Scottish Kennel Club

Thank you to the officers and committee of SKC for the invitation to judge at their show. My thanks also to the two stewards who kept everything running smoothly. Most of all; I am hugely grateful to the exhibitors who entered their much loved whippets for me to judge and for accepting my decisions with good grace. 

The hall isn’t particularly favourable for whippets and there were some who were clearly unsettled and not showing as well as I know they can. However, I can only judge them as I found them on the day; consequently there were some exhibits who were placed lower than they may have been in a different venue. 

I was hoping to find an elegant, moderate, curvy whippet displaying the desired S curves the breed is synonymous with. While an impressive profile mover is nice to find, most of all I wanted to see accurate movement on the up and back.  

Today, movement fore and aft was really disappointing in a number of exhibits; some with very untidy front movement and also some wide or unsound rears that I had not come across on previous appointments. 

A well angulated front was a rarity in a couple of classes. I also came across a couple of over shot bites. 

On a positive note; I felt that size was generally good and although some winners were a little bigger than my ideal; they retained elegance, balance and were rewarded for this and their sound movement. Most exhibits were presented in very good condition and I was very happy with my final line up at the end of the day. 

MPB (7,3a)

A great start to the day; Two lovely babies heading the class. 

1. Starceylon She’s Just A Lady (Mr C & Mrs L & Miss A Tyson) 7 month old Gleaming black and white with bags of attitude and ring presence. She has a very well put together front; being well filled and with smooth well laid back shoulders. Moderately angulated hind quarters, short hocks. Once she settled she moved very well; precise on the up and back and with reach and drive in profile. She needs to grow up slightly on the leg to look completely balanced but time is on her side for this. A very promising puppy. 

2. Zoraden Meant to Beaver (Miss A & Miss C Morland & Soffe). Shaded red fawn; very different to 1 and more together at this stage. Balanced in her height to length ratio. A little heavier than is my ideal but I very much liked her front assembly, curvy topline and matching underline. Well sprung Pasterns and standing on lovely feet. She moves really well viewed from any angle; keeping her topline well. 

3. Ballauren's Diamond (Miss L & Miss L J Cooper)

PB (8,1a)

The first 3 in this class are all promising but different in type and at varying stages of development. I’m sure they’ll swap places many times in the future. 

1. Supetas Too Glam to Giva Damn (Mrs S M & Mrs F S Mycroft & Spademan). 9 month old quality fawn; who presented the overall picture that I was hoping to find - she is lovely for size, length of body and balance. She is curvy and elegant. Super pretty head, with a gentle expression. Everything flows under the hand; smooth well laid shoulders lead into a lovely rise over the loin. She has adequate return of upper arm and good fill in front. While she is not a big profile mover; she moves with the desired daisy cutting action and good drive from her strong rear quarters with perfect footfall. Moving well for her age on the up and back too. BPIB

2. Collooney Senorita Sisi (Mr D G & Mrs Y L Short). Fawn brindle of a really good size. She is ultra feminine and pretty. Gorgeous head and alert expression. She still needs to fill a little in front and strengthen in Pastern but she has beautiful shoulders, return of upper arm and is developing a lovely topline. Moved very well in profile. 

3. Danluke Legs Eleven (Mrs H & Mr J Johnston & Wilson)

JB (8,1a)

A very mixed class for both quality and type. 

1. Collooney Anytime Anyplace at Finix (Mr T & Miss N Forrester & Macfarlane) Fawn brindle; litter sister to second in puppy. A compact and curvy bitch of ideal size. Extremely pretty and feminine. She is a super profile mover; holding her topline well at all times; accurate moving towards but I Would like to see more strength in her hocks when moving away. She was presented beautifully by her handler; getting the most out of her both standing and moving. 

2. Ballauren's You Got It (Miss L & Miss L J Cooper). Fawn and white parti; Totally different in type to 1; being taller and longer. She moved very well; especially appreciated how soundly she moved up and back. She is a well constructed bitch with moderate front and rear angulation; good front fill and in excellent muscular condition. I would just like to see a more shapely topline. 

3. Loroli Devil in The Detail (Mr K Burton)

YB. (3)

Ch Crosscop Temptation to Supeta (Mrs L & Mr G & Mrs F & Mrs S Morris & Waddell & Spademan & Mycroft). Fawn brindle bitch who was A stand out winner in this class. Although A little taller than I would prefer she is feminine, balanced and elegant. The loveliest head and expression. In excellent muscular condition, she has moderate bladed bone and good feet. She has very well laid back shoulders, good depth of chest and spring of rib. balanced front and rear angulation. Super smooth under the hand. A very good profile mover and moving accurately fore and aft. 

2. Cygnetsnest Moonlight (S Swan). Red Fawn of correct size. Pretty and feminine. She is a little longer than I like and therefore not quite balanced. She does have a lovely front; good return of upper arm, decent shoulders and fill in front. Well angulated quarters. She moves out well in profile but not moving soundly behind 

3. Edenwhip A Moment in Thyme (Mrs E K & Miss L Mallinson)

GB (8,1a)

Two very nice fawn bitches with very little to split them.

 1. Ardencote Dance A Dream at Chipperlake JW (Messrs M & A J Cahill & Timberlake). I have often admired her from ringside and was pleased to find she did not disappoint on closer inspection. A really classic whippet outline; a seres of gentle curves and moderate in all respects. Very pretty and feminine. She has the desired lay back of shoulder and return of upper arm. Good depth of chest and definite tuck up. Her rear quarters were used to propel her round the ring; although not always inclined to give her all she is so sound viewed in any direction, which is what gave her the edge. 

2. Dalerafenn Follow A Dream JW (Ms E & Mrs J Salkeld & Graham). Very similar to first; also of super quality and breed type. She is of ideal size and substance. Lovely curvy outline. She has a well angulated front, good lay back of shoulders although not quite so clean as 1. A good mover all ways; she hold her lovely topline at all times. She was presented in fabulous condition. 

3. Crosscop Here You Come Again Arrodare (Mr R K & Miss J Green & Ratcliffe)

PGB (6,1a)

1. Crème Anglaise’s Too Hot to Handle for Mazargo JW (Imp Nld) (Miss E J Blake) A cliche I know; but you really do need to get your hands on this red brindle parti bitch to appreciate her qualities. Gorgeous head and expression , strong elegant neck flows cleanly in to the very best of shoulders. Just enough return of upper arm, good front fill. She has super depth of chest; balanced body proportions and gentle rise over the loin. Her hind quarters are moderately angulated and with perfect muscle tone, short hocks. She excels on the move; absolutely sound as a bell on the up and back and moving with reach and drive in profile while holding her topline. Strongly considered for top honours. I’m sure her day will come. 

2. Aarminias Pillow Talk (Mrs M L & Mrs A L Place & Halliday). Brindle of correct size - a real pocket rocket. A super sound mover who gives her all in profile. She presents a really curvaceous outline; super tuck up and topline. Good angulation front and rear. I preferred the set of neck into shoulders of 1. 

3. Crosscop Call Me Maybe at Limubox (Mr G & Mrs L Brough)

MLB (5)

1. Bohosoul Bewitched (Miss L Uggeri). One I have often admired previously; Fawn of high quality, feminine and elegant with the curvaceous outline I was looking for. Very pretty head, strong under jaw. Good return of upper arm and front fill. Slightly heavier over the shoulder although they are well laid back. Moderately angulated rear quarters. She moves very well although was a little lack lustre today.

2. Silkridge Black Dahlia (Mr Jw & Mr K & Mrs C Akerboom & Van Der Schaaf & Perkins) Black bitch who has the most stunning coat and was shown in hard muscular condition. I really liked her overall outline and proportions; correct angulation front and rear. Moderate bladed bone, neat feet and desired spring of Pastern. She is an exceptional profile mover. Just a little wide coming towards today. 

3. Northwhip Zenyatta (Ms R Corsar)

LB (7)

1. Falconcrag On It (Miss S Marston-Pollock). Pale fawn brindle who appeals for her elegance and balance. Ideally I would prefer a little more return of upper arm but she has excellent front fill and very well laid back, smooth shoulders. Good depth of chest, spring of rib and balanced in ribbing to loin. Gentle rise over the loin. Moderate quarters with good bend of stifle. She is so attentive to her handler; moving really well in profile and with precision fore and aft. It was this ultra sound movement that won her the class over second today. Presented in top condition. 

2. Starswift Seductress (Mrs S Wignall). A super quality fawn bitch; very much my cup of tea. On initial look round I thought she would be my winner. However, I didn’t feel she made the best of herself in the noisy hall today. Ultra feminine, elegant and pretty. She has a gorgeous curvy outline; super tuck up and rise over the loin. Excellent depth of chest with her front legs falling perfectly beneath her. Her front assembly is very good; matching her moderate rear. She was not entirely settled on the move today but I could see that she has good reach and drive; moving out well in profile. 

3. Crosscop California Barbie from Supeta JW (Mrs F & Mrs S & Mrs L & Mr G Spademan & Mycroft & Morris & Waddell)

OB (6)

Some really lovely bitches in this class; several who I have admired from ringside and I very much appreciated the opportunity to get my hands on. There was little to separate the first 3 all who I would happily award a CC. 

Coming out on top today was 1. Crème Anglaise's Entourage On Tour (Mr Jw & Mrs H. Akerboom & Peters). This two year old brindle of ideal size pulled out all the stops with a foot perfect performance. She has a beautiful curvy outline; fabulous tuck up and correctly placed rise over the loin. Her front assembly is text book; well filled in front, good return of upper arm and beautifully laid back shoulders. She stands on neat feet with ideal spring of pastern. Moderately angulated rear quarters which were so well muscled allowing her to move with drive and fantastic front extension without ever looking exaggerated. I was so pleased to see that her movement was just as good up and back. A very worthy CC winner and she put in a fantastic group performance where she was duly rewarded with Group 2. 

2. Ch Crosscop Bumble Bee by Arrodare (Mr R K & Miss J Green & Ratcliffe). A beautiful fawn of top quality. Again, she has such a good curvy outline; slightly more compact than 1 but still so well balanced. Not quite the upper arm of first but it was a case of splitting hairs between these two. Her front is well filled and she has very clean well laid shoulders. She moved out beautifully in profile; has fabulous ring presence and was presented in superb condition; Her coat and skin are beautiful and her muscle tone is ideal. A very worthy champion. My RCC winner today.

3. Ch Zoraden Gossip Girl JW ShCEx OSW (Miss A Morland)

VB (6,1a)

Ch Collooney Bit On The Side JW (Mr D G & Mrs Y L Short). Elegant 7 year old age Fawn brindle bitch who is not showing her age; she is still so shapely and in fabulous condition. She has a correctly angulated front and is so smooth from her neck into shoulders. Well angulated quarters with good bend of stifle and short hocks. Moved out soundly and with accuracy to win this class with ease. 

2. Penbriar Rocket Star of Rockatom (Miss C Soffe). Dark brindle also 7 years old. Moderate and balanced in all respects. Gorgeous head and expression. She has a very nice classic shape; with moderate front and hind angulation. A sound and steady mover but couldn’t match first in profile. Presented in superb condition. 

3. Zoraden Fifty Shades Darker JW (Mrs D Bowsher)

SBB (5,1a)

1. Cygnetsnest Moonlight (S Swan). Second in yearling.

2. Crosscop I Was Born This Way at Colburde (Mr C Burdess). Feminine and elegant Correct size fawn who is of lovely quality and breed type. A real baby as is to be expected at 11 months; she still needs to drop into her frame and fill in front. She has lovely curves and muscle tone. Moved well for her handler especially in profile. 

3. Galemira’s Pandora of Duranridge (Mrs L Durante)

GC (6)

1. Zoraden Fifty Shades Darker JW (Mrs D Bowsher). 7 year old correct size black who has such a classic whippet shape. Her front fill and return of upper arm is especially good. She has excellent depth of chest, defined tuck up and corresponding curvy topline. Strong and moderate quarters. Moved really well in profile. She looks very much fit for function.

2. Ballauren's You Got It (Miss L & Miss L J Cooper). Second in Junior. 

3. Cornstalk Twiggy at Birkhall (Mesdames Mcdonald, Mcquade & Hindley)

Rachel Smith (Citycroft)