Thank you to The Whippet Club committee for inviting me to judge bitches at this lovely show. There was a very relaxed & friendly atmosphere. I had a wonderful entry & thoroughly enjoyed my day.
My fellow judge, Gemma Maxwell, and myself were in complete agreement when it came to the final awards.
My thanks also to everyone who entered & to my 2 stewards, so often the unsung heroes, who did a cracking job of running the ring to perfection.
Bitches
Special Veteran 7-9 years (5)
Both Veteran classes were an absolute joy to judge & all were in beautiful condition, a real credit to their owners… I only wish I could have awarded more 1st places!
- Brown’s Ch Ardencote Sweet Destiny for Bluestreak
8yrs old fawn/white with a very classic & curvy outline. Lovely head & expression with well set ears, long neck flowing into well made shoulders, good depth of chest with plenty of heart room. Good topline, well defined tuck up & very well angulated hindquarters. Moved out well. Overall Best Veteran Bitch. - Trouton’s Citycroft Grace Kelly of Runnel JW
7yrs fawn/white who was unfortunate to meet the winner. One I have judged before & still holding her curves. Pretty head, well angulated front. Lovely shape throughout with correct flat muscletone. Moved well in profile, a little close behind. Very well handled & later won the open height class. - Strong & Clinton’s Amphoras Magiq in Vogue by Mackjama
Special Veteran 10 years + (4)
Another lovely class of quality golden oldies
- Longhurst’s Zoraden Carrera at Abbeyhurst VW
Brindle/white, 10yrs & holding her age very well! Lovely head & expression with well shaped ears. Well arched neck with soundly constructed front. Strong limbs, deep chest & tight elbows. Correct topline, defined arch over loins & powerful hindquarters. Free action on the move & put up a strong challenge for BVB. - Brown’s Ardencote Star Maker
11yrs Fawn/white & another who does not look her age. Very classic & clean cut head with perfect rosebud ears. Elegant neck, well angulated shoulders, good depth of chest & well sprung ribs. Very well proportioned bodyshape with no exaggerations. Typical daisy cutting action on the move. I see she is the mother of my BVB. - Osborne’s Derohan Por Moi JW
Minor Puppy (2)
- Eliasch’s Angele Des Dalmats De La Pierre Sacree Cave Brown
8mths black with a very pretty head & lively expression. Strong neck into well angulated shoulders with a deep chest & strong limbs. Good length of topline, defined tuck up & well rounded croup. Moved well with a striding sidegait. Coat in super shiny condition, very well handled. - Trigg & Walton’s Rosalie Beth
Blue of 9mths, very raw compared to winner. Well shaped head with typical expression, topped of with small rosebud ears. Good length of neck, moderately angled forequarters. Moved out well but loose behind. Needs time to mature.
Puppy (4)
- Thomas’s Bowdonia Elphaba
Brindle & white of 11mths & very up together for her age. Very nice & expressive head, arched neck & well developed front with deep brisket & well sprung ribs. Firm topline, standing over a lot of ground & very well angulated hindquarters. Excellent muscletone throughout & moved out with a brisk, easy striding gait. Best Puppy Bitch & BPIS. - Eliasch’s Angele Des Dalmats De La Pierre Sacree Cave Brown – rpt
- Griffiths’s Pelyma Certainly Snazzy
Junior (5)
- Lewis’s Palmik Raining Glitter to Luckhurst
16mth very pretty brindle with a curvy & balanced outline. Loved her head & expressive eyes. Arched neck into well laid back shoulders, deep chest, well filled in & good spring of ribs. Strong topline, defined tuck up & well muscled hindquarters with well let down hocks. Moved very well coming & going with an easy, free action. Definitely one to watch. - Thomas’s Bowdonia Elphaba – rpt
- Trouton’s Citycroft Aphrodite of Runnel
Special Beginners (5)
- Saxby’s Sandspring Sea Coral
3.5yr fawn parti who won this class on her movement with good reach & drive. Pretty head with alert expression, good length of neck & shoulder placement. Deep chest with well filled in front & good spring of ribs. Firm back, defined tuck up & graceful arch over loin. Well muscled hindquarters with well developed 2nd thigh. - Skinner’s Whitesquall Mionetto
22mth brindle who pushed hard for 1st place. Lovely head with rosebud ears, strong neck & well made forequarters. She has a very curvy & well balanced bodyshape. Strong hindquarters with well bent stifles. Moved out well with a long easy stride, one to watch. - James’s Perfect Encounter with Plushcourt
Novice (4)
- Holder & Boggia’s Boughton Begonia
18 mth beautiful fawn with a classic long, lean head & a very gentle expression. Strong neck into well laid back shoulders & tight elbows. Good depth to brisket with plenty of heartroom. Correct topline, flowing into well developed hindquarters with well let down hocks. Moved very well with a typical daisy cutting action. Unfortunate to meet the winner in the next class. - Skinner’s Whitesquall Mionetto – rpt
- Judge’s Gold Satin ‘n’ Lace at Plushcourt
The winners of the next 4 classes were my shortlist for BB… and what wonderful girls they all were making it difficult to choose just 2!
Graduate (9, 1abs)
A very strong class
- Cahill & Timberlake’s Ardencote Dance a Dream at Chipperlake JW
Gorgeous 18mth fawn & white, one I have admired from ringside so it was lovely to get my hands on her! She has a very beautiful head & expression with a long neck into a well proportioned front with correct angulation. Deep chest, well sprung ribs & very shapely top & underlines. Strong hindquarters, broad thighs & well let down hocks. Free striding movement with drive from behind. Res BB & RBIS. Interesting to see that the winner of the next class was a littermate. Also, her brother, Ardencote Keep Dreaming was BD & BOSIS, what a wonderful litter, well done to the breeder. - Holder & Boggia’s Boughton Begonia – rpt
- Reed & Pace’s Dejare Dreaming On and On
Post Graduate (4)
- Wood’s Ardencote Justa Dream
18mths fawn with white, litter mate to previous class winner. Another very classic beauty with a lovely head with clean cheeks, kind eye & well set rosebud ears. Strong neck, well set shoulder & upper arm & well sprung ribbing. Curvy bodyshape with strong back & powerful loin. Moved very well, holding her shape. - Osborne’s Derohan Doubly Clever
4.5 yrs brindle who was unfortunate to meet the winner. Beautiful head. Alert & expressive with a lovely earset. Well arched neck into a very well proportioned & angulated front with strong g limbs. Good depth of chest, well infilled front & plenty of heart room. Well rounded croup with correct reared. Great sidegait on the move. - Walker’s Runaround Rosetta of Shoalingham
Limit (5, 1abs)
I really was spoilt for choice in this class. I’m sure they will change places many times!
- Wignall’s Starswift Seductress
2 yrs fawn with white, another I have admired from ringside & she really pushed hard in the challenge. She has a very classically shaped head with the sweetest expression topped off with well set, fine ears. Correctly angulated front assembly with depth & good spring of ribs. Long back, defined tuck up & balanced reared with well let down hocks. One of the best movers, very true coming & going. - Thomas’s Bowdonia Sky Full of Stars JW
2.5yrs brindle parti who pushed hard for top honours but was not as true on the move as my winner. Very beautiful head with a very alert expression. Well balanced shape throughout with good depth, firm topline & very well angulated rearend. Well muscled without exaggeration. Excellent, ground covering sidegait. - Halliday & Croxford’s Aarminias French Fancy at Whittimere JW
3yrs black with white who I like very much & was just unfortunate to meet 1st & 2nd on top form today. She is another out of the top drawer.
Open (4, 1abs)
Another class of top quality exhibits!
- Whitehead & Smith’s Ch Creme Anglaise’s Lady Bridgerton of Citycroft (Imp Nld)
2.5 yrs fawn & white, another very classic & balanced young lady with a lovely flowing outline & no exaggerations. Her beautiful head has the most melting expression topped off with a well set ear carriage. Her arched neck flows into the best of fronts, with tight elbows, a deep brisket & defined tuck up. Strong back, well rounded croup, broad thighs & well let down hocks. She flowed around the ring with a free sidegait, daisy cutting front action & true rear movement. An absolute joy to go over & so well handled. Very pleased to award her Best Bitch & she desevedly won BIS in full agreement with the dog judge. - Longhurst’s Abbeyhurst Dancing Queen JW
4yr old fawn with a balanced & elegant outline who was very unfortunate to meet the winner. Lovely head, alert expression & well set & used ears. Strong neck flowing into well laid back shoulders. Strong limbs, deep chest with ample heart room. She has a well muscled & broad back with a graceful arch over the loin & defined tuck up. Strong thighs & well let down hocks with very neat feet. She moved with a free flowing action & drive from the rear. - Osborne’s Florancy Above and Beyond Derohan
A favourite of mine who just didn’t make the most of herself today. A lovely girl with so much to like.
Open Height (4, 1w/d)
- Trouton’s Citycroft Grace Kelly of Runnel JW – rpt
- Reed & Pace’s Dejare Dreaming On and On
2yrs fawn & white who was 3rd in the very strong graduate class. Very classic outline & a lot to like about her shape & balance. Lovely head & expression, well arched neck & sound front. Good depth & spring of rib with a well filled in front. Good topline & well developed hindquarters. Moved out very well with an excellent sidegait. Very well handled. - Osborne’s Derohan Doubly Clever
Special Open Racing (2)
- Bowsher’s Zoraden Fifty Shades Darker JW
Hard to believe that this lovely black girl is almost a veteran as she carries her age so well. Very sweet expression with good ears & a well arched neck. She has well laid back shoulders with flat muscles. Deep brisket, well sprung ribs & ample heart room. She has a very curvy balanced bodyshape & the best driving movement. I have watched her lure coursing a few years ago… & she is fast! Definitely fit for function. BR/CIS - Hoddinott’s Sandspring Sea Hawk
3.5yrs fawn with white, unplaced in a very strong graduate class. Very nice shape & balance with an excellent head & expression. Long neck, well angulated front with a deep chest & well filled in front. Strong topline, well-defined tuck up & shapely hindend. Broad thighs & well bent stifles. Moved out very well.
Special Open Lure Coursing (1)
- Osborne’s Loroli Life’s a Rollercoaster at Derohan
4.5yr brindle with a beautiful head & attentive expression. Very balanced bodyshape fore & aft with good depth of chest & plenty of heartroom. Strong topline with slight rise over the loin & defined tuck up. Well angulated reared with well let down hocks. Excelled in movement with good drive from behind.
Judge: Liz Woodward (Tervanty/Bryntreia)