Northern Counties Whippet Club

Northern Counties Whippet Club Open Show 

6th September 2026

Thank you to Northern Counties Whippet Club for inviting me to judge at your prestigious open show at Grimsargh Village Hall. You all made me feel so very welcome, and your hospitality was excellent (particularly the trifle). Although the hall was a little quiet at times, I felt the atmosphere was friendly and I commend all the exhibitors who all took my decisions with grace. Thank you so much for bringing your lovely whippets along for me to assess. I felt that shoulders and dentition were mostly in very good shape for the breed which was pleasing. I did however feel that some exhibits had overly long second thigh bones, resulting in a lack of second thigh muscle. I would class this angulation as an exaggeration. The rear makeup of the dog is its engine, and this must be strong and powerful in order for it to do a day’s work. This was also reflected when viewing movement from the rear, with some lacking that classic whippet drive. Also to note, there were a couple who had what I would call a deep “V-notch” just before the rise over their topline. For me this spoils the outline, and the lines simply cannot flow. A huge thankyou to the committee for your beautiful gift of some stunning wine glasses, they will be a fond reminder of my appointment for years to come.

MPD (1,0) 1. Beattie-Nash’ Silkridge Time To Parti – 8 month old eye catching particolour boy. Beautifully balanced throughout and your hands just flow over him. Excellent for size and body at this stage of his development. He has a well laid back shoulder and excellent length and return of upper arm, which compliments his correct rear angulation. With a slight rise over his loin, he held his topline both stacked and on the move. Well-muscled rear, with a good turn of stifle without exaggeration and correct length, width and muscular development of second thigh. This allowed him to drive around the ring, powering from his strong rear. True fore and aft, and covers ground well with his free, easy profile movement and long low reach. A quality puppy. Delighted to award him BPD and BPIS.

PD (2,1) 1. Windsor’s Wrennalla Sweet Ivory – 10 month old fawn dog with long and lean head and sweet expression. Built on rangier lines, his long neck flows well into his shoulder but I would prefer more angulation in his front. I particularly liked his moderate rear angulation. Fine throughout he needs time to body up, fill in front and settle on the move.

JD (1,0) 1. Chaytor and Halliday’s Aarminias Made In Chelsea At Ramita JW – 13 month old brindle dog who is absolutely moderate throughout. Masculine head with beautiful oval eye and fine, rose-shaped ear. Long muscular neck into correct front construction with plenty of fill in front. Moderate bladed bone, slight spring of pastern and well knuckled feet. Well bodied, with plenty of spring of rib, depth of brisket and therefore plenty of heart and lung room. Particularly liked his sweeping underline into a good tuck up. He has a slight rise over his loin, which he held both stacked and on the move. He has a good turn of stifle, and well-muscled first and second thigh without exaggeration and well let down hocks. Another who when viewed from the rear, accurately drove forwards with purpose and strength to propel himself around the ring. He is a balanced mover when viewed in profile. A quality dog who could certainly do a day’s work. Delighted to award him BD and later BIS.

Special Height Dog (3,1) 1. Mould’s Warden William – Brindle dog with masculine head, correct oval eye and excellent strong underjaw. Moderate front and rear angulation and has a curvy topline, which he held on the move. Powerful well-muscled rear with well let down hocks. Moved true fore and aft. 2. Blenkarn’s Relight My Fire Of Hareghyll – 7 year old fawn dog who was finer throughout than 1. Long neck, moderate bladed bone and a good depth of brisket. I would prefer a little more fill in front. He held his topline both stacked and on the move. Moved ok, just preferred the rear movement of 1.

ND (2,1) 1. Windsor’s Wrennalla Sweet Ivory.

SBD (4,1) 1. D & A Spicer’s Jothryn Parti Time – Curvy brindle dog with a well laid back shoulder and sufficient length and return of upper arm. Plenty of depth of brisket and spring of rib. Liked his sweeping underline and topline. Well-muscled and angulated rear. Would like him to perhaps lose a little weight. When he moved out fully, his profile movement was well balanced and eye catching. Pleased to award him BSBIS. 2. Blenkarn’s Penwincoed Major North Of Hareghyll – Well bodied brindle dog. Muscular neck leads into a well laid back shoulder, plenty of depth of brisket and spring of rib. Very well-muscled rear and shown in hard muscular condition. Short, close coat. Moved well, just preferred the profile movement of 1. 3. Windsor’s Wrennalla Sweet Ivory.

PGD (4,1) 1. D & A Spicer’s Jothryn Muchacho – Brindle dog of nice size with masculine head and strong underjaw. Long muscular neck into a well angulated front. Well bodied with a lovely shapely topline. Enough angulation in his muscular rear. Moved true fore and aft but for me was a little lack lustre moving in profile for his handler today. Won the class on his overall outline. 2. Hope’s Flerrow Rydings Romances - Well-muscled particolour dog shown in excellent condition. Rangier than 1 and masculine throughout. Particularly liked his sweeping underline, but for me he just tended to drop off at the croup a little when stacked. Moved well. 3. Blenkarn’s Crosscop Happy Valley Of Hareghyll.

LD (4,1) 1. E & L Mallinson’s Edenwhip Oregano JW - Upstanding brindle dog with a well-proportioned masculine head. Long, muscular neck leads into correct front angulation with plenty of fill in front. Moderate bladed bone and stands on well knuckled feet. Well bodied, shapely, with plenty of heart and lung room. He holds his topline well both stacked and on the move. Well-muscled first and second thigh, with a good turn of stifle without exaggeration. Naturally stands over a lot of ground. Moved true fore and aft and balanced when viewed in profile driving from his muscular rear. Delighted to award him RBD. 2. Mould’s Crosscop Waterloo Sunset – Fawn and white dog white dog with long and lean masculine head, and strong underjaw. Long neck into a well laid back shoulder. Particularly liked his smooth well filled front. A shapely whippet who holds his topline well on the move. Well angulated and muscled rear. Moved well, just preferred profile movement of 1. 3. Price’s Kierpark Moonlight Shadow Among Silkdance JW.

OD (3,0) 1. Kemp’s Saraquele Smooth Criminal – 11 month old striking brindle dog built on longer lines. Masculine head, correct oval eye and equal length of muzzle to backskull with slight stop. Correct of depth of brisket and spring of rib. He is well bodied for his age, just needs some time to settle into his adult frame. For me, at this stage he is losing his topline on the move a little, and needs to strengthen in loin. 2. Hope’s Demerlay On A Promise – Well bodied fawn dog with masculine head and strong underjaw. Well angulated both front and rear. Lovely sweeping underline and good tuck up. For me I would like him a little tidier on the up and back. Preferred the type of 1. 3. Windsor’s Wrennalla Sweet Ivory.

VD (3,0) 1. Price’s Ch Wheelspin Silver Shadow Among Silkdance JW/VW – 9 year old fawn dog who is in fabulous condition for his age, and is still well-muscled through his rear. He is masculine, but retains elegance. A well balanced dog throughout, and I particularly liked his rib to loin ratio. Moved true fore and aft and balanced when viewed in profile. Delighted to award him BVIS. 2. Hope’s Demerlay Charming Charlie – 8 year old fawn dog who is shorter coupled and built on a heavier frame than 1. Strong, masculine head and shown in excellent muscular condition for his age. He held his topline well on the stack and on the move. I would prefer slightly tighter feet. Moved well, just preferred the overall shape of 1. 3. Blenkarn’s Relight My Fire Of Hareghyll.

SRLCD (3,1) 1. Mould’s William Warden – My winner of the special height class, and delighted to award him best special open racing and lure coursing dog in show. 2. Blenkarn’s Relight My Fire Of Hareghyll. 

SRLCB (3,1) 1. Withdrawn 2. Caunce’s Ryamber Miss Moneypenny – Racing type brindle whippet who is fine throughout with a close, short coat. She has a lovely sweeping underline. I would prefer a little more front and rear angulation and length through the rib and loin. Moved ok.

VB (4,3) 1. Caunce’s Ryamber Miss Moneypenny.

MPB (5,0) 1. Coulter and Craig’s Collooney Silver Soul – 6 month old fawn puppy with a lot to like. She is very raw at the moment, just as a minor puppy should be. Nice for size, she has everything in the right place at this time. She is well balanced throughout with a slight rise over her loin. For me I would like a touch more weight on her. When settled, in profile she moved with reach and drive covering ground very well and with ease. One I will watch with interest. Delighted to award her RBPIS. 2. Kemp’s Salizada Early Morning Dreams For Saraquele (Imp Ita) – 8 month old brindle bitch who is lovely for breed type. Her body, substance and size is perfect for her age. She is beautifully smooth through the shoulder and your hands flow over her. For me, I would prefer a touch more length in the shoulder and upper arm. She was a little unsettled on the move today, and didn’t quite have the reach and drive in profile of 1. 3. Revell’s Windwalker Got The Power.

PB (4,1) 1. Mason & Sykes Veredon Not On Your Nelly – 11 month old particolour who was the clear winner of this class for me. Although I wouldn’t want any more of her she is so very well constructed with a moderate correct front and good turn of stifle, without exaggeration. I particularly liked her depth of brisket, which comes well back giving her that classic whippet outline. Would prefer a touch more tuck up. She moved true fore and aft, and with reach and drive in profile. 2. Brierley’s Wentvalley Gosh How Posh – 7 month old fawn set on longer lines with the most beautiful feminine long and lean head. She has the correct substance and is the right weight for her age, with a well angulated front and good spring of rib. She tended to flatten out a touch on the move, and needs to strengthen in loin. Would prefer her to be a little more positive in her rear movement when driving from the rear. Preferred the overall construction of 1. 3. Clifford’s Shulune Secret Look Out.

JB (6,2) 1. Ellis’ Silkridge Silhouette Over Railfield – 14 month old quality black female whose overall classic whippet outline won her this class. In my notes I wrote, “whippet personified”. She is delightful, and for me had the best shoulder set and topline of the day. She is so beautifully smooth to go over, your hands just flow over her. She has well balanced front and rear angulation, with moderation throughout. When settled, she covered ground well with a daisy-cutting action and reach and drive. She pushed very hard for best bitch, but was just a little unsettled when moving in the challenge. Another I will watch with interest. Delighted to award her RBB. 2. D & Y Short’s Collooney Senorita Sisi – 14 month old eye catching brindle female. Longer set than 1, I particularly liked her size and substance. Excellent depth of brisket, with plenty of heart and lung room and a good spring of rib. She holds her topline well, both stacked and on the move. For me, I would prefer a slightly tighter pastern, and to see a touch more drive when viewing her moving from the rear. 3. Nixon’s Afterglow Don’t Dilly Dally.

Special Height Bitch (3,3)

NB (3,1) 1. Brierley’s Wentvalley Gosh How Posh. 2. Nixon’s Afterglow Don’t Dilly Dally – 13 month old rangy brindle bitch who at present is still in a developmental phase and needs to tighten up throughout. She has a correct depth of brisket that sweeps up into a good tuck up and sufficient spring of rib for her age. For me, I would like a touch more moderation in her rear angulation. Covered plenty of ground when viewed in profile. Preferred the overall outline of 1.

SBB (6,2) 1. Revell’s Windwalker Got The Power – Moderate 6 month old fawn puppy who is well proportioned throughout. Very much liked her curvy topline, which she held well both stacked and on the move, and is complimented by her sweeping underline. At this stage she needs to tighten up in pastern a little and could do with a touch more weight on her. She moved out well in profile, just needs to settle a little . 2. Brierley’s Wentvalley Gosh How Posh. 3. Kerr’s Udalie Du Menuel Galopin (Imp Fra).

PGB (6,1) 1. Coulter’s Collooney Strawberry Wine - Fawn and white female with the sweetest head and expression, and excellent strong underjaw. She is built on longer lines, yet still maintains her topline both stacked and when moving. Well bodied throughout, with a deep chest and shown in excellent muscular condition. For me, I wouldn’t want any more angulation at the rear. She moved out well in profile with a daisy-cutting action. 2. E & L Mallinson’s Edenwhip A Moment in Thyme – Brindle and white bitch who is finer throughout than 1. Long and lean head leads into her long neck. For me, I would prefer a touch more angulation in her front. She has a correct rib to loin ratio, and a beautiful deep shapely brisket, with slight rise over her loin. She is well muscled behind, but I wouldn’t want any more angulation through the rear. Preferred the front construction of 1. Moved well. 3. Fry’s Jothryn Lady Penelope.

LB (8,3) 1. Finch’s Zenobia Love Actually JW - Pretty and feminine fawn female with a beautiful head of correct proportions and fine, rose shaped ear. Long, muscular neck flows well into her shoulder and moderately angulated front. Well bodied and shown in excellent condition. Moved true fore and aft, but tended to flatten out a little on the move today when viewed in profile. 2. Nixon’s Afterglow Whirlwind – Moderate brindle bitch who is shorter coupled than 1. For me I would prefer a touch more return of upper arm. Well bodied, she has a lovely curvy underline and slight rise over her loin. Plenty of heart and lung room with a good spring of rib. Well-muscled rear and shown in excellent condition. Moved well, just preferred the type of 1. 3. Kerr’s Udalie Du Menuel Galopin (Imp Fra)

OB (8, 2) 1. D & Y Short’s Collooney Bellissma Bloom JW – Upstanding black female who demands your attention and has real presence. Although I wouldn’t want any more of her in regards to size and substance, she scored highly on her outline – she has a beautiful sweeping underline into a good tuck up, which compliments her beautiful topline. Particularly liked her smooth fore chest, without too much prosternum. She has a good turn of stifle without exaggeration, and is in excellent muscular condition throughout. She had reach and drive when viewed in profile, and I loved watching her moving away from me. She uses her powerful, muscular rear to her full advantage to drive forwards with accuracy. Mention must be made on her gleaming black coat. Delighted to award her BB and RBIS. 2. Kemp’s Saraquele Smooth N Sassy – 11 month old fawn female who is set on longer lines than 1. Very pretty and feminine head, with a rose shaped ear that is fine in texture. Excellent depth of brisket which flows well back with a good spring of rib. Beautiful length of tail with excellent set. She tended to flatten out slightly on the move today, and for me needs time to strengthen through the loin. Moved well. 

Emily Blake (Mazargo)