North Eastern Whippet Society

North Eastern Whippet Society

Whippet Males - 23rd August 2025

I would like to extend my thanks to the NEWS Committee for inviting me to judge Whippet males at their Championship Show. The officers and committee really are so friendly and welcoming, the atmosphere was fantastic and both of my lovely stewards kept me on track and the dogs in the right orders, thank you all so much.

I was hoping to find a male within the breed standard ideal height, with true movement and a picture of elegance, without looking too feminine. There were many who ticked one or two of these boxes, superb for height and looked perfection whilst stacked but then went on to move badly. Some males I went over were hugely oversized, and although only one part of the breed standard, by increasing in size and bulk many have lost breed type in the process. The number of dogs who toed in was concerning, along with some incredibly close hind movement and some strange hip hikes. Lots had no drive from behind, the front end doing all the work and the back end just tippy tapping along behind. It is worrying that these faults are ultimately being passed down to their offspring. No dogs are perfect, however visible movement faults in a running breed known for effortless and faultless movement is worrying.

On a plus point, in general there were lots of lovely clean teeth, good mouths, clean and shiny coats and well maintained toenails. There are some males with exquisite heads, elegant yet still masculine.

Some dogs in the latter classes I have seen move better on previous occasions in an outdoor setting, unfortunately for those, the hard sports hall floor and straight mats emphasised issues with movement which a softer ground would most probably hide.

Minor Puppy Dog (1)

1st – Marston-Pollock’s Gingerbread Soulad at Falconcrag.

8mth fawn, nicely put together young male with a handsome head and expression. Smooth outline with moderate angulation front and rear. Well muscled for his age, he obviously enjoys a lot of off lead fun. Even though still a raw baby he already has a nice deep brisket and moved with drive from his powerful hindquarters, he has superb width of thigh. Just needs to settle on the move.

Puppy Dog (4)

1st - Mallinson’s Edenwhip Oregano. Brindle male of 12mths on the day of the show. A smart pup who is of a good size, however I wouldn’t want him any taller as he is very well balanced as he is. Lovely head with correct shaped eyes and neat ears. Smooth under hand, flowing from ears to tail. Moved true fore and aft and in profile with purpose and drive. Very pleased to award him BPD and BPIS with the agreement of my co-judge.

2nd – Price’s Kierpark It’s Now Or Never Among Silkdance. 7mth old . Nicely constructed with a wonderfully silky smooth coat. Larger in type. He seems a very calm and gentle boy and although his movement is true coming and going he could just do with a little more enthusiasm to really drive forward and show the profile movement that I am sure is there naturally. Although third place was more a classic size and type, this boy’s movement could not be passed by.

3rd – Smith’s Collooney Mr Jameson At Lorbri

Junior Dog (5)

1st – Luther & Buckland’s Tervanty Dragon Master At Bonnarfyfe JW. Gorgeous 14mth old blue brindle. Wonderfully sized. Masculine, well-proportioned head with well set, correct ears. Curvy body with balanced angles which led to his fantastic movement. A really quality youngster who I am sure is going to have a bright future. Was a little unsettled on the table which was a shame as he would have been a consideration for the RCC. Ticked all my boxes.

2nd – Hope’s Flerrow Rydings Romance. 13mth old Fawn Brindle Parti. Curvier than one and of a more classic type. Long neck sweeping into a smooth, yet fit conditioned body. Excellent feet and well sprung pasterns. Excellent tuck up. Pipped 3rd to the post on his easy free moving action around the ring and enthusiasm on the day.

3rd – Price’s Kierpark It’s Now Or Never Among Silkdance

Yearling Dog (3/1 abs)

A very mixed class for type, size, height and movement.

1st – Wheeler’s CH First Class Soulad By Ranvelli. 19mths. A really striking red brindle male of good height and substance. Very mature and not too over done in any aspect. He is hard to take your eye off as so attractive, his head is superb. Owns the ring with his confidence. Moved well up and down, however, I have seen him move better in profile under different conditions.

2nd –Lindsay’s Celticmoon Shadow Spell At Siverthyme. 18mths. Dark brindle of a very different type to 1. Smaller in stature all round with the sweetest of expressions and small neat ears. Really lovely feet and excellent spring of pastern. Shown today in fit condition, he moved correctly up and down and in profile although did flatten in topline when moved faster. He clearly enjoyed his time in the ring. Much preferred his size and movement to 3.

3rd – Cole’s Kenleap Silver Banyan At Whipwey

Novice Dog (4)

1st Murton’s Cyangrange Carpe Diem. 16mth pale brindle. Another really lovely youngster with a wonderful head and expression. Fabulous neck into a well placed shoulder. A touch longer in body than I would ideally like, however this did not stop him tracking up in profile. I would love to see him go around a bigger ring at a little faster pace. Needs to mature on a little more but his effortless true movement with no faults made me smile and easily won him the class.

2nd – 2nd in Yearling

3rd – 2nd in Junior

Graduate Dog (5)

Another class with a huge array of types and heights. On movement alone a dog placed further down the line would have been a clear winner, however by his third class of the day he had completely lost all enthusiasm to move.

1st Poole, Winkley-Balmer & Winkley’s Shulune Thrills N’ Spills For Edenwhip. Fawn brindle. A mature young male with a flowing topline and good front and rear angulations. Masculine head smooth neck into shoulder and super front infill. He has a lovely length of body, not too short or long. Super spring of pastern and neat feet. Moved well in profile, just a little close behind.

2nd – Salkeld & Graham’s Dalerafenn River Of Dreams. Fawn with pale mask. Totally different in type to one of more of a classic build. A very kind and loving expression with correctly used and well set ears. Could do with a little more infill and return of upper arm. Lovely deep chest and super tuck up. Nicely angulated hind quarters with excellent width of thigh. Shown in super condition and smooth to go over. Moved true for and aft just a little shorter in front movement than one.

3rd – Atkin’s Dreamjet Allure Of The Seas

Post Graduate Dog (2)

1st Perkins & Van Der Schaaf’s Silkridge Black Caviar. 19mth Black with White Trim. One I have admired from the ringside as a puppy last year. A balanced youngster who stands over a lot of ground. Handsome head with a kind expression. Lovely smooth well laid shoulders and deep brisket. A little longer in body than I prefer for a male but only a touch. Flowing topline to moderate hindquarters. Excellent movement up, down and in profile. Really liked him.

2nd Allansson & MacDonald’s Zoraden Simply The Zest Of Macalldon JW. 2yo Fawn with White Trim. Larger in frame than one. Masculine head with lovely dark, correctly shaped eyes. Good infill of chest and deep brisket, strong and powerful hindquarters with strong hocks. Moved well in profile but preferred size and neater front movement of one.

Mid Limit Dog (8) – A lovely class

1st Crosscop Wanna Go For A Ride With Supeta. 2yo Fawn Brindle. Quality young chap with no exaggeration whatsoever. Well balanced skull and muzzle, good length of neck and excellent front construction, mirrored behind. In lovely condition and spot on for size. Easily won the class on his foot perfect movement up and down. In profile he covers ground but not in a flashy way again with perfect footfall.

2nd – Higginbottom’s Ranveli Royal Duke Of Dawns Afon JW. Pale Fawn. His super smooth sweeping outline stood out a mile. The kindest of expressions and big oval eyes. Lovely arched long neck onto well placed shoulders. Another who moved brilliantly in all directions. A very good quality male who only lost out to 1 on length of body which I would have preferred just a touch shorter.

3rd – Tyson’s Starceylon Dancing Master

Limit Dog (11/2abs)

1st – Grisoli’s Loroli Devil’s Stone JW. Stunningly marked rising 2 years black brindle. Another of super size and substance. Totally owned the ring from the moment he stepped in. wonderfully balanced outline from front to back. A strong head and excellent underjaw. Super return of upper arm which enabled him to reach forward with long and low front movement. Held his topline on the move and casts a lovely outline stood. Another consideration for the RCC.

2nd Tyson’s Starceylon Summer Bran. Black with White Trim. What a jolly little black boy, he clearly loves being shown and adores his handler, really brought a smile to my face. Beautiful head with a smooth, long neck onto well placed shoulders. Dipped a little in topline whilst stacked however hugely improved on the move and held once stood freely. Absolutely spot on for size and excellent coat. Moved really well. Was a close decision between 1 and 2.

3rd – Wilson’s Willowash Mysterious

Open Dog (11)

A wonderful class with some super quality dogs who I have admired from ringside on numerous occasions. On a different day and different conditions they may have been placed differently as I have seen a few in this class move much better than they did today.

1st Jones’ Jothryn Johnny Be Good JW. Fawn Brindle. A dog I have never seen before but instantly ticked my boxes for size, elegance and effortless movement. He just flowed from head to tail. The most wonderful head, broad masculine skull with excellent underjaw. Long arched neck onto smooth shoulders and lovely return of upper arm. Excellent tuck up and arch over the loin without falling away too much behind. His movement was faultless, true coming and going and in profile was a picture. Steady, low strides, tracking up regardless of speed of pace with beautiful cadence and freedom of shoulder. He is the whole package for size, movement and elegance. Very happy to award him the DCC.

2nd Bridgeman-Lewis & Wilton-Clark’s Ch Shalfleet Making Waves. Blue brindle. In my opinion you cant find a better head on a male whippet than this boy has, expression, ratio of skull to muzzle and the finest correctly set ears. Perfect for size without looking too fine for a male. Fabulous shoulders and return of upper arm. Curves in all the right places and a lovely moderate hindquarters. Stands naturally balanced without being stacked. Moved well in all directions, another who does not need increased pace to drive from behind. I was splitting hairs between 1 & 2.

3rd Wheeler’s Ch Ranvelli Diki Diki

Veteran Dog (4)

1st – Allansson & MacDonald’s Jasarat Salted Caramel of Macalldon JW. 7yo Fawn & White Particolour. Really lovely to see a veteran still enjoying being in the ring. Larger type than my ideal but his physical make up could not be ignored. Moved true for and aft and long low strides in profile. Shown in fabulous condition and muscle tone, he is obviously still leading a very active lifestyle. Unfortunately, not completely sound in the challenge, however his muscle tone and fitness far surpassed that of his opposite sex competitor for BVIS. BVD.

2nd – Price’s Ch Wheelspin Silver Shadow among Silkdance JW VW. Rising 8yo Fawn. A quality male of lovely size and type. Excellent head with kind expression. Good length of neck leading into well laid shoulders. Shorter in body than one but still balanced. Moved truly yet a little lacklustre in the indoor setting, have seen him move with more enthusiasm in the past.

3rd – Russell’s Glantam Genesis At Arjuna

Special Beginners Dog (1)

1st – Murton’s Cyangrange Carpe Diem – 1st Novice Dog

Special Racing & Lure Coursing Dog (1)

1st – Yeates & Winters CH Lolani Café Amore. Blue fawn. Wonderful size and of very balanced proportions. Lovely long elegant neck, well laid shoulders and deep brisket. Well sprung pasterns and super feet. Curvy body with superb tuck up. Well muscled thighs with superb width. Strong second thigh. It is very hard to keep a whippet in both show and sporting condition, many either get too muscly or are kept too lean. This chap is the picture of fitness and condition and you can tell he is an athletic dog but also a quality male worthy of his champion title. Moved his way easily to BR&LCIS.