Taunton & District Canine Association

Taunton & District Canine Association – 05/01/25 I would like to express my gratitude to the committee for inviting me to judge whippets at their show, and a special thank you to my wonderful stewards for keeping my ring organised. I also want to extend my appreciation to the exhibitors who entered under me; I was delighted with an entry of 44 dogs. Although there were quite a few absentees, I was very pleased with my main winners. I found the quality among the whippets to be quite diverse, with many not moving true when coming and going. However, the puppy classes stood out, showcasing the highest standard of the day. As a result, my top awards predominantly went to the younger dogs, reflecting the quality present in those classes. Puppy Dog (6) 1st Palmik Never Too Late. I really liked this 7-month-old fawn dog. He is a good size and has a well-balanced build. His head is long and lean, flat on top, tapering to a strong muzzle with a slight stop. He has a broad space between the eyes, powerful, clean-cut jaws, and a perfect, regular, and complete scissor bite. His oval-shaped eyes are bright and full of alert expression, complemented by small, well-shaped rose ears. His neck is long, muscular, and elegantly arched, flowing smoothly into well-laid-back shoulders with flat muscles. He has a moderate space between the shoulder blades at the withers and a good return of the upper arm. His front is not too wide, with strong pasterns that have a slight spring. His chest is deep with ample heart room, well-filled in front, and a deep brisket. His back is broad, well-muscled, and firm—somewhat long but with a graceful arch over the loin. Ribs are well-sprung, and his thighs are strong and broad, with well-developed second thighs. His stifles are well bent without exaggeration, and his hocks are well let down. He stands naturally over a lot of ground and has lovely profile movement. A well-put-together young dog with great potential. Very pleased to award him BD, BPD, RBOB and BOS. 2nd Charaki Bloom. 9-month-old fawn dog. He has a well-proportioned head—long and lean, flat on top, tapering smoothly to the muzzle with a slight stop. His bite and dentition are correct, and his lovely oval eyes are bright with a sweet, expressive gaze. His elegant neck flows well into well-laid shoulders with a good return of the upper arm. His chest is deep with plenty of heart room, well-filled in front, and complemented by a deep brisket and well-sprung ribs. He held his topline well on the move. Broad and powerful across the thighs, he has well-developed second thighs and well-bent stifles without exaggeration. His feet are neat and well-formed. Moves well in profile, though I’d prefer more reach and drive. Novice Dog (3) 1st Charaki Bloom – see puppy dog class. 2nd Saintharp Love To Believe. 7-month-old brindle and white dog with a well-proportioned head—long and lean, flat on top, tapering smoothly to the muzzle with a slight stop. His bite and dentition are correct, and his lovely oval eyes are bright and full of alert expression. He has a refined, attentive overall expression, complemented by small, well-shaped rose ears. His elegant neck flows well into well-laid shoulders, with moderate angulation in both the front and rear. Though unplaced in his previous class, I preferred his overall outline and movement to 3rd. Still young and developing, he needs time to mature, fill out, and settle more on the move. Post Graduate Dog (3, 2a) 1st Barnesmore The Lion King. 16-month-old brindle dog. Well-proportioned head—long and lean, flat on top, and tapering smoothly to the muzzle with a slight stop. His bite and dentition are correct, and his lovely oval eyes are bright with good expression. Nice, small, fine-textured, well-shaped rose ears. His elegant neck flows well into well-laid shoulders, with moderate angulation in both the front and rear. His chest is deep with ample heart room, and he is strong and well-muscled across the thighs. His oval feet are well-formed, well split up between toes. He stood well, covering plenty of ground, and while he still needs to settle a bit more on the move, he was better in the challenge. Limit Dog (2, 1a) 1st Hergehill Just Hugo. 3-year-old brindle and white dog with a lovely, sweet expression. His head is long and lean, flat on top, tapering smoothly to the muzzle with a slight stop. He has a correct bite and dentition, bright oval eyes, and well-shaped rose ears. His long, muscular neck is elegantly arched, flowing into well-laid shoulders with moderate angulation front and rear. He has a nice deep chest and well-sprung ribs. He’s strong and broad across the thighs, he has well-developed second thighs and well-bent stifles. Nice short, fine coat and he stands on neat, well-formed feet. He wanted his owner in the other ring but moved well once settled. Open Dog (3, 2a) 1st Bryntreia Sea Of Love. 5-year-old brindle and white dog. Good, well-proportioned head—long and lean, flat on top, and tapering smoothly to the muzzle with a slight stop. His oval eyes are bright and expressive, complemented by well-shaped rose ears. He has a correct bite and dentition. His deep chest provides ample heart room, and he is strong and broad across the thighs, with well-developed second thighs and well-bent stifles. His oval feet are well-formed, well split up between toes. Moved well. Pleased to award him RBD. Puppy Bitch (8, 3a) 1st Tervanty Dragon Song At Palmik. This 6-month-old fawn bitch, a half-sister to the puppy dog winner, has a stunning outline and a truly feminine presence. She exudes elegance with a lovely expression and a super personality—already a natural showgirl. I absolutely love her! Her head is long and lean, flat on top, and tapers smoothly to the muzzle with a slight stop. She has good width between the eyes, powerful yet clean-cut jaws, and a correct bite and dentition. Her oval eyes are bright and full of alert expression, complemented by small, fine-textured, well-shaped rose ears. Her long, elegantly arched neck flows seamlessly into well-laid shoulders with flat muscles. There is moderate space between the shoulder blades at the withers, and she has a good return of the upper arm, with an approximately equal length to the shoulder. Her forearms are straight and upright with moderate bladed bone, and her front is not too wide. Her pasterns are strong with a slight spring. Her chest is deep with plenty of heart room and well-filled in front. She has a deep brisket and a broad, well-muscled back that gracefully arches over the loin. Her ribs are well-sprung, and she is strong and broad across the thighs. Her stifles are well bent without exaggeration, and her hocks are well let down. She stands naturally, covering a lot of ground with ease. Her oval feet are well-formed and well split up between toes with well-arched knuckles, thick pads, and strong nails. Very pleased to award her BB, BOB and BP and happy to see she later got HPG3. 2nd Citycroft Aphrodite Of Runnel. 7-month-old brindle bitch. Another lovely puppy with a well-balanced outline with a lovely frame although slightly shorter than the winner. She is beautifully put together, and it was a close decision—unfortunate for her to meet the winner today. Her head is long and lean, flat on top, and tapers smoothly to the muzzle with a slight stop. She has powerful, clean-cut jaws with a correct bite and dentition. Her bright, oval eyes are full of expression, complemented by well-shaped rose ears. Her elegant neck flows seamlessly into well-laid shoulders with flat muscles. There is moderate space between the shoulder blades at the withers, and she has a good return of the upper arm. Her pasterns have a slight spring, and she has well-sprung ribs and a lovely topline, which she holds well on the move. Her hindquarters are strong and well-angulated, with broad thighs and well-developed second thighs. Her stifles are well bent without exaggeration, and her hocks are well let down. She moved well, though I would prefer a bit more reach and drive. Pleased to award her RBB. Novice Bitch (4, 2a) 1st Tervanty Magic Dragon. This 6-month-old fawn bitch, litter sister to the puppy bitch winner, has a lovely overall outline and shows great potential. Though she was somewhat unsettled, she still presented the best structure in this class. She relaxed and showed to better advantage when free stood. Her head is long and lean, flat on top, and tapers smoothly to the muzzle with a slight stop. She has powerful, clean-cut jaws with a correct bite and dentition. Her bright, oval eyes are full of expression, complemented by well-shaped rose ears. Her elegant neck flows seamlessly into well-laid shoulders with flat muscles. There is moderate space between the shoulder blades at the withers, and she has a good return of the upper arm. Her pasterns have a slight spring. Her chest is very deep with plenty of heart room, well-filled in front, and complemented by a deep brisket. She has a graceful arch over the loin and good hind angulation. She moved well when settled. 2nd Ohoka Top Model At Hengilfach. 11-month-old fawn bitch. Another lovely, feminine youngster with an elegant presence. She has a beautifully proportioned head—long and lean, flat on top, and tapering smoothly to the muzzle with a slight stop. Her jaws are powerful and clean-cut, with a correct bite and dentition. Her bright, oval eyes are full of alert expression, complemented by well-shaped rose ears. Her elegant neck flows into strong, well-laid shoulders, and she has good hind angulation. Her oval feet are well-formed, well split up between toes. She has a fine, short coat with a close texture. She moved well, though I would prefer more reach and drive. Just preferred the overall outline of the first-place winner. Post Graduate Bitch (6, 5a) 1st Galemira’s Pandora Of Duranridge. 4-year-old brindle bitch. Sweet girl with a lovely head—long and lean, flat on top. She has a correct bite and dentition, along with bright oval eyes. Her long, graceful neck complements her good topline, and she has neat oval feet, well split up between toes. She moved well, although I would prefer more reach and drive. Limit Bitch (5, 4a) 1st Iscaglades Goldilocks. 4-year-old fawn bitch with neat, rose-shaped ears and a correct bite with excellent dentition. Her lovely bright oval eyes enhance her expression, while her deep chest provides ample heart room and a well-defined brisket. Would prefer her movement if more settled and showing more reach and drive. Open Bitch (4, 4a) Abbeygail Longhurst (Abbeyhurst)