South Wales Kennel Association

South Wales Kennel Association Oct 2025

Judge: Cathie Brown (Bluestreak)

I was delighted to judge this efficient and well run show.

Firstly I want to thank everyone who entered their precious whippets for my opinion. It was a privilege and a huge pleasure to judge them all. Each one had merits that I appreciated and enjoyed. Thank you all for bringing them.

Having attended very few shows over the past year I thoroughly enjoyed judging so many whippets which were new to my eyes. I was very much cheered by the quality exhibited. There are, of course, always areas where one can pick holes and look for improvement in the general standard. These crop up with regularity in many critiques, straight upper arm, upright pasterns, over angulated rears, flat toplines, tail carriage to name a few. There is no need for me to repeat what many judges have expressed in their critiques so eloquently in the recent past. However I would like to make some general comments about presentation. With very few exceptions the whippets I judged were in beautiful clean condition, teeth were (mostly) well cared for, and nails neatly trimmed. There were a few slightly overweight but none grossly so and it is often difficult with bitches to maintain a perfect weight as they cycle from season to season.

What I am really sad to report is my disappointment in the standard of some of the handling. Too many of the whippets I judged were presented on the table with a fine lead drawn tightly around the top of their necks, in a couple of cases a superfine chain, often with the handler exerting a tight grip, or even a twist on it, as they attempted to keep their exhibit stationary. Whippets are gentle, patient creatures who do not need this punitive treatment to keep them in a show pose. I am not objecting here to the positioning of the show lead, it is the constriction around the throat that I believe to be unnecessary and I was sad to see this practice used by so many. Unfortunately this also applied when exhibitors moved their dogs, with many leads so tight they exerted constant pressure thus forcing up their whippet's head. This is uncomfortable for the dog and therefore alters their outline on the move and affects their overall gait. Whippets shown in this manner have no chance of showing an elegant arched neck, and their toplines flatten. They move better, and show off their outlines to the best when they are allowed to use their bodies freely, to balance themselves and move naturally. I am by no means throwing shade at all handlers by these comments, there are many fantastic ones in the whippet ring, and I fully appreciate that some enthusiastic youngsters pull against the lead, I am not referring to them here. Whippets are easier to assess when standing and moving in a relaxed, natural and happy way. The best exhibitors understand this, they train their dogs well and have no need of force in their presentation methods. I dearly want to see whippets handled with less use of forceful control and more kindness, which is very achievable with a little work and positive training.

Be assured that I was most certainly not judging handling skills, but if the outline and movement of a whippet is spoiled by poor handling it will naturally impact on its placing.

On a positive note I believe that movement was better in this entry than when I last judged a championship show in this country 4 years ago. Profile movement was very acceptable in the great majority. Of course there were dogs that toed in and moved wide or close, or with a few flicks here and there, but happily these were in the minority. The floor surface in this venue is possibly rather unforgiving which may be why I observed some intermittent unsoundness and in a couple of cases actual lameness.

It is not my custom to write a long critique for each whippet that simply churns out phrases from the standard. My principal winners were beautiful examples of the breed. In some classes a few more cards would have come in handy. I was pleased with all my winners and placed dogs and I appreciated each and every whippet shown on the day.

Veteran Dog 5(1)

1st Ch Wheelspin Silver Shadow among Silkdance JW VW (Ms C Price)

Handsome 8 year old fawn dog. Beautifully proportioned and moving well. Good front, well laid shoulder with his elbows neatly tucked in to his brisket. Nice low hocks.

2nd Jimanica Just Dreaming (Miss J Barkas)

Particolour 9 year old male, moved out very smartly around the ring with good extension. Well made, presented in beautiful condition.

Minor Puppy Dog 4(0)

1st Wolfscastle Mr Luva Luva at Hengilfach (Mr I & Mrs L Bayley)

Dark brindle and white, 7months in absolutely wonderful condition, hocks well let down, moved well, lovely underline, should grow into a very handsome mature dog.

2nd Wolfscastle We Found Luv (Miss K & Mr Ds Walters & Cummings)

Smokey fawn brindle, brother of the winner. Again in the most beautiful condition, good balance and shape making a pleasing outline. He moved a little erratically today but this was his handlers first ever show, who did a great job.

Puppy Dog 4(0)

1st Kierpark Devil in Disguise (Mr K J & Mrs K M Rees & Jones)

Red Brindle pup of 9 months. Super outline with correct proportions all through for his age. Quite lively on the move, but settled to go really well. Very nice dog, with a handsome head, masculine without being heavy. I was delighted to award him Best Puppy.

2nd Cobyco Capture The Look at Redfoxia (Miss J Foxwell)

Blue brindle, 10 months, another nicely put together puppy, pleasing make and shape with an elegant neck, well let down hocks and correct pasterns. These were two nice puppies.

Junior Dog 6(2)

1st Penwincoed Mr Magoo (Ms J M Lloyd

Blue fawn brindle male, 16 months, strong and masculine with a lovely whippet outline. True coming and going, nice sound dog.

2nd Edenwhip Oregano (Mrs E K & Miss L Mallinson)

Dark brindle, flowing racy outline, showed very well, different type to the winner with lots to like.

Yearling Dog 1(0)

1st Celticmoon Shadow Spell at Silverthyme (Ms V A Lindsay)

Brindle dog, nicely made, curvy in all the right places good underline. Hard to assess on the move as he was pulling to absent himself from the ring, making life tough for his handler.

Novice Dog 8(2)

1st Wolfscastle Mr Luva Luva at Hengilfach (Mr I & Mrs L Bayley)

2nd Ohoka Tip Top (Mrs F Graham)

Only unseen dog in this class. Well proportioned fawn with good profile movement. strong over loin and moderate rear. Beautiful head and neck.

Graduate Dog 5(1)

1st Barnesmore The Lion King of Redfoxia (Miss J Foxwell)

Smoky fawn brindle, showed beautifully for his handler although a little tense holding his neck rather stiffly. His very nice outline and and lovely whippet shape were evident when he finally relaxed. Good movement. Handsome dog, well deserving his red card.

2nd Swistir Talk of The Town (Mr K J & Miss S T Thomas & Prynne)

Red brindle with white trim, moved with confidence, attractive underline with good length of loin.

Post Graduate Dog 5(1)

1st Stormida Neon Tiger (Mr S J & Mr L O Middleton & Gilhooly)

Brindle particolour, smart, beautifully presented dog, very elegant, built on racy lines. His movement won him the class, very true in every direction. attractive head and neck.

2nd Reffton Kiri (Imp Esp) (Mrs A Le'vell)

Red fawn and white, a more compact model than the winner, lovely head and expression, neatly made with good front assembly. Another good mover.

Limit Dog 14(3)

1st Ticks The Boxes at Turnstone (Mr J & Mrs V Turnbull)

Fawn Brindle, handsome, well balanced, masculine and shapely. Curves in the right places. Moved well all round. Very attractive boy. I was pleased to award him the RCC.

2nd Zoraden Simply The Zest of Macalldon JW (Miss C & Mr R Allansson & Macdonald)

Smart red fawn and white dog. Beautiful head and expression. Another very nice example of the breed. Presented well. Two lovely dogs.

Open Dog 9(1)

1st Ch Cobyco Catch Your Eye (Mrs L Yacoby-Wright)

Beautiful very pale fawn male. This dog ticks all the right boxes. His outline is pure classic whippet, the standard fits him like a glove. Lovely coat and skin, gorgeous head and expression. Moved beautifully and typically, he thoroughly deserved the CC and BOB

2nd Ch Lolani Cafe Amore (Miss D & Mr L R & Miss A Yeates & Winter & Morland)

Another classy boy, smoky fawn with a gleaming coat. Super elegant and balanced whippet, moved very nicely. Two beautiful dogs from a good class.

Good Citizen Dog 8(2)

1st Runnel Run for Fun VW (Mrs B E C Trouton)

Fawn, handsome well made veteran with plenty of scope, in great condition, handled really well. Two well behaved dogs as one would expect in this class!

2nd Ohoka Tip Top (Mrs F Graham)

Veteran Bitch 8(1)

1st Crosscop It’s Magic for Lawleymoon (Mrs Tl & Mr Pd Lawley)

Beautiful typical golden fawn bitch of 8 years. In fantastic condition. Exquisite quality. I've rewarded her highly in the past and she does not disappoint as a veteran. A worthy best veteran today.

2nd Citycroft Grace Kelly of Runnel JW (Mrs B E C Trouton)

Attractive red fawn particolour 7 years young. Well balanced with good length and attractive outline. Presented in beautiful condition.

Minor Puppy Bitch 6(1)

1st Starluxluna Cosmic Alchemy (Mrs J Cartwright)

Pale fawn brindle, nice quality puppy bitch of 8 months. Very smooth under the hand, lovely underline.

 2nd Wolfscastle Crazy in Luv (Miss Z & Miss E Brodie & Owen)

Dark brindle, just 7 months old, good make and shape for age with lots to like. Nice length of loin with sweeping curves.

Two attractive puppies with plenty of maturing to do as one would expect in a MP class. Both moved well in profile.

Puppy Bitch 5(2)

1st Cobyco Capture The Moment (Mrs L Yacoby-Wright)

Pale fawn brindle, 11 months, nicely mature for puppy, she moved well maintaining her topline, well let down hocks. Beautiful coat and skin, well muscled with good length of loin. Plenty to appreciate in this quality whippet.

2nd Cobyco Capture The Magik (Miss C S Cockwell)

Litter sister to the winner, pale fawn built on similar lines, beautiful head and a lovely curvy body, showing excellent type and quality. Well presented.

Junior Bitch 4(0)

1st Crosscop Enticing Lawleymoon (Mrs Tl & Mr Pd Lawley)

Pale fawn brindle with a gorgeous head and expression, moved very well, so much to like here, beautiful underline, topline. Very smooth under the hand. All round a beautifully proportioned whippet.

2nd Cushtiwood She’ll Do Nicely for Doddridge (Mrs B Barnes)

Cream, with beautiful coat and skin, moved really well. Attractive flowing curves. Shown in beautiful condition. Two very nice juniors

Yearling Bitch 5(2)

1st Tervanty Dragon Song at Palmik JW (Mr M & Ms Y Howgate & Hull)

Pale cream fawn, gorgeous curvaceous make and shape, correct proportions, well balanced all through and beautifully presented.

2nd Nevedith Hi Per (Mr H. Wharton)

Dark brindle girl, She moved a treat from every direction, nicely balanced, good underline and topline. A great deal to like about her. Two good quality yearling whippet girls.

Novice Bitch 11(3)

1st Pelyma Certainly Snazzy (Mrs L Griffiths)

Classic fawn, third in junior, she showed herself off to greater advantage in this class as she seemed to relax into her frame which showed off her many attributes in a better light. Gorgeous head, really attractive whippet. Very well presented.

2nd Barnesmore Stargazer (Mr H. Wharton)

Creamy fawn brindle with heavy white trim. Very nice little bitch, good strong second thigh, well bent pasterns, correct underline. Showed beautifully for her handler.

Graduate Bitch 14(4)

1st Zoraden Orange Is Da New Blue at Romaclove (Miss L Samson)

Red fawn with white trim. Really gorgeous girl, lovely head and expression, extremely well constructed, super front with well placed upper arm and smooth well laid shoulder, correct rear, balanced elegant and curvy all through with a good strong loin. Immaculate movement, didn't put a foot wrong. She looked even better in the challenge and thoroughly deserved the CC, her first, I hope there are more to come.

2nd Zobyco Cobyco Paranoia (Imp Pol) (Mrs L Yacoby-Wright)

Very pretty red brindle bitch, beautiful outline, another really good mover with fantastic scope. Beautifully balanced with graceful flowing lines, she is well constructed front and rear. Another lovely young whippet girl.

Post Graduate Bitch 12(1)

1st Zoraden Naughty at Forty (Miss A Morland)

Blue fawn, another with a beautiful correct whippet outline, and in spite of its colour her coat was gleaming. Pretty head, excellent proportions all through and moving well.

2nd Starswift Seductress (Mrs S Wignall)

Fawn bitch. So much to appreciate in this gorgeous quality bitch, super underline, curves and angles in all the right places. Went beautifully for her team of handlers.

Good depth of quality in this class.

Limit Bitch 7(1)

1st Collooney Bellissima Bloom JW (Mr D G & Mrs Y L Short)

Black with white trim. She absolutely lit up this class with her amazing gleaming coat and show attitude. She's built on racy lines and shown in very fit condition emphasising her excellent structure and movement. Beautifully handled. Well deserved the RCC.

2nd Wolfscastle Be Juled (Miss Z & Miss E Brodie & Owen)

Dark brindle and white, another lovely whippet shown in terrific condition. Good conformation and balance. Moved really well.

Open Bitch 10(1)

1st Ch Palmik Truth About Love JW (Mr M & Ms Y Howgate & Hull)

Cream fawn, Excellent quality bitch with scope and style, lovely topline and good length of loin, correct bone and moved to a tee. Handled beautifully showing her to perfection.

2nd Romaclove The Power of Love (Miss L Samson)

What a stunning blue bitch, she has the most beautiful body and whippety shape. Another in a gleaming coat, which is impressive in a blue, she is so elegant and her movement was spot on.

Another class deep in quality.

Good Citizen Bitch 4(1)

1st Citycroft Aphrodite of Runnel (Mrs B E C Trouton)

Red brindle, very well balanced with a pretty head, good bone and in excellent well muscled fit condition.

2nd Alysando's Rainbow Skies (Ms A H Handley)

Blue fawn, a veteran, showing really well and in absolutely wonderful condition. I loved her kind expression and the way she went for her owner.

Two good whippet citizens.

Judge: Cathie Brown