TWO Okehampton dog exhibitors are celebrating a double success after attending Bournemouth Championship Show, writes Ann Parsons. Dawn and Robert Smith have been showing whippets at small shows for approximately ten years, but only started showing seriously at the larger shows five years ago. Their dream was to qualify for Crufts, which is done by winning a class at a championship show. Two years ago they achieved their dream, and attended Crufts with their dog, Solo Night at Turnstone, whose pet name is Peter ? they were even more delighted when he was placed third in his class. Dawn said that since then they have not been attending championship shows, but had decided to enter the Bournemouth show with both Peter and his son, Jack ? officially Oke Tor Tormentil ? who is only six and a half months old. To their delight both dogs won their classes and qualified for Crufts 2007. Dawn said: ?It was Jack?s first championship show, so we are delighted, particularly seeing they both qualified on the same day.? She said Jack was bred by Chagford whippet owner Frances Goude, who used their dog at stud. They had seen the litter when they were first born and immediately liked one particular puppy. Dawn said: ?I said let?s wait a bit until they?re bigger before deciding to have him, and after waiting we still decided he was the one. He?s taken after his father and is a real show dog too.? They now hope to show Jack at more championship and open shows in order to gain enough points for a Kennel Club Junior Warrant award, which a dog can qualify for until the age of 18 months. LEFT: Dawn and Robert with their prizewinning whippets. Picture by Ian Snell
