East Anglian Whippet Club

East Anglian Whippet Club - Breed Championship Show Friday 4th July 2025

Whippet Critique – Bitches

I felt honoured and privileged having been invited to judge bitches at this prestigious club show and would like to gratefully thank the Officers & Committee of East Anglian Whippet Club for giving me such an opportunity to full fill my first CC judging appointment. Huge thanks also to all the Exhibitors who supported me with your fantastic entry of 117 dogs and for graciously accepting my decisions, it wasn’t an easy task and found myself splitting hairs many a time. I have such a passion for the Breed and always try to judge with integrity using the best of my knowledge and how I perceive the Breed Standard. The quality in the open class was ‘jaw dropping’ and I had to make some very difficult decisions, dogs I liked went unplaced because I preferred others. It’s the dog on the day and judged in the moment. Such a beautiful venue too, we were blessed with sunshine, a scorcher, nevertheless kept cool by the blustery wind which on occasion did have it’s disadvantages. Thanks also to my diligent steward Charlotte Dalgarno for keeping the ring ticking over smoothly. It certainly will be one memorable day. I was looking for a sound, unexaggerated, feminine, curvaceous female with grace of outline and enough reach of neck to give that ‘air of elegance’ viewed in profile. Nothing is perfect and compromise has to be made, nevertheless I was happy with my winners on the day. The breed on a whole I believe is of a high standard and I didn’t really find any major issues, just an abundance of quality exhibits. Nevertheless, being very picky there were just a few who looked so well on the stand only for the picture to fall apart on the move. Crossing, elbows out, a few waddling back ends and overly muscular bulging first thighs, which didn’t give a good look on the away.

Baby Puppy (1, 1a)

Minor Puppy (5, 2a)

1. Perkins & Van Der Schaaf; Silkridge Mistletoe Smooch. Pretty fawn youngster white trim of 6 months with good pigmentation. A raw baby of nice breed type, everything where it should be at this age. Well constructed with good angles and enough infill. Moved out soundly with confidence in all directions. One to look out for in the future I’m sure. 2. Yacoby-Wright; Cobyco Capture The Moment. Pale fawn brindle of 7 months, totally different in type to 1, being cast on a longer frame. Nevertheless full of quality, moved well in profile just a little untidy on the away. 3. Gore; Silkridge Brighter Vision For Helsim.

Puppy (4,2a)

1. Morris, Waddell, Spademan & Mycroft; Crosscop Temptation To Supeta. Oozing Quality this 11 month old fawn brindle beauty for me had everything. Superbly constructed and so well balanced throughout. Gorgeous head and expression, lovely reach of neck flowed into a good shoulder placement. Enough depth and topline for age with a moderately angulated rear. She exudes elegance and femininity and is indeed a credit to her breeders. She was handled to perfection, on the move floating around the ring with such an easy free flowing stride, foot perfect in all directions. At only 11 months I’m sure the best is yet to come. Best Puppy Bitch, Best Puppy In Show.

2. Mason; Veredon Emotion At Aphrael. 11 month old black white trim a little more finished than 1 and wouldn’t want to see her growing any taller. Eye catching in her gleaming coat she presented a balanced, feminine curvaceous outline with pleasing depth and a lovely tuck up. Sound in all directions holding a good topline.

Junior (11, 2a)

1. Howgate & Hull; Tervanty Dragon Song At Palmik JW. Gorgeous pale cream fawn just out of puppy class, of lovely breed type and spot on for size. Oozed quality and nicely constructed throughout. Correct female head, flat skull with well set rose ear. Loved her melting expression and good pigmentation. Clean cut front enough infill and adequate depth, brisket to elbow. Good length of ribbing, enough topline for age with moderate hind angulation. Lovely free mover.

2. Perkins & Van Der Schaaf; CH Crème Anglaise’s Entourage With Silkridge. 15 month old brindle white trim, another fine example of the breed unlucky to meet the winner today. Good front assembly and depth, nice angles fore and aft with a gentle rise over the loin. Slightly shorter coupled than 1. Desired bladed bone with a good spring of pastern and standing square on well knuckled neat feet. She excelled on the move with enough reach and plenty of rear drive, foot perfect from all angles. Just preferred the overall picture of the winner.

3. Barnes; Cushtiwood She’ll Do Nicely For Doddridge.

Yearling (9, 3a)

1. Akerboom & Peters; Crème Anglaise’s Entourage On Tour. Feminine, curvy dark brindle of 15 months, another good for type and size. Full litter sibling to 2 in previous class. Being cast from the same mould and bearing an uncanny resemblance with similar qualities, she too powered around the ring with such pizzazz. Eye catching and stylish in profile movement she certainly covered the ground, just a tad untidy going away which let her down in the challenge today.

2. Le’Vell; Velandor Ballerina Baby. Elegant fawn of 21 months whom I had previously judged the year before in baby puppy class. Totally different in type and built on a longer frame. Nicely matured with lovely flowing lines so smooth to go over. Steady mover today sound as a pound in all directions. 3. Barnes; Leathern Thumbs Up For Doddridge.

Novice (11, 3a)

1. Woodward; Tervanty Magic Dragon. Pale cream fawn just out of puppy class, lovely type and good for size. In fact full litter sibling to the winner of junior with a lot of similar quality attributes. Gorgeous head, expression and eye make up. Good depth of brisket and adequate topline for age. Shorter coupled than her sister and just enough width and infill in front. Moderate bladed bone and a good spring of pastern. She presented a super curvaceous picture on the stack with balanced proportions. Moved well from all angles. Just a little unsettled in the challenge by the strong blustery wind.

2. Thomas; Bowdonia Elphaba. Smart 9 month old brindle puppy held her own in this class today. Relatively mature for age with enough substance. Different in type being cast on a longer frame than 1. Smooth flowing lines lovely to the touch, my hands just glided over her. Sound mover with enough reach and plenty of rear drive in profile, true coming and going. 3. Lain; Lolani Tennessee Princess.

Graduate (10, 1a)

1. Woodward; Tervanty Magic Dragon. 2. Spademan, Mycroft & Higginbottom; Crosscop Seduction. Shapely fawn puppy white trim of 11 months, lovely for type and size. Pretty head and expression, enough length of neck flowed into a well constructed front assembly. Lovely depth for age with enough top line. Nicely angulated rear with hocks well let down, covering the ground naturally on the stand. Sound in all directions. 3. Middleton & Gilhooly; Stormida Squirrels For Tea.

Post Graduate (8, 1a)

1. Halliday & Croxford; Aarminias French Fancy At Whittimere JW. Black white trim youngster won this class today on her sound movement. Good in head and expression, lovely neck flowed into a nicely constructed front. Curvy underline, good length of ribbing and loin into nicely angled rear quarters. Held enough topline on the move.

2. Wignall; Starswift Seductress. 2 year old fawn white trim of breed type to admire and spot on for size. Feminine and nicely balanced throughout. Presented a lovely shape on the stack with good depth and moderate rear angulation. Moved out well in profile holding a correct topline, just a shade close going away. 3. Salkeld & Graham; Dalerafenn Follow A Dream JW.

Mid Limit (13, 4a)

1. Short; Collooney Bellissima Bloom. Black white trim of 23 months. Another I had previously judged last year as a minor puppy. Eye catching and again in good coat today, she had matured nicely and grown into herself. A tad stronger than I would like and cast on a longer frame, nevertheless feminine and well constructed with correct angles fore and aft. Super free flowing stride, such an accurate mover in all directions and very well presented today.

2. Thomas; Bowdonia Sky Full Of Stars JW. 2 year old smart brindle and white particolour, more compact than 1 and good for size. Nicely put together with a lovely balanced outline. Desired moderate bladed bone, good spring of pastern and standing square on well knuckled neat feet. Moved out correctly and with purpose. 3. Ellis; Railfield Singin In Therain.

Limit (12, 2a)

1. Wilton-Clark; Shalfleet Easter Sonnet JW. Feminine 3 year old brindle and white particolour just stood out for me in this class today, she had it all. Gorgeous classic head, good eye set with the most endearing expression. Super through the neck set onto a well laid shoulder. Clean cut front, forearms straight with correct bladed bone. Good depth to brisket her curvaceous underline flowed into a definite tuck up. You have to put your hands on her to appreciate how nicely proportioned and so well balanced she really is. Lovely moderate angles fore and aft with enough width to rear, nothing over done with this beauty. Super overall picture on the stand and super sound in all directions holding the best topline. Elegance and quality personified. Delighted to award her the Reserve Bitch CC. Reserve Best In Show, on Referee’s decision.

2. Akerboom, Van Der Schaaf & Perkins; Silkridge Black Dahlia. Striking 15 month old black white trim made from a different mould. I did like this racy youngster and felt she was unlucky to meet the winner today. Good feminine head long and lean, mouth and expression, good ears and neck of length and strength. Adequate depth of body flowed into a good tuck up, curvy topline matched her underline. Well ribbed back, strong in loin and good rear angles. She portrayed a picture of strength and elegance on the stack. A sound mover covering the ground with an easy stride, long and low with enough reach and plenty of rear drive. Well presented and in lovely fit condition. 3. Uggeri; Bohosoul Storming Thru.

Open (13, 1a)

1. Spademan, Mycroft, Morris & Waddell; CH Crosscop Candle In The Wind To Supeta. Beautiful fawn white trim headed this class of absolute quality overload today. Another I had the pleasure of judging last year giving her top honours then. What can I say about her that I haven’t already said before. Ultra feminine from her nose to the tip of her tail and for me the epitome of a Whippet bitch, so worthy of her title. Gorgeous refined head, well set oval eye complimented the sweetest of expression. Elegantly arched neck of good length flowed into a correct shoulder placement and return of upper arm. Such a shapely classy lady, full of those desired curves, depth, topline, underline, she has it all. Nicely angulated rear matched her fore quarters, good width of first thigh, turn of stifle with hocks well let down. Presented in the best condition, coat and muscle tone. Super overall picture stood in profile and well balanced throughout. On the move foot perfect in all directions, carrying her tail correctly in a delicate curve as the breed standard suggests. Handled to perfection. Well deserved Bitch CC and Best In Show on referee’s decision.

2. Short; CH Collooney Celeste. Strikingly marked fawn brindle youngster, another I had given top honours to last year on her debut and who has matured on gaining her well deserved crown. A different make of bitch to 1, nevertheless feminine and presents a very well constructed balanced outline. Attractive head, alert expression with good pigmentation, correct scissor bite and under jaw. Super front, although a tad heavier in forehand than the winner with good angles fore and aft. Another big mover from this kennel, accurate and effortless with great fluidity I could have watched her all day.

3. Howgate & Hull; CH Palmik Truth About Love JW.

Special Veteran 7-9 Years (7, 3a)

1. Spademan, Mycroft, Morris & Waddell; CH Crosscop Let It Shine For Supeta JW OSW. Quality fawn white trim a day off her 8th birthday and carrying her years very well. Nice type, feminine and spot on for size. Such a neat package so soundly constructed, balanced and without exaggeration. A picture on the stand with her curvaceous outline and lovely moderate angles. An absolute show girl and such a stylish mover, correct foot fall in all directions holding a desired topline in profile. Keeping it in the family she happened to be the Dam of the BCC winner and Grand Dam of the BPIS. Looking through the catalogue afterwards I could see that she was also the Dam of the BSBIS.. Wow ! Best Veteran Bitch. Best Veteran In Show.

2. Wilkinson; Citycroft Starfall JW VW ShCEx OSW. Another fawn white trim of 8 years. A quality bitch, nevertheless a tad stronger than 1 and full up to size for me. Well made front assembly and nicely proportioned with moderate rear angles. Good in bone and feet. Lovely free mover, sound in all directions. 3. Hills; Shimmeree Black Satin JW.

Special Veteran 10+ Years (3, 0a)

1. Williams; Tigsisle Fan The Flames. Moderate fawn and white particolour looking very well in her 10th year. Pretty in head and expression, nice for size with lovely balanced proportions. Moved very well holding a good topline.

2. Leathart; Ringmore Day Lily. Pretty fawn another hiding her years very well. Feminine curvaceous ‘whippety’ shape in profile, nicely balanced and smooth to go over. Not quite the movement of 1. 3. Vaughan-Wall; Shirotae Gin Sing VW.

Special Racing/Lure Coursing (4, 0a)

1. Bowsher; Zoraden Fifty Shades Darker JW. Lovely black, caught my eye with her super well constructed front assembly, good length and return of upper arm albow falling directly under wither viewed in profile. Such a shapely outline on the stand, has depth of body and curvy underline, good topline and strong in loin. Nicely angled rear and good width to thigh, moved out well to take this class. Best Special Racing/Lure Coursing.

2. Maxwell; Maccus Cirilla Of Cintra. Attractive fawn youngster with the best of heads and nice for size. Slightly different make of bitch, has good depth brisket to elbow. Curvy underline and well ribbed back. Really has lots to like and moved out well enough. 3. Soffe; Penbriar Rocket Star Of Rockatom.

Special Beginners (5, 0a)

1. Cooper; Crosscop I’m Alwayz Yours At Ballauren JW. Lovely fawn youngster white trim not quite 2 years old. Nice for size, pretty head and eye make up. Gorgeous melting expression with good pigmentation, she really oozed femininity. Well made front assembly with enough return of upper arm. Good length of ribbing and strong in loin. Well developed thigh with balanced unexaggerated hindquarters. Correct moderate bladed bone standing on the neatest of feet. Lovely free mover holding the best of topline, sound in all directions. Her young handler certainly getting the best out of her today. Best Special Beginners In Show on Referee’s decision.

2. Reece; Saleehah Stardancer. Neat brindle another spot on for size. Pretty head, refined and feminine with good pigmentation. Good depth to chest, well sprung ribs, curvy underline flowed into a correct tuck up. Nicely angulated rear mirrored her front. Moved out well enough, sound from every angle. Not quite the topline of the winner. 3. Edwards; Landsbirch Isadora.

Judge - Cheryl Richards-Healion (Clynecourt)