This innovative club continued its tradition of spoil-the-exhibitors with a free buffet, goody bags for all and sponsored extra prizes for class winners which assured them an excellent entry.  The rings were a good size, in spite of being forced indoors by the weather and everything was done with fantastic attention to detail.  My bitch entry included some truly beautiful bitches - and some that at first glance appeared to be dogs.  I have no problem with a whippet taller than the standard if it also has elegance and breed type and some in this category also had outstanding movement which had to be rewarded but some were not just tall but coarse, in bone and coat, with very strong heads.  Coats seem to be changing and I wonder if this is due to the imported American lines.  Their standard requires a "firm" coat where ours specifies "fine" but whatever the texture, there was no excuse for the dirt in them: for the first time since I began judging (1984) I needed to clean my hands several times after classes.  While I subscribe in part to the theory that better nutrition and parasite control leads to bigger whippets, the choice of brood bitch must play a larger role and taking a big, coarse bitch to any dog, however spectacular, is not going to result in a litter of show puppies that fit the standard.   Bitches are a breed's  heritage and its legacy and we should select, whether as breeders, exhibitors or judges, according to the standard. My CC winner is for me  the true essence of whippet:  correct in size, exuding breed type and quality and looking as if she would be equally at home on a silk cushion or on a red alert by a rat hole.  So they do still exist: please let us see more of them in the show ring.  Contrary to popular belief, if they are good enough, they are not too small to show and they certainly won't win anything sitting at home.
                               
MP (9,1) 1. Oliver's Spyanfly Saphire Stone.  Scopey bd, not overdone behind, flowing line from ear to tail, balanced standing and on the move. 2.  Howgate & Hull's Palmik Magical Whispers.  Longer and stronger bitch of quality who won her place with her free, easy movement.  A bit short on the leg at the moment. 3. Grant's Windfly RosieNosie.

P (19, 7) 1 & 2 litter sisters who stood away in this disappointing class with their femininity, quality, size and type. Seers' Espinore Edged in Gold, w with coloured head, lovely size and outline, better in pastern than her sister and a more confident mover, stronger behind which gave her the edge over 2. Reardon's Espinore English Rose at Rarelyrich.  Bigger f, lovely skin and coat, good bone and feet, pleasing head and expression with strong jaw.  Slightly better front which will stand her in good stead when she gains confidence.  3. Newton's New Novelty of Nevedith.

J (17, 2) 1. Ellis' Railfield Rainflower.  Quality feminine f/wh trim with elegant neck and good return of upper arm. Good depth of brisket and tuck up.  Strong loin and quarters, elegant sweep of stifle and good width of second thigh. 2. Fisher's Marleben Magiq Monique.  Slightly smaller bd, covered the ground well on the move, tendency to drop her quarters stacked.  Well laid shoulder, good depth of brisket.  3.  Knights' Hoycotts Misty Dawn.

Y (12,2) 1. Ormond's Denimonde Moonbeam.  Scopey bd, won on her movement from strong, driving back end and well let down hocks.  Covered her ground better than 2 on the stack, would prefer little more leg for her size.  2. Faber's Sufeina Hedge About. Curvy quality be, feminine with strong underjaw and fine ears. Well laid shoulder and return of upper arm, displayed flowing topline and good underline on the move but inclined to bunch on the stack which cost her the class. 3. Third's Badger's Fable of Bruntsfield.

N (13, 1) 1. Badger's Fable of Bruntsfield. Outstanding black coat on this balanced, workmanlike bitch, good bone and substance but feminine.  Powerful rear drove her round the ring. 2. Bennett's Stormburst Summer Jasmine. Gleaming dark bd showed her socks off, good length of back to croup, would prefer more feminine head, stronger pasterns.  3. Evans' Sueve Fashion Designer.

G (13, 4) 1. Bayley's Whisterfield Wild Orchid of Shuleah. Elegant feminine f with flowing topline standing well over her ground, Nice size, good second thigh and tuck up, very balanced mover.  2. Ledger's Tradewind Touch of Gold.  Stronger bd, won her place with her long, effortless stride.  Quality but could be more feminine.  3. Fisher's Marleben Magiq Mayqueen.

PG (31, 7) With classes the size and quality of this and the following, it takes skilful handling as well as a good dog to get placed, several nice bitches failed to get into their stride.  1. Home & Fisher-Home's Jasarat Seventh Heaven never put a foot wrong.  Flowing line from ears to tail maintained on the move, better return of upper arm than most, in the challenge didn't have quite the femininity I was looking for.  2. Harris' Rearsbylea Restless.  Pretty, quality f bd & w, lovely coat and size, covered a lot of ground standing and on the move, well laid shoulder, strong quarters.  3. Howgate and Hull's Palmik Midnight Mischief JW Sh CM.

L (31, 4) 1. CC & BIS Ellis' Lakeisle Love Fled to Railfield.  Exquisite f, quality all through, typical feminine expression alternating between soft to melting and sharply alert.  Must be close to the standard for size but never seemed small owing to her flowing topline and balance, maintained on the move.  Correct angulation fore and aft, well-sprung pasterns.  2.  Cooper's Shimmeree Nellies Song.  Another of the classic fawns that dominated this class.  Neck flows into shoulders and topline seamlessly, strong quarters giving smooth, effortless movement.  3. Spencer-Thomas and Whiffey's Jimanica Just Say No.

O (18, 4) A wonderful class with tremendous depth of quality. 1 & Res CC Snelgrove's Ch Huntinghill Jazzalicious.  Immaculately presented f & w with a sweet expression, good depth of muzzle, quality bone down to good feet which took her round the ring with rhythmic cadence and balance.  Well laid shoulder flows into a pleasing  topline, maintained on the move.  Just preferred my CC winner's leaner condition and length of loin but a beautiful champion bitch.  2. Bell's Windsdream White Linnen.  Taller but so elegant f & w with a lovely long stride.  Quality bone and strong quarters. Front angulation not quite so good as 1 but looks as if she could gallop with the same smooth, ground covering ease as she trots. 3. Doherty's Rearsbylea Celestial Gold at Summersway.

V (8, 3)   1. Mason's Aphrael Aoibhgreine.  Bd dynamo who powered round the ring, looking as if she could do it all day.  Lovely front angulation and depth of brisket, good length of back and topline.  2. Thomas' Faracre Flower Song.  Pretty f bitch of perfect size, all quality, just couldn't match the movement of 1. 3. Bayley's Silkdance Highland Affair.

R/LC (8) 1. Whisterfield Wild Orchid of Shuleah.  2. Third's Talaria Bianca of Bruntsfield.  Elegant f with pleasing expression and good ears, nice long neck into well laid shoulder, strong loin and quarters, good feet - looks the part in all respects.  3.  Spencer-Thomas' Jimanica Jazz Festival.

Best Breeder: Mrs. Linda Jones (Welstar) with a team of well matched classic fawns.

Gay Robertson (Judge)