The History of The National Whippet Association
The NWA was formed in 1936 at a meeting of a few experienced exhibitors, including Mr C H Douglas-Todd and Mrs Edith Conway-Evans at the Muswell Hill Canine Society Show, a grand total of six people attended this auspicious occasion and the club was launched with the vast capital of £2.
Mrs Conway-Evans was largely responsible for keeping the interest of the breed alive during the war years and, as incredible as it may seem, in October 1945 the NWA held an Open benched show judged by Mr J Emlyn Owen where, with 16 classes scheduled, we had no less than 271 entries!
Championship status was granted in 1946 and Mr Douglas-Todd awarded CCs with another large entry numbering 239. This first National Whippet Association Championship show was held at The Scottish Drill Hall, London. In those days with transport limited and wartime rationing still in evidence I think we would have to agree this was a tremendous achievement.
The first Post war Champion was Mr George Silks, 'Mighty Atom'. Sired by Tiptree George out of Lovely Rosa of Test, I can remember George telling me he brought home this tiny scrap of a puppy, placed him on the table and announced, 'Here he is THE MIGHTY ATOM!'
The club went from strength to strength and more shows were staged, all very well supported by a growing number of keen enthusiasts and run by the untiring Mrs Conway-Evans. In fact this stalwart of our club organized and ran one show, her last, with a broken leg, no less.
The club went from strength to strength and more shows were staged, all very well supported by a growing number of keen enthusiasts and run by the untiring Mrs Conway-Evans. In fact this stalwart of our club organized and ran one show, her last, with a broken leg, no less.
In 1947 the secretary's position was handed over to Mrs S Elizabeth Evans, Secretary for many years this lady was responsible for organizing the very popular Members lunches that took place, the first at WELKS Championship show in 1948.
Mrs Elizabeth Evans thought it would be more advantageous to hold these picnic type lunches at the Windsor Championship show, this show had no CC allocation at the time, so Mrs Elizabeth Evans went straight to the top and Pleaded with the Kennel Club on behalf of the show, (and the NWA), for tickets, these were granted the following year.
The Club has been through many milestones since those formative years and had many famous Whippet exhibitors and breeders on its committee,
In 1986 we celebrated our Golden Jubilee show at Campus West, Welwyn Garden City (see pictures below). Mrs Shirley Rawlings was secretary at this time and Mrs Rachel Flatt the Chairman. The Judge for dogs was Mr Terry Thorn and the Bitch Judge Mrs Mary Rigby. With another record entry. The Bitch CC and BIS went to Ch Selinko Another Lady Bred and owned by Mr and Mrs Kennett, the Dog CC going to Mrs Hemstocks Ch Welstar Royal Mint
Incidentally Lady Anderson who performed the same ceremony at our recent centennial show cut the celebration cake, almost certainly made by probably the best cake-making Chairman in the history of the NWA, Mrs Flatt.
On to the Diamond Jubilee Championship show in 1996. The club celebrated its 60th Birthday! Mr Mike Howgate was in the driving seat as Secretary during this stage of the clubs history, Shirley having moved on to become the Secretary of the Hound Association. The venue was Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, a roomy sports hall that was decorated with large tubs of flowers in the club colours, there were lots of specials and gifts donated and generous class prize money.
The Dog judge was Mrs Irene Wood (Flarepath) she found her Challenge Certificate winner in Welstar Red Robin bred and owned by Mrs Linda Jones, he was later made up to Champion.
The Bitches were judged by Mrs Mary Lowe (Nimrodel) who at that time was responsible for 13 UK Champions with a total of 72 CCs also many more abroad. On the day Mrs Lowe's bitch Challenge Certificate and also Best in Show went to Ch & Irish Ch Mithrandir Panning For Gold, bred and owned by the late Pip Campbell.
The National Whippet Association was the second Whippet Breed club to be formed in the UK (after The Whippet Club) and there are now 11 breed clubs covering all regions and all putting on shows, teach ins and social gatherings for Whippet lovers. The breed continues to be very popular and at most Championship shows, at this time, draw the largest entry in the hound group.
We are very grateful to Wanda Tyrrell for sending us a NWA Year Book from 1946. It was found during a "tidy up" and rather than throwing it away, Wanda kindly gave it to us for our archives. Her father Mr A. W. Rose is featured on page 36 with Downlands Boy. He owned Whippets from the age of 16 until 73, when he passed away in 1985. Here are just a few photos from the book showing Brig. Gen C Highfield-Harrison, OBE as President, Mrs E Conway-Evens as Secretary & Treasurer and Vice President C.H. Douglas Todd FZS. Plus a few other snippets of interest
Mrs Conway-Evans was largely responsible for keeping the interest of the breed alive during the war years and, as incredible as it may seem, in October 1945 the NWA held an Open benched show judged by Mr J Emlyn Owen where, with 16 classes scheduled, we had no less than 271 entries!
Championship status was granted in 1946 and Mr Douglas-Todd awarded CCs with another large entry numbering 239. This first National Whippet Association Championship show was held at The Scottish Drill Hall, London. In those days with transport limited and wartime rationing still in evidence I think we would have to agree this was a tremendous achievement.
The first Post war Champion was Mr George Silks, 'Mighty Atom'. Sired by Tiptree George out of Lovely Rosa of Test, I can remember George telling me he brought home this tiny scrap of a puppy, placed him on the table and announced, 'Here he is THE MIGHTY ATOM!'
The club went from strength to strength and more shows were staged, all very well supported by a growing number of keen enthusiasts and run by the untiring Mrs Conway-Evans. In fact this stalwart of our club organized and ran one show, her last, with a broken leg, no less.
The club went from strength to strength and more shows were staged, all very well supported by a growing number of keen enthusiasts and run by the untiring Mrs Conway-Evans. In fact this stalwart of our club organized and ran one show, her last, with a broken leg, no less.
In 1947 the secretary's position was handed over to Mrs S Elizabeth Evans, Secretary for many years this lady was responsible for organizing the very popular Members lunches that took place, the first at WELKS Championship show in 1948.
Mrs Elizabeth Evans thought it would be more advantageous to hold these picnic type lunches at the Windsor Championship show, this show had no CC allocation at the time, so Mrs Elizabeth Evans went straight to the top and Pleaded with the Kennel Club on behalf of the show, (and the NWA), for tickets, these were granted the following year.
The Club has been through many milestones since those formative years and had many famous Whippet exhibitors and breeders on its committee,
In 1986 we celebrated our Golden Jubilee show at Campus West, Welwyn Garden City (see pictures below). Mrs Shirley Rawlings was secretary at this time and Mrs Rachel Flatt the Chairman. The Judge for dogs was Mr Terry Thorn and the Bitch Judge Mrs Mary Rigby. With another record entry. The Bitch CC and BIS went to Ch Selinko Another Lady Bred and owned by Mr and Mrs Kennett, the Dog CC going to Mrs Hemstocks Ch Welstar Royal Mint
Incidentally Lady Anderson who performed the same ceremony at our recent centennial show cut the celebration cake, almost certainly made by probably the best cake-making Chairman in the history of the NWA, Mrs Flatt.
On to the Diamond Jubilee Championship show in 1996. The club celebrated its 60th Birthday! Mr Mike Howgate was in the driving seat as Secretary during this stage of the clubs history, Shirley having moved on to become the Secretary of the Hound Association. The venue was Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, a roomy sports hall that was decorated with large tubs of flowers in the club colours, there were lots of specials and gifts donated and generous class prize money.
The Dog judge was Mrs Irene Wood (Flarepath) she found her Challenge Certificate winner in Welstar Red Robin bred and owned by Mrs Linda Jones, he was later made up to Champion.
The Bitches were judged by Mrs Mary Lowe (Nimrodel) who at that time was responsible for 13 UK Champions with a total of 72 CCs also many more abroad. On the day Mrs Lowe's bitch Challenge Certificate and also Best in Show went to Ch & Irish Ch Mithrandir Panning For Gold, bred and owned by the late Pip Campbell.
The National Whippet Association was the second Whippet Breed club to be formed in the UK (after The Whippet Club) and there are now 11 breed clubs covering all regions and all putting on shows, teach ins and social gatherings for Whippet lovers. The breed continues to be very popular and at most Championship shows, at this time, draw the largest entry in the hound group.
We are very grateful to Wanda Tyrrell for sending us a NWA Year Book from 1946. It was found during a "tidy up" and rather than throwing it away, Wanda kindly gave it to us for our archives. Her father Mr A. W. Rose is featured on page 36 with Downlands Boy. He owned Whippets from the age of 16 until 73, when he passed away in 1985. Here are just a few photos from the book showing Brig. Gen C Highfield-Harrison, OBE as President, Mrs E Conway-Evens as Secretary & Treasurer and Vice President C.H. Douglas Todd FZS. Plus a few other snippets of interest