On the 16^th of March 2003 at Longstowe Village Hall in Cambridgeshire the Hound Club of East Anglia hosted a joint seminar for the East Anglian Whippet Club and the Greyhound Club. 

There were 46 delegates, some of whom were to be assessed for placement on the A2 judging list of either club, others who just wished to learn more about the Whippet and the Greyhound. To help them do this there was in the region of 18 hounds with handlers, mentors and lecturers. 

The proceeding kicked off at 9.30 following coffee, by Mr. D Rolls (Velrosa) who described how he accessed a hound against the breed standard of the Whippet with the help of a very patient whippet. Following his interesting talk, questions were taken from the floor, as one would expect from a group of experienced people, there was some disagreement over the interpretation of the standard, which was very helpful in its self, as it pointed out, not only the differing way people can read and understand the same description of a hound but that there was room for interpretation and you can differ in your opinion without either being wrong. Following the lecture on the standard, the delegates were split into five groups each having a hound to assess with the help of a mentor. 

It was then the turn of the Greyhounds and this time the task of guiding us through the standard fell to Mr. Ian Bond (Seeswift) who explained the construction and background of the Greyhound in a very informative manner, this time there was less decent from the floor when it came to question time.  The Greyhounds being less sensitive to the temperature, we went outside, split into groups each with a hound and a mentor to put what we had learned in the hall into practice. 

As we moved from group to group, it became clear how the hounds could differ and to understand the importance of the structural features and not to be carried away by the glamorous ones. However no such problems when it came to the movement, what a total joy to watch these beautiful hounds moving on the grass in the sun. Credit must go to handlers who ran up and down with their hound as we indulged ourselves in watching the glory of a well made hound moving as only they can.  

1.30p.m. and back to the hall for lunch, and as we enter the smell of slow brazed beef only increased the appetite we have all worked up outside, served with root vegetables and warm crusty bread I think I can say no one needed much encouragement to eat and ready themselves for the afternoons work.  The delegates had a choice after lunch, in the hall there were two speakers, the first Mr. J Bromiley who was speaking on the Racing/Coursing Greyhound from the point of view of the Licensed Trainer and a Mr. R Rixon speaking about the Racing Whippet. And outside on the grass, another chance to go over and move the Whippets and Greyhounds, and another chance to talk to the mentors, most people chose to do spend some time doing both. 

Back to the hall for tea and a final question and answer session between all the speakers, mentors and delegates, and then home with our heads full of the vital statistics of both Whippets and Greyhounds.