American Dual Champion and Senior Courser
Multiple Best in Show winner

SPORTINGFIELDS JAZZ FEST
"Rory"

(Am Ch Topaz Jazz Singer ex. Sporting Field Simplicity)

Born: 14 August, 1994      Breeder: Mrs James Butt and Debbie Butt, USA
Co-owners: Debbie Butt and John Burger, MD, USA

"Rory" is a grandson of Ch Sporting Fields Kinsman 
and a great grandson of Ch Sporting Fields Strider,
thus three generations of famous BIS-winners and top-producing sires.

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For news and pictures of Jazz Fest's Scandinavian progeny
go to their special page.

UPDATE 6 June 2003

Two of these pictures, taken at the Breed Specialty in Italy in May, 
judged by Sharon Sakson (Paris whippets), USA, made me think of 
the extraordinary likeness and close relationship between the four whippets 
pictured below. Two of them were bred in Sweden, one in America, 
and one in Italy.

Sharon Sakson's choice for BIS Puppy in Italy was 6 months old Airescot Justina Casagli 
(Ch Sportingfields Jazz Fest ex. Ch Paris Beatrix of Tiber),
owned by the Sobresalto whippets, Italy.

An informal picture of Can Ch Airescot Gold Field
(Ch Statuesque Extortion ex. Ch Paris Beatrix of Tiber)
He is owned by Sharon Sakson and Jenny McCartney.

This puppy is Merci Isle Northern Lights, "Tuli"
(Can Ch Airescot Gold Field ex. Merci Isle Velvet Hammer).
 Her dam is a daughter of Ch Sportingfields Pianoman, 
litter brother of Sportingfields Jazz Fest.
"Tuli" was bred by Iva Kimmelman and is owned by Eva Engvall in California.

Sharon Sakson's BIS-winner at the Italian Breed Specialty was Ch Rivarco Gazelle,
among other big wins BOS at the World Show in Amsterdam 2002 
and BOB at the World Show in Dortmund last week.
Gazelle is a grand-daughter of Ch Sportingfields Jazz Fest
through her dam Ch Wenrick's Rave'N'Sportingfield.

UPDATE 22 January, 2003

During his 15 months in Scandinavia, six of which were spent in Finland,
 Rory managed to win his Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian titles 
with several CACIB's in all of these countries.
He was Sweden's top winning Whippet Veteran for 2002
and also Sweden' s second best Whippet male.
He sired many litters, from which the oldest puppies have already 
made their mark in the show rings, the youngest are yet to be born.

17 January Rory and I left Sweden to fly to Orlando Airport, Florida,
via Amsterdam to bring Rory back to his breeder, Debbie Butt.
Debbie had spent some ten days showing a couple of Whippets
 at the Florida Circuit with great success, among them Airescot Ruby Rascal.

It was very sad to say goodbye to Rory, 
this most loveable and very special Whippet, 
but it was also a great joy to witness how happy he and Debbie were 
to be reunited. I wish Rory all the best and will forever
be thankful for and remember the time he spent with the Airescots.

UPDATE 25 October

The pictures below were taken by Roger Wiklund when Magnus Hagstedt
judged the AWC Eastern Specialty in 1999 and had made "Rory" his winner
of some 200 Whippets, as always handled by Debbie Butt.

For those of you who heard Donna McDougall's speach at the Swedish Whippet Club
breed seminar recently, please note Rory's long, low stride 
and the desired triangles formed by his legs on the move!

UPDATE 7 October

October 5th Rory had a wonderful day at the Norwegian KC International show
in Fredrikstad. Beautifully handled by Elisabeth Levén he won BOB, Group 2 and BIS-veteran, all the way through judged by Norman Huidobro Corbett, Spain.

We just received this picture, taken by Pekka Nykopp, when Rory won BOB
 judged by Liz Cartledge two weeks earlier, as reported below, then handled by Nenne Runsten.

UPDATE 1 October

September 21st Rory had a good day at the Finnish KC All Breeds show 
in Åland, where Liz Cartledge, GB, gave him BOB. 
Jochen Eberhardt, Germany placed him second in the Sighthound Group, 
and Horst Kliebenstein, Germany, made him BIS-3-Veteran.

UPDATE 30 July

For the Skokloster/Tammsvik Summer show Rory's breeder Debbie Butt 
was visiting us, which gave the Swedish whippet people a chance to see Rory handled to perfection. And what a sight to see them float round the ring together!
At the Whippet Breed Specialty Saturday Michael Howgate (Palmik), GB,
was judging males and BIS. Rory was his choice for BIS Senior and fourth best male. At the Sighthound Specialty Sunday Mary Beth Arthur (Marial), USA,
made him BOB Veteran and third best male. In the main ring David Miller,
USA, placed Rory at the top spot for BIS Veteran.

The picture below was taken by Pekka Nykopp in the breed ring. We hope for more pictures later.

UPDATE 23 May

Rory has now joined the Airescots in Sweden,
a living proof of how quickly and well whippets adapt to new surroundings,
even when they have reached a considerable age.
Below pictured in our garden May 14

UPDATE 10 February

Paula Heikkinen-Lehkonen just kindly sent us the picture below of "Rory",
taken in Turku, either when he was placed Group 5 or BIS-5 veteran.

Further information of the wine bottle below: 
Sirpa just told us that it was a gift from the judge to his BOB-winner, 
and that Saara and Jatta very appropriately gave it on to Sirpa,
Rory's clever handler on the day.

UPDATE 29 January

Saturday 26 January Rory won BOB and his first CACIB at the International
Winter Show in Turku, Finland, kindly and well handled by Sirpa Järvinen. 
He can now add the Finnish Champion title to his previous ones. 
Judge was German breed specialist Thomas Münch (Flic Flac).
BOS to Rory was S Ch Adagio Love Is All Around, 
owned and handled by Lisa Johansson, Sweden.
They are all pictured above, where Rory, or the judge, seems to have won 
a bottle of wine! Below a snapshot of Rory on the table.
Photos: Krister Karlsson and Lisa Johansson

*********

When Debbie called me one evening in September and asked me
if I wanted to house "Rory" for a year, I hardly believed my ears.
Ever since I first saw "Rory" in America several years ago, I have thought
that he would be the whippet for Europe, but Debbie never wanted to let him go.
Now, for very special reasons, she wants him to spend some time in my sofa,
and I could not resist this offer, even if I had said "never again" after sending
Jason back to Australia.

"Rory" is unique in at least two ways. His height is only 49½ centimeters,
and he is the only dog in America, of any breed, to have been
number one of his breed in the show ring (1997&1998)
and then number one performance dog (AKC lure coursing 1999).

Jatta and Saara in Finland, who gave my Irish Mist and later also Beatrix
such a super time during the six months, which a dog coming from America
has to spend in Europe before being allowed into Sweden or Norway
 - these two amazing friends have volunteered also to have "Rory" staying with them,
until he is ready for Sweden in the very beginning of May 2002.

Below another couple of pictures of "Rory" - on the run and free standing.

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