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Multi Ch.Boxing Helena’s Epos Ena -- "JUSTIN"

Justin was born 14/06/05 sired by Eng.Ch. Nevedith Eefa Empra out of Multi Ch.Boxing Helena’s Art Groupie. I knew almost from birth he was going to be the dog I would keep and as he grew and matured he fulfilled everything I saw in him early, and hoped he would maintain into adulthood. He completely represents what I look for in a whippet -- his type, his movement, his temperament and his pedigree.

foto: Anita Sandqvist

That all of this came to be and so fulfilled all my expectations is, when I think of it, not really such a big surprise because the proof of a great dog is often in his pedigree. And when you look at Justin’s pedigree you see that he is double bred on Eng.Ch.Nevedith Justa Jesta, my all time favourite whippet.

Of course a wonderful pedigree does not always produce wonderful dogs, but in the case of my Epos litter – which also contains two other champions in BH’s Epos Tria and Epos Pente as well as Junior World Winner Epos Tesera, I can say it was indeed magic, with Justin being the star of the litter.

From the moment I showed him in the Puppy classes I could feel I was showing a very special dog. As a puppy he won BPIS 3 times and Reserve BPIS twice. In the course of showing I also got lovely critiques of him, not just from the judges who examined him and put him up, but from many respected breeders too. And so early on we began to think about what he would produce when bred to.

As Justin moved into the Junior class he became the first male whippet to receive the newly introduced Dutch Junior Champion title in 2006, as well as both the German and Luxembourg Junior Champion titles. In 2006 he also won the FCI Junior Euro Sighthound title.

Once he was entered in the Youth classes Justin began to take some Best of Breeds and soon thereafter, as he entered the Intermediate class, his first CAC’s followed.

By the time Justin entered the Open dog classes he collected enough tickets in several countries so that he easily finished his first Championship title.

Here at home in Belgium he won the Belgian winner title two years in a row, and he also did very well at the World Show in Poznan, Poland, and the European show in Zagreb, where he placed 3rd and 4th respectively.

At the Championnat de France he took best male under breed specialist Mr Jarmo Vuorinen from Finland, who saw Justin for the first time on that occasion.

Most of the shows I select to attend I choose based on who is judging as I prefer to show my dogs under breed specialists wherever possible. In Justin’s case he has been awarded by all the following judges: Mr B Kavcic (SLO); Mr.J Van Der Biest (B); Mr.M Mahonen (FIN); Mr.M Baskaran (E); Mr. T Skaar ( S); Mr. E Varschoor (NL); Mrs F Duponcheel - Vandenbussche (B); Mrs M Raeymakers (B); Mrs. A Thomassen (S); Mrs. P Gilmour (UK); Mrs. C Van Zanten (NL); Mr. A Van Den Broek (NL); Mr. E Engh (N); Mrs. R Reyniers (B); Mr. M Langer (D); Mr.V.Vojtek (SK); Mrs.L.Zake (LV); Mr.E.Sisterman (D); Mrs.L.Fintorova (SK); Mr.T.Jakkel (H); Mr.J.Vuorinen (FIN); Mrs.E. Diaquenot (F); Mrs. W. Schwerm-Hahne (D); Mr. Mattera (F); Mrs. L. Jørgensen (DK); Mr. C. Coppel (F); Mr. J-L Grunheid (F); Mr. A. Brace ( UK ); Mrs K. Hedberg (SF); Mr. Ch. Vantu (RO); Mr. R. Brandt (DK); Mrs. E-M Klepp (N); Mr. G. Kostopoulos ( GR).

His biggest win, and the biggest win for me, was his placement at Crufts 2008 under breed specialist Mrs Morag Bolton-Lockhart where he placed 3th in the large and very strong open dog class from which the judge ultimately selected both her CC and Res CC winners. That was a magnificent result for Justin.

Following his placement at Crufts I got tons of congratulations from those attending and watching the judging, including Mr. Vuorinen who had given Justin his CAC in France. He told me he was still very much impressed by Justin. That was when we began to discuss the possibility of sending Justin to Finland for a while, to be shown in Scandinavia and some of the Nordic countries, and where he could be shown by Mr. Vuorinen and used by him and others interested in the potential offered by his pedigree while staying there.

Justin arrived in Finland in mid-July and made an immediate, smashing debut in the show ring there, going BOB at the Finnish Sighthound Specialty, which immediately made him into a Finnish Champion. Justin is still in Finland, where Mr. Vuorinen has since also added both a Danish and a Lithuanian title to his many honours.

At the same time Justin’s first puppies have made their show debuts and are already making their mark in the show ring. At the European show in Budapest in October 2008 two of his daughters were selected amongst the 6 best, and a son was also in the selection. In Estonia and Poland his offspring have been going BIG coming from the Junior classes, showing great promise in the process.

And here at home in Belgium I have my first Justin puppies that are now 3 months of age.
Boxing Helena’s Hilo Sunset and Halo Sundog will shortly make their show debuts, and hopefully they will have the same sort of wonderful career that their father has enjoyed. In addition to their conformation qualities I am delighted that both dogs share the same sweet temperament as their sire, a quality that is always of great importance to me.

The future ahead of Justin and his children appears to be wide and bright, and I am deeply appreciative to all the judges who have awarded him, and for all the faith people have put in his qualities when they have selected to breed to him, or chosen to partner with me in showing him, as JarmoVuorinen so kindly agreed to do, and as he has done with such incredible good results. I am forever indebted to him for his faith in and commitment to showing and caring for Justin, his capability in showing him, and his belief in this – what is to me as his breeder – the most wonderful dog I have had the fortune to breed and showcase.

Boxing Helena Whippets

Thank you Bart and Jarmo for this article about the beautiful Justin

Stripduke Team