Under rules pre ban dog not over 20in bitch 18 1/2 they did run a few minor stakes for dogs over 20 in but wernt competitive in terms of numbers entries , little bitches of correct size were usually the undoing of many top dogs of correct size and bigger , only way to beat a good dog was with a good bitch so they say , SHAARK
If you go back far enough, and check up on stanley s wilkin, 'tiptree', that'll give you plenty of info about thebloodlines etc. “ good old Essex whippet blood ? ???