved with drive and purpose.

3rd Gallie’s Gwendariff Thanks A Latte

Vanna Leathart