About
Background
My name is Colin Sarantis and I’m glad you have made the time to read about our background. The interest in solid black, fawn, white & blue whippets is relatively recent, however we have had pedigree sighthounds for many years.
Our first was Hadjibah Tempest, a Pharaoh Hound purchased back in 1986, bred by highly regarded Hound judge and multi “Best In Show” winning breeder, Mrs Barbara Marsh. My personal interest in dogs and especially Sighthounds had stemmed from my parents who had kept several hounds during my childhood. They support my hobby and without their resources, I would not be able to persue my breeding objectives.
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My broad research and study of dogs into my teen years, led to my passion for the ancient breeds and after having travelled extensively during the early 1990′s, I had regular stops throughout the Mediterranean Islands. On one visit, the hotel keeper I was staying with heard of my passion for hounds and bestowed on me what proved to be the biggest highlight of any visit to Europe. I was invited to join a rabbit hunt that his brother had planned with a pack of Ibizan Hounds or ‘Podenco Ibicenco’ as they are known there. After seeing them at work on their native island of IBIZA in Spain, I was inspired more than ever to begin what has proven to be a significant dedication to breeding sighthounds.
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After spending subsequent time in the USA during the late 90′s, I was fortunate enough to visit many sighthound breeders in California and on the west coast and even had the privilege of minding a top Ibizan Hound over there. I returned with the ambition of finding and breeding the best possible quality hounds. I found my first Ibizan Hound ‘Ricco’ Aust Ch Xarnego Mr Tango in 2001 (pictured in both above), however my introduction to solid “coloured” Whippets was early 2002 having been contacted by Patrick Estalote, an eccentric hairdresser friend of 15 years, after being offered a black Whippet to raise for a breeder friend of his, Gian Zovi. He invited me to meet the new black baby and as I walked into the living room, I was awestruck to see the most incredible looking pup I had ever seen!!
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His ‘Gabbo’ - Valdassa The Great Gabbo truly was spectacular. Quite similar to a Pharaoh or Ibizan pup, but solid BLACK! Almost camouflaged, Gabbo was curled up on a shinny, black mink coat, raising his alert head to greet me. There began an adoring relationship, completely changing my prior attitude to whippets and the direction of my hound breeding aspirations. I was captivated so much, I offered to exhibit him to see what the Dog World ‘critics’ (and even the judges) would think.
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Gabbo (pictured above) went on to be successfully campaigned throughout Australia, attaining various All-Breeds and Specialty Show wins, including his first noteworthy placing of 2nd Puppy Dog (in a Class of 8 entries) at the Whippet Association of Victoria Specialty Show 2002, under internationally renowned English Whippet Breeder and Specialist judge, Mrs June Minns (Juneric, UK).
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After the inspiring discovery of Gabbo my hound breeding plans were set, as beyond his striking colour, he has the most divine personality; his love of all people and outgoing approach to life completely changed my prior outlook towards the reserved nature found in whippets. I attribute this to Gabbo’s solid black sire ‘Rocky’ - Bellendene Galahad (pictured above), who is truly unique in both his nature and in his breeding. We were fortunate enough to use him at stud over our solid blue brindle ‘Maria’ - Ibiza Callas Maria, with four pups born 8th February 2006. You can see the details at ‘KAMINIA’ Litter.
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Admired by many leading overseas coloured breeders, Gabbo’s black sire ‘Rocky’ (also the sire of our solid black girl ‘Vida’ and our solid blue boy ‘Monte’) has 10 lines to the ancestor I am ‘breeding-back’ to; an outstanding English import of Frank & Lee Pieterse (Statuesque kennels in Sydney), the fawn & white parti coloured ‘Statue’ – UK Aust Ch Dondelayo Statue (imp UK) (pictured above).
Exhibiting
Gabbo went on to win several Classes at Group level and took “Best Opposite Intermediate In Show” at the 2003 Whippet Club of NSW Specialty Show in Sydney under Mrs Molly Rule-Steele (NSW), Whippet Specialist judge and distinguished multi Royal “Best In Show” winning Hound Breeder of the Taejaan kennels.
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Gabbo’s first big win was placing 2nd Intermediate Dog in a strong class at the Royal Melbourne Show 2003, under Specialist judge Mr Desmond Murphy (USA); a rare achievement for a solid black. Our black ‘Vida’ – Valdassa Viva Ibiza (pictured above) won “Best Puppy of Breed” that year, a first for black whippets, with her solid blue brother ‘Monte’ taking “Best Opposite Puppy”. Gabbo finished equal 4th on the Whippet Club of Victoria’s – Puppy Point Score 2003 (from 32 Pups).
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Not shown for almost a year, Gabbo placed 3rd Intermediate Dog with his blue brother ‘Monte’ - Valdassa Visconte (pictured above) taking 2nd Intermediate Dog, at our 1st Whippet National Show 2004 in a strong Class entry, beating Champions, an import and even a Grand Champion! under international breed authorities, judges Mr Magnus Hagstedt (‘Signum’ Sweden) and Mrs Mary Lowe (‘Nimrodel’ UK)
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In just the second year at a Whippet “Specialty” Show, IBIZA Whippets did extraordinarily well, taking nine placements (more than any other breeder) at Australia’s 1st National Whippet Specialty Show held during the Whippet World Congress, mid September 2004 in Melbourne. Our “Class In Group” winning, handsome black & white “King” of IBIZA, ‘Banjo’ – Ibiza Sweet Mr Cerenade (pictured above), placed 2nd Junior Dog in a strong class entry. He won “Best Puppy In Show” at the South Australia Whippet Specialty 2004 in Adelaide, under sighthound specialist judge, Ms Jocelyn Gagne (Canada) and his first “Best of Breed” was under Whippet Specialist judge, Mrs Glenda Goller (‘Cherubz’, QLD).
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At the 2004 Royal Melbourne Show we took four placements, with our blue brindle ‘Brodie’ – Bonnymead Blue Flash bred, co-owned & shown by Mrs Noreen Harris (pictured above), taking 1st Intermediate Dog in a decent class. We also had three “2nds” in Class with our home-breds ‘Banjo’ - Ibiza Sweet Mr Cerenade, ‘Ryan’ Ibiza Balgida Delorian & ‘Mandy’ Ibiza Argyle Dia Mandy. Quite an achievement, as Whippets had the biggest Breed entry, in what is the largest Dog Show in the Southern Hemisphere.
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Mid September at our local Royal Melbourne Show 2005, we placed with ALL FIVE exhibits under a leading judge from Israel and won 1st Junior Dog with our ‘Strider’ – Aust CH Ibiza Calla Soprano (qualifying him for CRUFTS 2006 in the UK!).
Also placed were our black brindle ‘Zorro’ – Ibiza Viva Espania , solid blacks ‘Elvira’ – Ibiza Viva La Vida & ‘Satia’ - Ibiza Sweet Sensation as well as our solid white ‘Beryl’ – Hydale Moonlite Onibiza.
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By the end of 2005, we had only exhibited on one weekend since our Melbourne Royal & Specialty Shows in September (during the Melbourne Cup, early November), as preparation of the new property took-up all of our spare time (see aerial picture above)
In the limited showing during 2005, we have managed several “Challenge Certificates”, as well as “Best of Breeds”, “Classes in Group” and even a “Junior In Show” award. Finally, to round-off 2005, we won a Hound Specialty “Best of Breed” with our solid black ‘Elvira’ – Ibiza Viva La Vida under a Hound Specialist judge from the USA at a large, record entry Hound Club of Victoria Show, with an entry of 75 of Australia’s leading whippets. ‘Elie’ went on to be part of the “cut” of six hounds for “Best In Show” under a leading French judge.
The following is a summary of our major 2005 achievements with solid colours -
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Earlier in the year our white ‘Beryl’ – Hydale Moonlite Onibiza, won 1st Intermediate Bitch at the Sydney Royal Easter Show 2005 among some very strong competition, under Specialist judge Mr Johannsen (Sweden). She has taken “Classes In Group” and has won “Best of Breed” awards, including a major Show in Canberra during a CRUFTS qualifying weekend, were Beryl was then chosen in the “cut” of four for “Best In Group”.
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In July 2005 our beautiful blue ‘Emilia’ - Ibiza Viva Valdessa won “Best Junior In Show” at a large 2-day show in Horsham, under judge Mrs Dianne Besoff (NSW). Her “Best of Breed” win in Newcastle was judged by Mr Anderson (New Zealand) during a big, all international judges, 3 Championship Show weekend with stiff competition and was her first Challenge and “BOB”, with her brother ‘Zorro’ – Ibiza Viva Espania, taking the Dog Challenge Certificate.
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At a record entry Hound Club of Victoria ‘Golden Jubilee’ Show during the Melbourne Cup weekend in early November 2005 (with 75 of the leading whippets from all over Australia), our solid black ‘Elvira’ - Ibiza Viva La Vida won a Hound Specialty Show “Best of Breed”, from the ‘JUNIOR’ Class, under Specialist judge Mr W Usherwood (USA). Elvira was then selected in the short-list ‘cut’ of eight hounds for “Best In Show” (under a leading French judge).
These achievements made all of our solid coloured show-team “pointed” (points towards their Champion titles), with ALL of these Challenge Certificates and “Best of Breeds” awarded by Overseas, All-Breeds &/or Specialist judges.
After much perseverance, the future looks very promising..
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You can visit our PHOTO Gallery Sets at ‘www.flickr.com’ and see pictures of all our whippets. Please feel free to leave comments on their individual photo (just “click” on the picture to enlage and leave a comment).
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Contact
Colin Sarantis
PO Box 777
Gisborne Vic. 3437
Australia
from o/s: +61 418 318 888
Mobile: 0418 318 888
Email: ibizawhippets– no func acronym –gmail.com
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You can also visit the PURINA® UK – Puppy Pages for lots of helpful information
or click on logo above. See more about the product at PURINA® USA – Puppy Pages
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