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Second National Whippet Specialty
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Site Last Updated: March 27, 2008
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Who
We Are The Club was
formed in 1979 by a group of enthusiastic Whippet owners from the Auckland
region. They wanted to
develop their interests in breeding and showing and also re-introduce
racing. Our group of people were of like mind and banded together to
form a Club to pursue and provide activities for the breed.
Those dozen or so owners met regularly at the Takanini Greyhound
Track to run their dogs, and were soon putting up times that astonished
the Greyhound people! An
exhibition race was held at Mount Smart Stadium on April 3rd,
1980. On April 2nd,
The Auckland Herald featured a photo of Colin Peel exercising his
Whippets! Meanwhile, a
meeting was held and a committee formed, putting together our first
executive with President - Ralph Barclay, Vice President - Sonja Fenton,
Secretary – Priscilla Edbrooke, Treasurer – Pat Nash and a committee
composed of Julie Peel, Alison Pilkington, and John Pettitt.
The committee was charged with the formation of Rules and
Regulations, and applying for recognition and incorporation.
The Club applied for and received recognition from the New Zealand
Kennel Club in July of 1980, and held it’s first Ribbon Parade in
September of that year. Two
more Ribbon Parades quickly followed with some imports appearing on the
scene as well. In 1982, The Whippet Club and The South Island Whippet Club
held a combined Whippet Show at the Tux National Dog Show in Wellington.
In April 1983, the Club held it’s first Open Show under the
stewardship of our President, Julie Peel, and also hosted our first
overseas judge, Bev Daines of Dachlah Whippets.
The Club was incorporated with a full Constitution in July of 1983. The Club was
now working hard towards the approval of Whippet Racing Championship
status. The New Zealand
Kennel Club appointed two executive members who worked with us over a
period of 18 months, attending nearly every race meet, and 1984 saw the
approval of our Racing Rules and Racing Championship status.
The very dedicated work of Colin Peel was instrumental in this
development. Our first
Championship Show was held February 24, 1985 and was judged by Mr. Owen
Wright. Over the
ensuing years, a dedicated group of committee members, lead by President
Richard Powley, have developed our own racetrack at the New Zealand Kennel
Club grounds. Fully fenced
and gated, we continue to hold monthly race meets there. In January of
2002, the Club hosted the very first New Zealand National Whippet Show,
judged by Mr. Bo Bengston of Bohem fame in the United States.
Coverage of this show as well as photos are available on this site. Now as we enter
2008, our Executive is: Patrons:
Mrs. Julie Peel President:
Mrs. Merle Powley Vice President
: Mr. Noel Foster Secretary/Treasurer:
Mrs. Shirley Rolfe Committee: Mrs. Sue Clewlow tipton@clear.net.nz Ms. Rata Hutchinson Ms. Debbie Neumann debbien@orcon.net.nz Hank Faifua bossum@xtra.co.nz Linda Watson shenace@xtra.co.nz Maureen Paton
Trophy Manager: Maureen Paton R Lure Drivers: Noel Foster Debbie Neumann debbien@orcon.net.nz Colin Peel
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