Est 1948

Members Limited Show and Open Show 

Sunday 21st June 2026

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Limit show Judge - Antony Bongiovanni

I had my first dog some 49 years ago. I began training him for obedience and then started doing the circuit of exemption shows with a few open shows mixed in. I moved on to Pharaoh hounds at 20 years of age making up my first champion shortly after. Over the years I’ve had great success with my pharaohs with several champions a best inn show winner are Birmingham National the f irst of the breed to win such an award. Others have won groups, Reserve best in shows and various other awards. I worked for Royal Canin for 20 years and hopefully managed to help new and old exhibitors with my knowledge grown over the decades. I’ve always been passionate about Hounds having had several pass through my home over the years and also handing for friends when needed. I have a passion for gundogs and in the last 20 years Portuguese water dogs a breed I have been again successful with, making up numerous champions in the UK and abroad. My judging career began back in the late Nineties focusing on hounds. I currently award CC in several hound breeds and am passed level 4 for a few non CC breeds. I pride myself on being an interested judge who gives an honest opinion without fear or favour, that’s not to say I’ve not had sleepless nights over a placing. That is the joy of learning and self appraisal.

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Sunday 21st June 2026

Open Show - Jan Willem Akerboom (Creme Anglaise) 

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I have been active in dog world for over 35 years. My first passion was the English Cocker Spaniel and with that breed I learned a lot there is to know about breeding, grooming and handling. My second love was the Beagle. In this period, I met most of my English friends and some of them have become such close friends I can now even call them my family. 
When I first came in contact with the whippet, 25 years ago,  it was immediately an irresistible breed for me and I had several whippets living in the house along with the beagles. When I met my life partner Kris, almost 20 years ago, we decided together to focus completely on the whippets and start our kennel Crème Anglaise’s. 
We chose Crème Anglaise’s because we prefer the classic English lines for their looks and their soft character, but we did like to add just a little bit more Show,  or a little bit of “Crème”, so to speak.  
Although I have had many big successes with the Cockers and the beagles it was a wise decision because the whippet is such a pleasure to live with. Fortunately, all that was taught to me by the knowledgeable older breeders I was able to put to use in our whippet breeding and it lead to many successful highlights. 
Winning best bitch at Crufts in 2014 with Crème Anglaise’s Hello Look At Me (Meis)  and even BOB and group#2 at Crufts in 2022 with Crème Anglaise’s Irish Cream (Jill) are naturally still among my fondest memories. 
Alongside the whippets I have always kept an open eye to other breeds which lead to new loves such as the English Springer Spaniel and the Australian Shepherd.  
For me the UK feels like a second home, where breeding and showing comes natural to so many keen and apt people that I admire. I am honoured to have been asked to come judge at the open show of the Midland Whippet Club and hope I can live up to the expectations.
Jan Willem Akerboom – van der Schaaf   (Crème Anglaise’s)
 

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​​​​​​​Championship Show

in partnership with Birmingham Championship Show

Friday 4th September 2026

Dog Judge - John Jones (Jothryn)

Bitch Judge - Michael White (Baldrey)

Referee - Jackie Whittaker-Crosby

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Championship Show

Sunday 18th October 2026

Dog Judge - Jan Doherty (Littlebriton)

Bitch Judge - Mark Smith

Referee - Anne Defaye - (Fedaye)

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