However, in the early 20th century JE turned his attention to Whippets, which were considered by many to be rather below Greyhounds in many senses of the word. He won well and bought Ch Willesbrenda from Mr Beara after her third CC and subsequently won another 3 CCs. He bred on from her and made two other into champions. The last Manorley champion, Manala, was much of his breeding. If you look at the first post-war champions his breeding figures prominently.

He became treasurer of the Whippet Club in the 1920s and stayed with the club until the 1940s.

He also was interested in Greyhounds and made two into champions but Whippets were his first love and after WWII he made up Ch Seagift Sunglint.

His son, James, also loved dogs. As well as his love for Whippets, gaining a championship with Barmaud Sungauge, winning RCCs and CCs with others, he loved terriers, especially Wire Fox, Lakelands and Welsh, making up champions in all three.

In fact he was the only person, up to his win, to win BIS at National Terrier twice with two different breeds. The last Lakeland Terrier to win BIS there carried our BIS-winning dog's blood.

Jennifer, his daughter, decided to follow tradition and handled her father's Greyhound to her first BIS when she was only 16 - the bitch won her championship soon after. She also handled Sungauge to many wins. Her personal breed was American Cockers and won a CC and several RCCs with one in the early 80s.

Emma, the fourth generation, was allowed her first dog at 10 and was given a Wire Fox Terrier, who, handled by the late Frank Kellet, won CC and RBIS at the WFTA. Her first 'own' dog was a Deerhound who, handled by Jennifer due to Emma's schooling, won her championship and won her Irish title - the first since the Ross dogs in the 30s.

Emma was lucky to be able to buy a Whippet, who was part of a three champion sister litter, winning her title exactly a hundred years later as her great-grandfather, JE, started the kennel. Now based in Ireland, our latest winners are Whippets and the new breed Dachshunds, these are the breeds we aim to concentrate on in the future.