Hound Association

This was such a lovely entry to judge. I felt like I didn’t have to think too much and was able to just point at the ones I liked best. Apologies for the brevity and repetitiveness of this critique but I was able to just judge to those factors I feel are most important to Whippet bitches – an outline which is a series of gentle curves, power and strength combined with feminine elegance, standing naturally over the ground, general construction and moderation all through. I do feel like these qualities are best shown on the move and profile movement played a major part in my decisions. Most placed exhibits had the attributes I was looking for, coupled with the correct bladed bone. I’ve not been around the ringside for a little while now so most bitches were new to me and I really enjoyed going over them with virtually no knowledge of form or what had gone before. I was very impressed with the quality I found and, if this is a representative entry, the breed really is in such a good place just now. Thank you to all for your entries and to Houndshow for their kind invitation. Also particular thanks to my pleasant Stewards on the day who made the appointment all the more enjoyable. Minor Puppy Bitch (7,1) 1st Jennie Wren at Penwincoed (Ms J M Lloyd) 9 month old of nice type and, although yet to fill her frame, has plenty of scope. Typical in head with a moderately long neck set on to good shoulders. Needs to drop into herself in front and pastern. Decent topline and underline which flows into her quarters. Good width to her thigh and pleasing turn of stifle onto low hocks. Moved freely enough today but just needs to tighten all through. 2nd Salizada Early Morning Dreams for Saraquele (Imp Ita) (Mrs S A Kemp) A little more compact in type and needs to settle in topline which tends to flatten on the moved. Nicely constructed and, at just 7 months, already has good depth of brisket. She also needs to settle a little in front and drop into herself. Slightly proud of her tail but not something I would penalise in one so young, she moved well enough when moved at her natural speed. Puppy Bitch (12, 2) 1st Starceylon She’s Just A Lady (Mr C & Mrs L & Miss A Tyson) This one appealed immediately on outline with flowing lines. Correct size with good scope. Excellent in profile movement today. Very feminine throughout with a look of real quality. Put in a very good performance today to win a fairly strong class. 2nd Afterglow Don’t Dilly Dally (Mrs A Nixon) Slightly larger and stronger, but with similar attributes to 1st placed otherwise. Good reach of neck onto flowing topline. Decent spring of pastern and sound on the move in all directions. Junior Bitch (12,3) 1st - Collooney Senorita Sisi (Mr D G & Mrs Y L Short), Only 13 months but I thought she was very balanced and co-ordinated today. This came together very well on the move where she strides out with a light effortless gait and holds her outline very well indeed. She stands naturally over plenty of ground and her outline was I thought the best of the lot today. I can’t quite describe her as moderate, but definitely no exaggeration there either. Good reach of neck into a good layback of shoulder and nicely sprung in pastern. She has a particularly good depth of chest for her age and is nicely tucked up in underline. I felt she didn’t really put a foot wrong today so couldn’t be denied her first CC and then BOB with my co-judges full agreement. I was thrilled to see her then go all the way to BIS. 2nd Silkridge Silhouette over Railfield (Mr T K Ellis) Another one who was very appealing in silhouette. Needs to tighten up and develop a little in muscletone, but very curvaceous and feminine. She epitomised the serious of gentle curves mentioned in the standard. Given time this is one I feel could trouble the best. She comes together well on the move with an easy action and good drive and reach. Yearling Bitch (4,0) Slightly frustrating class as I really liked the first two but felt that neither were putting in a performance today. 1st Edenwhip A Moment in Thyme (Mrs E K & Miss L Mallinson) Another who scores very highly in balance, outline and construction, particularly in front. For my preference I would like her a little more moderate in rear. Good through the neck and shoulder and correct top and underlines. She was playing up a little today and I suspect I didn’t see her at her best. 2nd Ch Crosscop Temptation to Supeta (Mrs L & Mr G & Mrs F & Mrs S Morris & Waddell & Spademan & Mycroft) Another who I felt wasn’t performing at her best today. She appeals in outline and stands with ease over plenty of ground. Has a look of real quality to her but sadly today I felt she wasn’t quite right in her rear action. Moved well in profile and again I don’t feel I saw her at her peak today. Special Beginners Bitch (12,1) 1st Hologem You Were Made for Me (Mrs C Parkinson) Compactly built and generally constructed well enough, although perhaps a little over-angulated in rear. Presents a pleasing outline stood and shown in really good, hard muscular condition. Sound on the move viewed from all directions which won her the class today. 2nd Sandspring Sophia Loren (Miss K D Saxby) A little more my usual type although still fairly compact, today I just preferred the general construction and movement of 1st placed. Good spring of pastern and pleasing topline and underline. Very moderate, honest type of bitch. Graduate Bitch (17, 5) 1st Lolani Crystal Moon (Mrs V Arbuthnot) This one has lots to like. Well boned with good infill in front and depth to her brisket, stands very naturally over the ground. Accurate and free in profile movement but would perhaps like just a little more reach/drive. She didn’t excel in any one particular area but just presents as a well-balanced whole. Shown in nice weight and condition and overall a pleasing type of dog. 2nd Collooney Strawberry Wine (Mrs V Coulter) A little more compact in type, shown in very good muscular condition, preferred the general outline and scope of 1st placed today, very good depth of brisket and infill to chest, good sweep to hindquarters and well let down in hock. Post Graduate Bitch (13,4) 1st Silkridge Mistletoe Smooch (Mrs C & Mr K Perkins & Van Der Schaaf) A neat girl who was shown in very good bloom and muscletone, moderate in most respects I thought and very well put together construction wise, particularly in front, with good reach of neck and depth of chest. Well sprung ribs and strong and efficient on the move holding her outline very well. 2nd Citycroft Lone Star (Mrs J C & Miss R L Whitehead & Smith) From a slightly larger mould with good body and bone. Stands over slightly more ground than 1st placed. Extended well in profile with good drive from her well-constructed rear. Very nice bitch but today I thought first was just a little cleaner in shoulder. Mid-Limit Bitch (11,4) 1st Cobyco Capture The Moment (Mrs L Yacoby-Wright), Presented a balanced outline with plenty of length. I was impressed with how well she was put together with no one quality overshadowing another, erring towards moderation with balanced angles fore and aft. Correctly boned and has enough substance without being overdone in any way. Clean, nicely arched neck into correct front construction with a decent spring of pastern. Nice width to her thighs and well let down in hock. Very sound and accurate on the move and holding her shape very well on the go around. Another who has a quiet confident presence and just goes about her business with the minimum of fuss. She pushed hard for the CC today and impressed greatly with her co-ordinated, accurate movement. Very deserving RCC winner. 2nd Starceylon Regina Di Quadri JW (Mr C & Mrs L & Miss A Tyson) Quite similar in lots of respects to 1st placed I thought, but just a little stronger in body and bone. Much of the same comments apply – clean in outline with curves where they should be and shown in very good condition. Moved out well in profile whilst holding her body shape. There was little to separate the first two in this class. Limit Bitch (17,6) 1st Falconcrag On It (Miss S Marston-Pollock) This one appealed almost immediately and put in a very good performance today. Beautifully balanced and stands over plenty of ground. On the move she was precise and holds her outline well. Well-constructed with good depth and in-fill in front, well laid shoulders and sweep to underline. Strong through the quarters with low, strong hocks. Seriously considered for the CC today. 2nd Tervanty Dragon Song at Palmik JW (Mr M & Ms Y Howgate & Hull) Lots to admire about this one who has quite a commanding presence. I thought 1st placed was just that little bit more curvaceous in outline, shown in very good coat and condition and very sound on the move with an easy stride. Open Bitch (8,3) 1st Ch Crème Anglaise’s Entourage with Silkridge JW (Mrs C & Mr K Perkins & Van Der Schaaf) I thought this one excelled in profile movement and rewarded this in the class. She has a very self-assured demeanour and strides around the ring in a similar manner. Shown today in very hard muscular condition, giving an impression of robustness whilst also retaining her elegance. Especially good depth of chest with plenty of spring of rib to allow sufficient heart and lung room. Nice sweeping curves to both topline and underline with well bent stifles and a strong, low hock giving plenty of drive from behind. Seriously considered for the CC today. 2nd Zobyco Cobyco Paranoia (Imp Pol) (Mrs L Yacoby-Wright) Presents a particularly clean outline through the neck, topline and onto the quarters, with a curvaceous tuck up. Appealing head and expression with a calm confident demeanour. Stands naturally over plenty of ground with the correct spring of pastern and stands comfortably over her front. Close up to winner but today I felt that 1st was a little cleaner going away. Veteran Bitch (10,1) 1st Gilnockie Have Faith (Mr D & Mrs A Turner) One I have judged before and it was pleasing to see I still admire her attributes. Now 8 years old, I thought she was still on top form. She presents a lovely curvy outline stood and was very sound on the move today, displaying a light effortless movement. BVIB with my co-judge’s agreement. 2nd Ch Collooney Bit On The Side JW (Mr D G & Mrs Y L Short) Another 8 year old with plenty to like. She put in a decent performance and scores highly in type and construction. Today I found 1st placed to be slightly cleaner through the shoulder and more my preferred type, moved very well in profile. Special Racing/Lure Coursing Bitch (5,1) 1st Lolani Crystal Moon (Mrs V Arbuthnot) 1st in Graduate 2nd Pagarni's Princess Elsa (Miss C Tristram) nice type with a good overall outline, pleasing underline and rear construction. Moved well enough today.

Paul Glaholm