1987 AWC National Specialty

Thanks to Carola Beranek for furnishing this historical material

Judges Critique

Published in the July - August 1987 Sighthound Review

Whippets

JUDGE Mrs. W.P. Wear

AMERICAN WHIPPET CLUB

First National Specialty

All-time record entry of 340!

The American Whippet Club held its first National Specialty show at the Ohio Exposition Center in Columbus, OH on April 18, 1987. There were a total of 340 Whippets making 503 entries (including 95 class dogs, 129 class bit­ches, 69 specials, 61 non-regulars, 132 in sweepstakes and 17 in obedience).

Mrs. W. P. Wear (Stoney Meadows) judged intersex as well as all regular bitch classes except puppies, plus 6-9 mo. Puppy Dogs and the special A.R.M. class (for racing dogs). Mrs. Betty Stites (Hullabaloo) judged all the non-regular classes and those regular classes not specified above. Mrs. Phoebe Jordan Booth (Shamasan) judged sweepstakes, Mr. James J. Ham obedience, and Mr. John Parente junior showmanship.

BOB, WB & BOW - Morshor's Majestic Ball O'Fire (Ch. Morshor's Majestic Dell, F.Ch. x Ch. Morshor's Brindle Wings). Breeder Jackie Hilsky. Owners Dianne Bleecker & Calvin Perry.

BOS - Ch. Morshor's Majestic Dell, F.Ch. (Ch. Plumcreek Walk on Water x Ch. Morshor's Royal Bid, F.Ch.). Breeder & owner Dianne Bleecker.

WD - Oakhurst Astin (Ch. Delacreme de la Renta x Ch. Saxon Shore Kandi Kane). Breeders Nicole & Barbara Rupert. Owners Jennifer & Bruce Penman. Agent Mary Dukes.

RWD & BP - Madcap Master Key (Ch. Locar's Waterford x Madcap Mata Hari). Breeders Norman W. Ellis & Cathy Gaidos. Owners Norman W. Ellis & Geary L. Harris.

RWB - Bohem Delacreme Demoiselle (Ch. Delacreme de la Renta x Ch. Whippoorwill Sonatina). Breeders Bo Bengtson, Mary Dukes & Barbara Henderson. Owner John Richardson. Agent Barbara Pendergrass.

Class winners & entry:

Puppy D. 6-9 mo. (18) - RWD above. Puppy D. 9-12 mo. (20) - Wistwind's Amos (Saturn's Northern Star, F.Ch. x Wistwind's Morning Glory, CD, LCM).

Junior D. 12-18 mo. (4) - Snowflights Social Status (Ch. Sheridan Marial's Nikita x Ch. Konza's Covet Me O'Snowflight, F.Ch.).

Novice D. (3) - Lindenhall Beauregard Anson (Ch. OBailee's Brittania x Whippoorwill Sasson).

Bred by Exh. D. (18) - Marial's Monte Carlo ( Ch. Marial's Gazon Illusionist x Ch. Marial's Memphis, ARM).

American-Bred D. (7) - Captain Elijah of Brewster (Captain Brewster of Wyndsor, ARM x Dancing Carly, CDX).

Open D. (26) - WD above.

Puppy B. 6-9 mo. (25) - RWB above.

Puppy B. 9-12 mo. (21) - Shilo's Ravenna (Ch. Delacreme de la Renta x Ch. Shilo's Miss In­dependent).

Junior B. 12-18 mo. (13) - Ringmaster's Gold Fever (Ch. Delacreme de la Renta x Ch. Gold-Dust's Limited Edition).

Novice B. (4) - Millrace Hunter's Moon (Ch. Aymes N Raybar's Scuttlebutt x Ch. Jamal's November Light).

Bred by Exh. B. (22) - High Flyer Glamorous Glennis (Ch. Plumcreek Walk on Water x Ch. Dunberry Arwen).

American-Bred B. (15) - Heatherlane High Stakes (Ch. Plumcreek Chase Manhattan x Ch. Stoney Meadows Painted Lady).

Open B. (30) - WB above.

Veteran D. (9) - Ch. Sporting Fields Clansman (Eng.Am.Ch. Charmoll Clansman, imp. UK x Dadaelis Cerulea).

Veteran B. (13) - Ch. Whippoorwill Precious Gem (Ch. Misty Moor's Thornwood Donid x Ch. Lady Blair of Whippoorwill).

ARM D. (5) - Ch. Marial's Padneyhill Illusion, ARM ( Ch. Marial's King Arthur, CD x Padneyhill Moonbeam).

ARM B. (1) - Marial's Brown Deer of Luke (Luke's Jay-Jess of Toro x Ch. Marial's Memphis, ARM).

Stud D. (12) - Ch. Delacreme de la Renta (Ch. Saxon Shore Amber Waves x Ch. Runner's Creme de la Creme).

Brood B. (10) - Ch. Gold-Dust's Limited Edition ( Ch. Stoney Meadows North Star x Ch. Gold-Dust's Twenty-Four Karat).

Brood B. Extended (2) - Ch. Boomerang's Jasmine Gypsy (Satori Stage Door Johnny x Stoney Meadows Eloise).

Judges' Comments DORIS WEAR:

THERE ARE not enough superlatives in Mr. Webster's Dictionary to describe the A.W.C.'s First National Specialty show! The entry in quantity and, thank heavens, also in quality was mind-boggling, but, greatest of all was the way in which the show was run! Due entirely to the efforts of Cathy Gaidos, Pat Dresser and their cohorts the entire day went off with clockwork precision while all the while retaining a relaxed, easy-going ambiance that seemed to prevail through the entire proceedings!

Although the dogs were the "raison d'etre" for our being there they, to my mind, were not the most important part of the show - it was the humans who, with their demonstration of good sportsmanship, good manners, and general air of camaraderie throughout, made the day so enjoyable for me and also I am sure, for my co-judge and for each other! I am not going to critique each of my class winners -rather I am going to attempt to describe what I was looking for and what features I was emphasizing in mak­ing my awards.

In the 6 - 9 month Puppy Dog Class there was one puppy who just jumped out at me (figuratively, not literally!). He was Madcap Master Key, a most impressive youngster. Head and expression to die for with huge well set dark eyes, and correct ears. The whole head assembly set on a strong beautifully arched neck, which leads into a well-laid shoulder. Top-line correct with good length of back, pro­per arch over loin, which in turn blends into correctly sloping croup and beautifully balanced powerful hind quarters. His only "if"? Perhaps a bit over-done in bone, which caused me some concern about his eventual size. However, one judges them as they are on the day and at that point I just wanted to grab him up and take him home, just as he was. I was very much pleased to learn that Phoebe Booth awarded the same puppy Best in Sweeps! Also, Mrs. Stites made him Reserve Winners Dog.

This puppy set the pattern for the type of Whippet I was looking for throughout the entry. Never mind the glamour and "glitz" (although this puppy had both!), but down to basics - proper structure, balance of parts and correct elastic muscling.

Before I move on to the finals I want to mention a bitch that I predict will be a future star. She is a 7 month old young lady sent to my Winners Bitch class by Mrs. Stites, who put her over a huge lot of junior puppy bitches. Her name Bohem Delacreme Demoiselle. I made her Reserve Winners Bitch. This white and red brindle puppy combines all the gorgeous elegance of her well-known sire, as well as fulfilling my basic requirements of good outline and balanced reach in front and drive in rear. However, she had not quite the freedom moving nor the elasticity of my Winners Bitch, who came from the Open class (more about her later). I very much hope that this "Demoiselle" will grow on staying just as she is and that she will not tighten up with adult conditioning.

My runners-up for Reserve Bitch was the winner of the Bred-By Exhibitor-Class, High Flyer Glamorous Glennis, a brindle bitch very much the same color and type as Winnners Bitch but failed to the Winner and Reserve in shape and flow of neck into shoulder; none-the-less a lovely bitch to whom it was my pleasure later to award the Challenge Trophy for Best Bred-By­Exhibitor. I felt that this bitch covered more ground and was freer moving than the really lovely glamorous bitch who was the winner of the 12 to 18 month class, Ringmaster's Gold Fever.

What a gorgeous sight was that ringful of Specials and how very grateful I am to each and every exhibitor, especially to those who came from far away, for showing their champion Whippets to me.

It was great to see "Buoy" having just won the Veteran Dog Class walk into the ring looking so well for a 12 year old and my old friend "Tally" who, at age 8, looked well and fit. My winner of the ARM Dog class, Ch. Marial's Padneyhill Illusion, is 10 years old and has only improved with age — a lovely dog.

It was an awesome responsibility to judge such a huge class with that many quality dogs and bitches and my cuts were made entirely on the basis of choosing those Whippets that best exemplified my interpretation of the standard, first standing still, then proving their correctness by moving at both slow and faster gaits. When my final sifting was done the class bitch, Mor­Shor's Majestic Ball of Fire, best exemplified my ideal Whippet. A very feminine solid color dark brindle bitch, about the middle of the height standard, devoid of any flash but so correct in every way that really counts. Her head is not as classic as some but yet with great appeal, dark forward-looking eyes, good ears, nicely shaped neck widening into a correct front assembly, which includes proper slant to her pasterns, good balance of lay-back of shoulder blade and upper arm. Beautiful top and bottom lines with no exaggerations; nice arch over loin, which was firm but not rigid with good elasticity; and lastly strong propelling hind quarters.

This excellent correct structure was proven by her movement - when asked to walk she moved like a panther and at the trot she covered ground with minimum effort and a free and easy gait, which was a pleasure to watch. Her lovely extended ground-covering trot denoted a total "minimum of lost motion", as required in the standard.

For Best Opposite Sex, Ch. Mor-Shor's Majestic Dell, middle sized solid dark brindle dog, with white trim, was a perfect compliment to the bitch in make, shape and movement. And why not, as it turns out he is her sire! Like father like daughter. Neither of these excellent Whip­ pets are glamorous or, to the casual observer, eye-catchers. Groups they may not win but good for the breed they should be, and it was with this thought in mind — "What can this exhibit contribute to the future of the breed" —that I was judging.

The American Whippet Club was offering 10 Award of Merit ribbons for dogs and bitches who in the judge's opinion deserved special recognition. These went to the dogs and bit­ches who made my final cut. They were in numerical order the following:

Dogs (exclusive of the BOS dog): Locar's Proud Land, Ch. Locar's Dressed to Kill, Ch. Sporting Fields Clansman (Veteran), Ch. Marial's Padneyhill Illusion (ARM), and Oakhurst Astin (Winners Dog) a lovely white and red brindle dog, sired by the same dog as my Reserve Winners Bitch and very similar but not as free and fluid in movement).

The Select Bitches (exclusive of the Best of Breed) were: Ch. Mor-Shor's Saturn Majestic Bid, Ch. Freewynd's Candle In The Wind, Ch. Dublin's Shalimar, and Ch. Ardencaple Beachward Charm.

Saturday, April 18th is a day I will never forget and Columbus, Ohio is a city that will burn bright in my memory the rest of my life! How Louis Pegram would have enjoyed this show! We all missed his physical presence, but I know his spirit was with us.

In closing I want to thank Mrs. Field, my stalwart Steward for the day, who did a marvelous job in keeping me on "the straight and narrow" and without whom I could not have gotten through the most exciting judging experience I have ever had!

Thank you all for giving such an unforgettable day!

BETTY STITES:

340 WHIPPETS in one place at one time boggle the mind, and judging half of them turns the mind to happily contented jello. These thoughts and a few facts remain in my mind after a wonderful day.

It was a great tribute to Mrs. Doris Wear and to the American Whippet Club that this First National Independent Specialty Show drew what is apparently the largest entry in Whippet history.

It is sheer joy to be able to go over so many beautiful Whippets, but absolute agony to select only 4 in each class. In all cases I felt that my class winners could easily go to the points at other shows. Since I judged a somewhat eclectic group of classes, one dog presented in the Winners Dog class (the 6 to 9 month puppy) had won its class under Mrs. Wear, while my 6 to 9 month and 9 to 12 month bitch winners stood for Mrs. Wear's consideration in the Winners Bitch class.

The contenders for Winners Dog:

6 to 9 month Puppy Dog - Madcap Master Key. An extremely promising brindle and white parti color with nice outline, rear quarters, shoulders and neck. Moved like a trooper with great style and power for his age.

9 to 12 month Puppy Dog - Wistwind's Amos. A rather mature red in wonderful condition. Lovely head and eye, nice feet. He had lovely balance and a nice strong loin.

Junior Dog - Snowflight's Social Status. An almost solid brindle. Upstanding and well bodied with good balance and side movement. Great head, eye and expression. A knock-out dog with great promise.

Novice Dog - Lindenhall Beauregard Anson. A very pretty solid white with good balance and nice line over the top. He later made another ring appearance as half of the winning brace.

Bred by Exhibitor Dog- Marial's Monte Carlo. A white and red fawn parti-color with lovely neck and eye. Moving well with nice body depth.

American-bred Dog - Captain Elijah of Brewster. A solid red dog with black mask. Very pretty balance and outline. This dog was presented in perfect condition and moved nice­ly. A wonderful strong look.

Open Dog - Oakhurst Astin. I was tremen­dously taken with this dog. An open marked almost solid brindle, he had a look, a balance, an attitude and movement that said winner! A lovely head with great length of neck, sound and not overdone hind quarters , he was pretty as well as correct. A difficult combination to achieve.

Though all the winners were deserving, the eventual selection came down to the lovely Open dog, the knockout Junior dog, and the 6 to 9 month Puppy, whose movement and presence were amazing for one so young. His timing was already that of a more mature dog, and his reach had him consistently moving up on the two in front of him. Winners went to the Open Dog, a win that I was later told finished his championship, while Reserve Winners went to the 6 to 9 month puppy.

A very few words about my 6 to 9 month Puppy bitch winner, Bohem Delacreme Demoiselle, and the 9 to 12 month winner, Shilo's Ravenna. These two were very similar in type and in color, open marked fawn brindles with small flashings of white. Both excelled in type and outline, with lovely head and eve. Both had a great resemblance to the eventual Winners Dog, and I note in the catalogue that all three had the same sire. The 6 to 9 month Puppy bitch really took my heart. If I had been told I could take one and only one dog home from the Specialty, it would have been this puppy bitch. I was totally delighted to hear that Mrs. Wear placed her Reserve.

It's an honor to judge the Veterans classes, as these dogs are my absolute hands-down favorites. They are the treasures of the breed, and I cloud up and cry with everyone else. Despite this, I hate judged Veterans classes, as I feel it is totally uncalled for to judge treasures. I much prefer Veteran Parades with each dog highlighted and introduced. However, these Veterans were to be judged. The Veterans Dog class was full of treasures, and the winner was one of the oldest, looking better than ever and going with great style. Ch. Sporting Fields Clansman at 12 can keep up with the best of them. It was great for the fancy and those new to the breed to have the opportunity to see a dog who will become legend. Second to Clansman was Ch. Plumcreek Chase Manhattan, looking absolutely outstanding.

The Veterans Bitch class winner gives new meaning to "You're not getting older baby, you're getting better!" Ch. Whippoorwill Precious Gem, as all precious things, does nothing but improve with age. Her lovely lines and outstanding movement are still there for all to see.

For the first time, the AWC included an ARM class, with the winners to advance to Best of Breed competition. One kennel had the horror of claiming both winners. ARM Bitch was the sound and pretty Marial's Brown Deer of Luke. Please allow me to also mention Mrs. Wear's winning ARM dog, the amazing Ch. Marial's Padneyhill Illusion. What a great tribute to the versatility of the breed that this dog is a champion, one of the all-time top ARM dogs, and on this day completed his CD. The fact that Mrs. Wear kept him in the Best of Breed ring for one of the Honor Awards seemed absolutely fitting.

The Stud Dog class of twelve allowed the fancy to see many of the top studs in the country. The eventual winner, whose get were those two lookalikes the Winners Dog and the to-die-for 6 to 9 month puppy bitch, was Ch. Delacreme de la Renta.

Best Brood Bitch, with two very similar and very lovely parti colored brindle and white off­spring, was Ch. Gold Dust's Limited Edition.

Another rarely seen class is Brood Bitch, Extended Generation. Here the winner was Ch. Boomerang's Jasmine Gypsy with outstanding extended offspring in shades of red.

Two brave people had the ultimate courage needed to enter a brace. The winners were perfect duplicates, moving in perfect unison, the whites, Lindenhall Beauregard Anson and Lindenhall Bethesda Laurel.

It's nice to see the breed in such good condition. Movement is much improved, with very few chin-kickers apparent. Down and back movement still needs improvement. Heads are almost uniformly good. Unfortunately, eyes are becoming more almond shaped as opposed to the more desirable round, possible as a result of the influx of breeders of the more exotic sighthounds. Feet still need work. Some were flat or splayed, and lacking of depth. It's my feeling , and I realize not a popularly held one, that the breed is exhibiting far too straight a pastern. The pastern acts as a shock absorber for the body as a whole and the shoulder in particular. A running breed correctly should not carry a completely straight pastern if it wants to maintain its soundness.

It was a great pleasure to have been a part of this history-making event. I thank the American Whippet Club for asking me, and the exhibitors for allowing me the privilege of going over their dogs.

PHOEBE JORDAN BOOTH:

IT WAS a distinct honor and my great pleasure to be asked to judge the Sweepstakes at the first American Whippet Club National Specialty. It was the highlight of my 22 years in dogs and an unforgettable learning experience. I have been asked to share some of my thoughts and impressions with you.

I had felt some uncertainty regarding the state of the Whippet during recent times, and so I approached the Sweepstakes assignment with some concern. Although I did encounter some consistent problems which I will relate to you, I am most pleased to report that the level of quality was extremely high, that some former problems seem to have been corrected, and that the Whippet appears to be in very good shape in the U.S.

The overall balance and soundness of most of the exhibits was excellent - we seem to have lost that penchant for exaggeration that has plagued us in the recent past - there were very few overangulated rears, giraffe-like necks, Borzoi heads, extreme toplines. Instead, I found many puppies who characterized the balance, symmetry, and moderation that is consistently called for in our standard.

Overall movement was better than I have ever observed in an entry of this size and age. If there is a comment to be made on movement, let me say that I felt, if anything, the side move­ment was "too good" on some of the entrants. I do not believe that the Whippet, as a galloping breed, needs to have the exaggerated Sporting dog type movement at the trot that we are beginning to see. It does indeed look spectacular, and is often rewarded by all-rounders, but I do not think that it is necessarily a functional attribute in a galloping dog. The extreme length of stride - indeed, some even exhibited a German Shepherd-like "flying trot" - cannot be considered to be desirable in a breed whose trademark gait is the double suspension gallop.

When our standard calls for a "minimum of lost motion" I interpret "lost motion" to include a too long, or over-reaching stride, as well as too short a stride. I did indeed reward a few Whippets whose side movement was extreme enough to be considered uneconomical, however, in each case I decided that their long, low stride and most especially their freedom of action, was far more desirable than a short or restricted gait. But let's try not to turn our breed into Irish Setters or German Shepherds.

On the subject of running gear, legs and feet were good in general, with but one exceptional area. I was extremely alarmed at the STRAIGHT PASTERNS which were so prevalent. This is a very serious problem in a sighthound and needs to be addressed immediately. We seem to be putting Terrier legs on our Whippets and then asking them to move like German Shepherds! There were many dogs whose feet I felt were much too knuckled-up due, I suspect, to the coupling with the stick- straight pasterns, but our standard does allow cat feet and it wasn't the feet that concerned me. I cannot, however, stress enough that attention must be paid to the pastern. It is a vital component of a running hound; it must be flexible and functional.

I am most pleased to report that toplines, though somewhat inconsistent, were, overall, very good, better than I have ever seen and certainly better than I expected. I was even happier to note that one of my own particular concerns, the sometimes overlooked "S-curve" underline, was much in evidence in many of the exhibits, and the depth of body and brisket was excellent. This is a very encouraging feature, considering that the oldest Whippet I examined was under 18 months of age and this is one attribute that is late developing. I did not see many of the weedy, shallow, slab-sided bodies that I felt plagued the breed only a few years ago.

Rears, which I don't think have been a major problem in recent times, were generally good. We did use to see quite a few overangulated rears, as I mentioned earlier, but those were definately not in evidence at this Specialty, and that fad seems to have died a timely death. I would have liked to see a little more muscling and hardness of condition both in the rear and in general, on many of the puppies, but it is unreasonable to demand too much muscling on conditioning can be just as detrimental as under-conditioning on a youngster, and I did take into consideration the stress of travel for most of the entrants.

My final general observation, was, for me, the most disappointing. The feature that I found MOST consistently lacking, indeed almost nonexistent, was the beauty and quality of head and eye that the American Whippet has formerly been noted for. Let me state at the outset that I do not in any way mean to imply that the Whippet is or should be a "head breed."

However, our standard is the most specific in the world when it describes the desirable qualities of the head and eye, and I was most distressed to observe that with only A FEW exceptions, none of the entrants exhibited the combination of properties of head and eye that attracted many of us to the breed in the first place.

There were more good heads than correct eyes, but in most cases, these heads were combined with too small, too close or too narrow-set eyes, or eyes with pink haws showing, all of which impart a hard, mean, dull, or worse, a stupid expression to our breed which should appear keen, alert and intelligent.

The handful of light eyes seemed insignificant when compared to the great numbers of those that were incorrectly shaped and set. Skulls were often too wide, muzzles too short, and both were often lacking the chiseling and quality that is an essential aspect of Whippet type.

I am not a "head-hunter" - but when few of 120 puppies exhibited the correct combination of head and eye characteristics, it seems to me to be cause for alarm. What an irony that I felt that general symmetry, body type, and outline were so outstanding and prevalent, while correct head and expression were almost nonexistent.

I do not intend for these comments to present an entirely negative view of our breed at this time, as my general impression was that the positives outweighed the negatives. But the negatives, straight pasterns and common heads and expression, were prevalent enough for me to air this caveat - breeders, please take note, we cannot lose these essential breed characteristics!

NOW TO the classes. I jumped right into the thick of it with the 6-9 month dog class of 19 competitors. What a beautiful class it was. 1st to Madcap Master Key, a br/wh 7 month old who, to me, epitomized the qualities of balance, outline, and type called for in our standard. He will not be a small dog, but a comfortable masculine size and carried with him a smoother outline and more poise than any puppy I've seen of his age and substance. His topline and underline were close to perfect, and his parts all fit. He was as satisfying in motion as he was standing still, a dog of great symmetry and no exaggeration. If I could have changed anything about him I would have preferred a larger eye and a more flexible pastern, but he is a dog of so many qualities that his weaknesses were of the "nitpicking" kind. 2nd to the Irish brindle Aymes N Raybar's Starburst, an up-to­size youngster, but with excellent balance and lovely type. 3rd, another Irish brindle, High Flyer Top Gun quite a bit smaller than no.2 but a very acceptable height within the standards generous limit. He has a smooth outline and lovely side movement. He lacked a little length of body, and I would have preferred a fuller, more typical eye. 4th, to Madcap Mastercraft, a fawn dog of gorgeous type and very correct outline. He was hard to fault standing still, except for his pasterns, which were too straight. His front let him down on the move.

9-12 mo. dogs (20 competing): 1st to Hound Hill Boomerang a black-masked "agouti" fawn with white trim. I really liked this puppy - his type and soundness were very correct - here was one of the few puppies whose head and eye were completely satisfying, and his movement was outstanding. He could have been a little longer and more "flexible" over the loin and croup. I did think he was slightly overweight. 2nd to Wistwind's Amos, a red brindle of lovely type and outline - a real eyecatcher. He moved a little wide in front on the day, and I prefer a larger eye. 3rd to Appraxin Blushing Groom, a handsome dog with a very nice head and eye. He could have moved with a little more reach. 4th to Ringmaster's Rhedd Butler another handsome br/wh with a very smooth outline. He moved a little loose on the day, and could have had a little more length of body.

12-15 mo. dogs (6 competing) 1st, Snowflight's Social Standing, a white trimmed gray fawn marked almost identically to the previous class winner. He is a very balanced dog of many outstanding qualities. His move­ment is flawless. He could have been a little cleaner over the neck and shoulders and he leveled off slightly when he moved. 2nd to Belaya Cracker Jack, an or/wh of moderation with nice movement. He was a little shorter coupled than no.1 and I would have liked a more "elastic" pastern. 3rd, to Sandstone Lyca L.P., a rather refined f/wh who didn't quite have it all "together" on the day. 4th to Jaguar Sandcastle at Wolfram a fawn with a lovely eye and expression whose front movement was not under control.

15-18 month dog (6 competing): 1st to Hamrya Moonvark, an Irish marked brindle with outstanding side movement who made a beautiful picture. Up close I would have prefer­ red darker eyes and haws. 2nd to Hamrya's Man in the Moon, a wh/br of beautiful type and very clean lines. He was a little shorter coupled and not quite as together in front as no l . 3rd to Merci Isle the Maneater, a mahogany br/wh puppy of beautiful type, balance and outline. He has Whippet written all over him. He could have had a little deeper brisket, and unfortunately, his legs weren't very cooperative on this day - he moved like a much younger puppy than he was. 4th Wolfram's Arthur of Woodsia, a youngster of good type and nice length of body. He was a little restricted in front and moved slightly high in the rear.

6 - 9 Bitch (23 competing): 1st to Bohem Delacreme Chevrotain, an or/br & wh, tall, elegant, very well presented puppy with a gorgeous outline and excellent length of body. Her poise was remarkable for her age, making the most of her many virtues and minimizing her weaknesses. Her side movement was outstanding. Her angulation at both ends was good although she could have been better muscled and stronger in the rear when going away. 2nd Ayme's N Raybar's Kit Kat an Irish- marked brindle with a lovely head, eye and outline. Still very much a baby, she lacked the poise of no l. She toed out slightly. 3rd to Dunberry Water Skimmer a "drop dead gorgeous" or/wh baby who will turn a few heads when she gets it all together. Just days over 6 months old, she'll be tough to beat when she grows up. On this day, she was a little wide in front and not easy to evaluate, but I think all she needs is time. 4th Bohem Delacreme Demoiselle, a very pretty or/br & wh puppy, presented well, who had beautiful side movement. She was just a little loose in front and I would have preferred a larger eye.

9-12 Bitch (20 competing): This was the best class I had, though they were al I good. But my most difficult decision was between 1st and 2nd in this class. The entire class was deep with quality. 1st went to Hound Hill Constant Ghost, a white with an odd gray head marking. She is a bitch of exquisite type with a head and eye of the quality I had been seeking unsuccessfully most of the day. She did not have the poise of no. 2, but her movement in front was a little lower. She was slightly short coupled but had a very smooth outline and was so "Whippety!" 2nd to Appraxin Mor Shor Angel Face, a brindle-masked white bitch who caught my eye when she walked in the ring. She, too, had a very smooth, clean, feminine outline and her type and quality was apparent from any distance. She was slightly short coupled but it didn't affect the overall look. Her presentation was flawless. It came down to nitpicking when I placed her 2nd due to slightly less reach and smaller eye than no l. I wish they had been in different classes! 3rd was an off-white bitch, Bohem Whippoorwill Jenny Lind, who was as sound a Whippet as I judged all day. Structural­ly she was outstanding and her movement was flawless. She was, however, a little more bitch than I prefer, and her head and eye were not to my liking. 4th to Konza's Snowflight, a very pretty, typey white bitch with a tall, elegant, feminine outline. She had lovely side movement but carried her tail just a little high and was a little loose in front.

12-15 Bitch (17 competing): 1st to High Flyer Glamourous Glennis, an Irish marked brindle, very sound, very balanced bitch who on close evaluation is a very hard to fault. She is not a bitch of exaggeration and her parts fit together in a smooth symmetrical package. Her reach and drive were very impressive, but almost to the extreme for a Whippet. I would have liked just a little more depth of body and underline but this may come with maturity. 2nd was Mor­ Shor's Majestic Ball O'Fire a very pretty, similarly marked brindle bitch. She appeared quite sound but "quit" about halfway through the class. I felt that the 1st place bitch was stronger in pasterns (no. 2 being a little weak there), and had a cleaner, more chiseled head. 3rd was Millrace Hunter's Moon a black mask­ ed fawn of lovely type and a beautiful outline. She was a little unsure of herself and not quite together in front on this day. 4th Sonsteby's South Sea Pearl, a little bit finer type, though longer legged and very elegant. She had a beautiful head and eye, was very balanced, and had nice length of body. She, too, needed to collect herself in front when moving.

15-18 month Bitch (9 competing): 1st to the wh/br Ringmaster's Gold Fever (Lawrence), a high-stationed and extremely elegant bitch with a very lovely outline. She moved well, though just a little unsure of herself or her handler. Her croup appeared a little steep, but had she had more poise, this may not have been the case, and her movement may have been even better. 2nd to Hamrya's Moon Scape V Tyobi a very sound, well made br/wh who was just a little out of condition. She was a nice one, who looked as though she was just coming back from maternity leave. 3rd to Belaya CoCo Chanel, a very flashy and showy wh/br with a nice outline and presented beautifully. She could have been a little sounder going away. 4th'"to Runner's Such A Clairvoyant, a bitch of beautiful type and lots of quality. On this day she was a little lacking in reach and lost her topline on the move.

There wasn't a class winner who couldn't have gone Best in Sweepstakes, and there were many more good puppies than there were awards to give them. On this day I chose the 6-9 month male, Madcap Master Key, who I felt combined all of the vital characteristics that make up a correct example of the Whippet. I found him the best of a spectacular group and felt privileged to be presented with such quality to choose from.

Thank you to the American Whippet Club, to Cathy Gaidos, Pat Dresser, to my incredibly well-organized steward Pat Piazza, and to all of the breeders whose effort and dedication has added this much quality to our wonderful breed. It was an experience I shall not soon forget.

Next day's activities...

The AWC supported the Whippet entry on the day following the National Specialty at the Central Ohio KC show. Mr. Anthony J. Gutilla judged an entry of 166 (including 41 specials). BOB & Group 4th was Ch. Oakhurst Astin (Ch. Delacreme de la Renta x Ch. Saxon Shore Kandi Kane), BOS Ch. Sho-Me's Rafina Quisqueya (Ch. Delacreme de la Renta x Ch. Rafina War Bonnet), WD Snowflight's Social Status (Ch. Sheridan Marial's Nikita x Ch. Konza's Covet Me O'Snowflight, F.Ch.), WB & BOW Greyfriar Empress O'Dun (Ch. OBailee's Brittania x Ch. Greyfriar Lady Sara O'Dun).

The National Point Race meet took place the same day with 41 adult starters and 6 puppies: Adults: 1. Marial's Whitewater, ARM. ORC 29, 2. Ch. Texas Contender of Wyn & Jr, ARM 18, 3. Winsome's Robin Banks, ARM 171/2, 4. Captain Brewster of Wyndsor, ARM 17, 5. Hamlin's Pogo Del Allegro, CD 161/2, 6. Chaparral's Corsair of Pendel 16, 7. Winsome Solitaire, ARM 13, 8. Swiftsure Luke's Jayson 13, 9. Marial's Monte Carlo 12, 10. Trilby's J.B. of Wyndsor 101/2 points.

Puppies: 1. Belaya Cracker Jack 23, 2. Belaya Fudge Ripple 21, 3. Barje's Vixen of Satus 181/2, 4. Millrace Hunter's Moon 101/2, 5. Millrace Moonlightning 9 points.

LOOKING BACK TO 1931...

THANKS to AKC's librarian Roberta Vesley we have been able to locate some information about the first American Whippet Club specialty, held six months after the club's formation on June 7, 1931 at the Greenwich Kennel Club all-breed show. The total number of Whippets entered is not listed in the old AKC Gazette, but there were 4 class dogs, 10 class bitches and at least one special, Ch. Sandbrilliant of Meander, who won Best of Breed. He was owned by the Shearer sisters who were instrumental in foun­ding AWC and who ruled it — some say with an iron hand — for its first years.

The judge Mr. F.H. Addyman (who had the early Watlands kennel in New York) chose the same owners' Slag of Meander as Winners Dog. He later became a champion also. Win­ners Bitch and BOW went to Maid of War, whose owner is listed as one W.F. Ford. It is possible but hardly likely that this was the well- known California fancier Freeman Ford (whose Arroyo kennels played an important part in early racing and showing) — one simply did not travel cross-country to dog shows then as we do now.

The Hound group at this show was won by the Borzoi Ch. Vigow O'Valley Farm, owned by Louis Murr who was active as an all-rounder judge into the 1970s. Borzoi were then known officially as 'Russian Wolfhounds;' both they and the 'real' Wolfhounds (where Ch. King Lir of Ambleside was BOB) had entries at least as big as the Whippet specialty. The only other Sighthounds shown were a dozen Scottish Deerhounds, with MacGregor of Dothayn as BOB, a single Greyhound (which was dis­qualified for "violation to Rule II") and three Salukis with Mazagan Dole as Breed winner.

THIS WAS not the first Whippet specialty in the U.S., however. The earlier Whippet Club of America (which later ceased to exist after AKC refused to permit it to publish a racing register) had held its first specialty on the polo grounds in Westbury on October 12, 1924. It was held as a combined event with the Greyhound Club and had a big entry of "some 60 Whippets and 30 Greyhounds," with specialist Mr. J.Z. Batten as judge.

The well-known English import Ch. Nomad Nancy of Oxon, owned by Henry E. Damon from New Jersey, won in Whippets. There is no information about the Greyhound judging, but it is clear that there was a race meet for both breeds the following day.

Thanks to Cathy Gaidos for providing the 1925 booklet, 'Whippets in America.' - Ed.

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