Dorset County Canine Society

Dorset County Canine Society

Open Show. Sunday 19 July 2026

Whippets 

Judge Tamsyn Pedley-Biggins 

I would like to thank the committee for inviting me to judge Whippets at their Open show. 

This was my first judging appointment and I am extremely grateful to them for giving me the opportunity to go over some really lovely whippets. Thank you also to my very efficient stewards and all the exhibitors supporting me with their entries. 

It was an extremely hot day with my car reading 32 degrees at 4pm! I am sure that the heat understandably effected the movement for some of the dogs today. But they were all presented in really good condition. I didn’t see a single bad mouth and most were firmly muscled and clearly exercised. 

I was hoping to come across moderate, balanced whippets with curves where they should be. I feel the correct 2:1 rib to loin ratio is very important, allowing for that beautiful S underline that screams whippet. If you lose that ratio and the dog is too short in rib or overly long in the loin, it can result in a more wedge (or ‘Z’) like underline. It can also effect movement, and often will see the dog no longer tracking up in profile, with the rear foot falling short of the front foot somewhat.

There were some really hard decisions to make, and in some classes I wished I had more than one first place to offer. I was very happy with my final lineup and my resulting Best of Breed going on to achieve RBIS and Puppy achieving HPG 2. 

Puppy 8 (2abs)

1 ) HOWGATE & HULL. Mr M, Ms Y Palmik Raincheck 

A mature 11 month brindle dog with a lovely, gentle expression. 

Long, arched neck. Well laid back shoulder with correct front angulation. Pleasing fill to chest. Brisket reaching the elbow. Adequate tuck up. My hands moved smoothly over his top line with gentle rise over loin. Rear angulation matching that of the front resulting in balance. Strong thigh and well formed second thigh. Well let down hocks. Stands on lovely neat feet. Moved with reach and drive. 

2 ) BENNETT, K J Beetelian Rogue at Alamayn

6 month fawn bitch. This girl has ring presence! She caught my eye immediately. A beautiful feminine head with the softest expression. 

Her long neck flows underhand into well placed shoulders. Correct front Angulation. Her fill of chest is wonderful for one so young. She stands with forearm set nicely under body. She has the desired S underline with definite tuck up and top line to match. Balanced and moderate. No exaggerations. She was foot perfect when moving in profile. And true both ways. 

I must express I was very torn between 1 and 2. 1 just took the edge in spring of pastern, with puppy 2 being a little more upright. I cannot wait to see her back in the ring over the coming months. 

Junior 2 (0 abs) 

1) HOWGATE & HULL, Mr M, Ms Y Palmik Raindrop. 

11 month brindle bitch. Flat skull. Kind expression. Nicely arched neck leading to good shoulder placement. Correct fill of chest. Really nice spring in pastern. Brisket reaches the elbow. Clear rise over loin. Really strong in the rear with well formed thigh and second thigh. There’s no denying this girl glides around the ring with effortless movement. Wasn’t effected by the heat.

2) PROWSE, Mrs Anne Freehamlet May Zing Grace. 14 month pale fawn bitch. Completely different model to 1 with so many strong attributes. My first note is she is perfect for size! When you see a whippet truly fitting the standard for desired height it really stands out and is lovely to see! A beautiful head, gentle expression with melting eyes. Long, elegantly arched neck. Curvy top and underline. Good rear angulation and firm in thigh. Moved nicely but didn’t quite have the drive of 1 

Special Yearling 2 (0 abs) 

1) PROWSE, Mrs Anne. Freehamlet may be the one

14 months fawn dog. Lovely masculine head with long muscular neck. Good shoulder placement. Pleasing arch over loin. His top line flows smoothly underhand.

His outline is complimented with a beautiful underline made up of deep chest and very good tuck up. Balanced angulation. Presented in great condition. Moved freely.

2) HOWGATE & HULL, Mr M, Ms Y. Palmik Raincheck

Post Graduate 5 (0 abs)

1) CHAPPELL, MrD & Mrs K J Blueflight Mystique

2 year old fawn bitch. Pretty, feminine head on elegantly arched neck.

Smooth Topline with lovely gentle arch over loin. Another that is offering a really pleasing curvy underline with brisket reaching the elbow and a definite tuck up. Stood on neat feet. Hocks well let down. covers plenty of ground. Tracked up well moving in profile, holding her top line nicely and true coming and going. 

2) HOWGATE & HULL, Mr M, Ms Y. Palmik Raindrop 

Limit 7 (2 abs)

1) HOWGATE & HULL, Mr M, Ms Y Tervanty Dragon song at Palmik

A pretty, light fawn 2 year old bitch. very balanced angulation. No exaggerations. Great fill of chest. Desired top and underline which my hands glided over beautifully. Presented in top condition. Very neat feet. Well formed thigh and second thigh. Well let down hocks. Moves with a beautiful daisy cutting action and just glides around the ring, holding her top line at all times. Not at all affected by the heat. 

2) CHAPPELL, Miss M. Blueflight brewin up a storm 

3 year old blue with white trim dog. My notes say “curves” He really does have them in all the right places. A masculine head with long, muscled neck into a very nice front assembly. Correct front angulation with legs placed below the body. Good spring in pastern. Bladed bone. Neat feet. Deep brisket to elbow and the best of tuck ups. Correct top line. He really is in fantastic condition with well defined first and second thighs. Well let down hocks. True both ways. 

He is all whippet! Seriously considered for first, but today he was over reaching on the go round. Possibly because he was very keen to get moving, but his profile movement just wasn’t that of 1 on this day. 

Open 9 (0 abs) 

A class made up of quality dogs that made for some really difficult decisions! 

1) HOOPER, Mr R M. Veredon veuve Cliquot Avec Torbers

Very pretty, 5 year old fawn bitch who just immediately catches your eye. She has the most elegant of head and neck which flows into well laid shoulders and a lovely top line. The right amount of fore chest, not exaggerated with lovely fill. Arm placed straight down below the body and good angle of pastern. Neat feet. definite S underline with great tuck up. Strong hind quarters and balanced front and rear angulation. Long and low movement, tracking up with the hind foot placing perfectly where the front leaves. so lovely to watch on the go around. correct to and from. 

2) WOODWARD, Ms E A. Tervanty Magic Dragon JW

2 year old pale fawn, white trim bitch. Another elegant example and very pleasing to the eye. Feminine head, with arched neck. Well put together front and rear. Balanced angles. Good spring of pastern. Neat feet. Well formed thigh and second thigh. Moves True all ways and effortlessly around the ring. Just the overall outline of 1 topped it for me today.