Hillsdown The End Of An Era

[patsy]

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I don't know how many people know that Phil Moran-Healy (Hillsdown) has dibanded his kennel and is no longer breeding or judging the breed, I have tried to talk him into not giving up his judging but he won't change his mind.This really is an end of a era for whippets.

Phil does not use a computer .so feel it is safe to post.I think at Crufts this year we could all do something, if we all donated just a pound we could present him with something really nice to remember his years in the breed.

without Phil there would have been no Nutshell, reserve best in show at Crufts,and the two best in show winners Ch Dutch Gold and Call the Tune,Whippets the world over have greatly beniffited from Hillsdown breeding, you have only to look at what happened in Sweden.I have got a friend making a booklet type of card that we can all sign, Nicky Warner and myself will be collecting. It would be so apt as the owners of Dutch and Nutshell are judging and Lynn and Eva will be there.

Phils contribution to the breed has been immeasurable.

We all owe Phil a debt of gratitude.

We remember the days of the long hair bell bottom trousers and we called him Pip.

Patsy

 

[saraquele]

such a shame to hear that news , Hillsdown as you say has been a fantastic influence to the breed im sure he will be sorley missed .

hope he has a long and happy retirement :luck:

 

[Zephyr]

Sorry to hear this - I'm sure he will be missed. One of my favourite books is his wonderful book 'The Whippet' which gives so much valuable information on the history of the breed, along with many wonderful photographs.

 

[whippetmad]

such a shame to hear that news , Hillsdown as you say has been a fantastic influence to the breed im sure he will be sorley missed .hope he has a long and happy retirement  :luck:

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I agree with above......................What a shame though

 

[rls22]

We only need to look in our dogs pedigrees and I think a lot of us will see at least one of Phil's dogs in there; they have had such an influence on whippets for many many years.

I would of course be more than happy to make a contribution to a collection Patsy, that is a lovely idea. :huggles:

 

[Juley]

I agree that it is a shame that he has decided not to at least judge anymore. Hillsdown are in all my girls pedigree's. I too have his book ( a signed copy!). Would love to contribute, what a lovely idea. I also hope he has a long and happy retirement, :cheers: bet he still comes to a few shows to watch though! Patsy, any pix of him looking as you describe! (w00t)

 

[lawleymoon]

that's such a shame like rach said you only have to have a look at are pedigree's to see what a influence hillsdown has had .

and im for sure happy to donate what a great idea :cheers:

 

[Janimal]

I have his book too. :thumbsup: and Oscar has Hillsdown in his breeding.

that is such a shame.

 

[Avalonia]

Hi Patsy, migosh the end of another era with Moran-Healy hanging up his show leads!

Since I am going to be at Crufts I would like to contribute but how do I get my contribution to you? Can I mail it somewhere? If so can you email me? I can of course pay you at the show -- I will be there for both the gundog day and whippets, but you might need everyones contribution before that.

Fergal is behind all the Nevedith double J litter through Dutch Gold, and since we have line bred on that line for the past decade we have our own piece of Hillsdown here in Canada. But for the record, Nutshell had only one Hillsdown dog any where in her 5 generation pedigree (her great grandmother Hillsdown Tobique on her dam's side) and none before that so the contribution to Nutshell is at best, extremely light.

But no one can deny the incredible impact of Fergal on the breed in the UK, Europe and world wide. Isn't it interesting how often there is a very sound but in many other ways otherwise unremarkable dog (particularly from the perspective of what smacks you in the eye at a dog show) that makes such a huge contribution to the breed? In America I fell in love with Sporting Fields Strider the first time I saw him as a young dog because he was just so sound and moved so wonderfully, but he was never going to be the astounding breed contributor that his much more famous son became, in large part because many considered him to be a dilute. But virtually everyone in the world must know his most famous son, Am.Cdn.Ch. Sporting Fields Kinsman, and the same applies to Hillsdown Fregal and Pencloe Dutch Gold. Behind every great dog there has to be great genes and both dogs to be blessed with the fathers who made them.

I hear a number of Americans are coming across for the show too that I think would like to be part of any get together, most notable of whom is the guy we all think of as the grand old man of American whippetdom, Calvin Perry (Appraxin). Cal started breeding as a teenager, almost at the same time as Peggy Newcombe, and with Peggy now gone a year I think Cal is the oldest living, continuously breeding whippet person I know of in the USA.

See y'all in March.

Lanny Morry

without Phil there would have been no Nutshell, reserve best in show at Crufts

 

[kennelmaid]

That is a big decision and obviously one Phil hasn't taken lightly. It is such a shame and I hope one day he changes his mind and at least carries on judging. His dogs have had such positive influence on whippet breeding programmes world wide.

That is a great gesture Patsy and count us in. :thumbsup:

Yvonne & Mike

 

[maggie217]

I am sorry to hear the Philip Moran-Healy will not be judging the breed any more. Although I am new to whippets I have his book and can see from looking at many pedigrees what an enormous influence the Hillsdown kennels have had on the breed. It is a great loss that a person with such a kbiowledge of the breed will not be judging any more. I do hope he has a change of heart regarding judging at least.

As I said, although new to Whippets I would also like to make a contribution.

 

Pauline

 

[UKUSA]

Without a doubt Phils contribution to the breed cannot be overestimated. As Patsy so rightly says Phil and Hillsdown are responsible in no small way for some of the greatest triumps our breed has seen and I know that that is something he is very proud of. Phil will surely go into the history books of our breed as one of our cleverest breeders, in fact he often used to tell me that he far more enjoyed the breeding side to the showing. Phil was a great mentor to me when I returned to this country and I for one wellcome the chance to thank him for all that he has done.

 

[fable]

I'm another newcomer who only knows him through his fantastic book - it seems a great pity he isn't going to continue judging - wish I'd made the trip up to Ryton when he was judging last year - I'd entered my girls but decided not to go due to other commitments. . I'll happily contribute - where do we send it - or will it be collected at shows ?

Val

 

[~JO~]

Definitely count me in :thumbsup: As a relative newcomer to the breed, Phils book was the first one I bought and it has been re-read and re-read... the chapter on the Hillsdown kennel is particularly interesting. What a shame he isn't even going to judge anymore, I will cherish my 1st I got under him this year.

A sad day but I think it is completely right that his 'retirement' doesn't start without a wonderful momento from all fellow whippeteers - as I think a lot of us wouldn't have the dogs we have if it wasn't for Hillsdown

 

[lesley smeath]

So sad Patsy to here Phill is not going to show and judge any more,

He is a proper gentleman I remember when i went to his house to use Robby he made me so welcome nothing was to much trouble. I think it is a very good idea what you have suggested you can count me in.

 

[neave]

Thats a shames he is hanging up his showing lead its a pitty pasty that you could not persuade him to keep going with the judging he has made a huge contribution to the whippet world and deserves to be congratulated at the worlds biggest and best dog show :thumbsup:

 

[UKUSA]

I have just spoken to Patsy and she has asked me to reiterate that we will be collecting for the gift at Crufts so please do not send us any money. we have come up with an idea for a gift that we are sure Phil will treasure and we will keep you all posted. Thank-you for your support.

 

[dragonfly]

Great idea, are we having a party too? :cheers: Someone needs to make a big cake. Phil judged at the E Anglian a year or so ago. We haven't seen him so much in recent years, but he was always great fun, he will be missed. There are loads of those photos with the hair & bell bottoms on full view out there in the public domain.

UKUSA...who are you? Think I know but always good to know who you are talking to. PM me if you are very shy & want to keep your ID a secret :b

Cathie

 

[chelynnah]

I was sadly surprised to hear the news when I did, and I think it's a shame that he won't be judging anymore. It truly is the end of an era and what a shame that he won't be judging anymore - I think that saddens me more than anything.

As a relative newcomer to the breed his was the first book I had, as I was told my first whippet came down from his lines, and since the Mary Lowe book was out of print his was the best one to get. (although I had been eyeing up Patsy's book for 2 years before we actually got a whippet but hubby was being too cheap to let me buy it LOL)

Seriously though - I'll be happy to contribute as well. I can only hope that those of use who are coming into the breed can live up in the future to those who are moving on. I'm sure Phil has forgotten more about the breed than I will ever know, but I will certainly do my best to preserve the integrity of the breed I have come to love, and I thank him for being such an attribute and protector of the breed. Without his contribution to the breed I wouldn't have my beautiful girls.

Wendy

 

[vado]

Phil's book has been as a Bible for me. This year I have the luck to be able to travel to Cruft, I would like to collaborate. I am at your disposal.