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Introduction

"Cosmo & Martina"

Hello,

Dogs have always been a big part of my life. I went to my first dog show as a young boy in 1977 and fell madly, madly in love with the world of pure-bred dogs.

Every year since, if there was a dog show anywhere in Singapore, you'd surely have found me there with my dog. It has been 32 years of showing dogs and I really can't see myself giving up this sport. Ever.

Today, I live with three beautiful whippets, Martina, Cosmo who are permanently retired from shows and Vogue who is our new show girl; and I co-own another, Charlie who lives with a good friend.

"Martina"
(Aust & S'pore Grand Champion Taejaan Ms Martini - RETIRED IN 2005)
Born: 15 September 1997

Martina has been the top dog for all breeds in Singapore for the past four years. She holds the titles of Singapore's #1 Dog of the Year 2003, #1 Dog of the Year 2002, #1 Dog of the Year 2000 and #2 Dog of the Year 2001, #2 Dog of the Year 2005.. She is also #1 Hound and #1 Whippet of the Years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, making her the biggest winning Dog, Hound and Whippet in the history of the Singapore Kennel Club since 1971!

Yes, she is quite an amazing whippet.

Martina - she shows you why so many international judges
from so many countries think she deserves Best in Show.
12 Best In Shows and 5 Reserve Best in Shows now!

We are proud that there is not another whippet in Singapore - past or present - who comes remotely close to winning more than this phenomenal show girl! Her wins have been made even more meaningful since the whippet ring is highly competitive here - there are American, Canadian, Australian champion whippets; English and Singapore-whelped ones too.

We thank all the international judges for recognising Martina's unparalleled type, soundness, and outstanding movement. And in the process, making her the record-holding hound and whippet in this country.

Martina retired after winning her 13th Best in Show in November 2005 when she was 8 years 2 months old. She retired, as they say, in grand style, ending her illustrious show career on the highest note of Best in Show and #1 Whippet & #1 Hound in Singapore for six consecutive years! Never beaten by another whippet for those titles.

"Cosmo"
(Aust & S'pore Champion Statuesque Extempore - RETIRED IN 2003)
Born: 4 October 1998

Cosmo - a Best in Show & Reserve Best in Show winner.
And the only Whippet in Singapore to have ever won
1st Runner-Up at the exclusive Champion of Champions Competition
under a panel of 4 International Judges from Japan, Australia, Malaysia and the UK!

Cosmo was #2 Hound of the Year 2000 and #2 Whippet of the Year 2000, to Martina. He also won 1st Runner-Up at the prestigious Millennium Champion of Champions Competition 2000 under four internationally-renowned judges. Cosmo is a Best in Show, Reserve Best in Show and Multi Best in Group winner. Cosmo retired from the show ring in 2003 and lives with us as the perfect house pet.

"Charlie"
(Aust & S'pore Champion Taejaan Stone ThCrows - RETIRED IN 2006)
Born: 17 November 1998


Charlie - a Reserve All Breeds Best in Show winner. A breath-taking moving machine,
Charlie is the hot favourite of international Whippet and Hound Specialists!

A Reserve Best in Show and Multi Best in Group winner, Charlie arrived in Singapore in 2001 and quickly gained his Singapore title in very strong competition. He was presented with the Asian Champion award by the Asian Kennel Union in December 2002 and again in December 2003! He is co-owned with dental surgeon Dr Edwin Chan, who loves him dearly; and retired from showing in December 2006 at the age of 8 years.

"Vogue"
(AKU Asian, Aust & S'pore Grand Champion Taejaan Strike A Pose - CURRENT SHOWDOG)
Born: 27 September 2002


Vogue - a Multiple Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show winner.
She has even won Best in Show at both Whippet and Hound Specialty Shows!

A Multiple Best in Show and Reserve Best in Show winner, Vogue arrived in Singapore in 2006 and quickly gained her Singapore title in very strong competition, taking one Best in Show and 4 Reserve Best in Show under a Japanese, an English, a Singaporean and two Australian Judges. She is Singapore's #1 Whippet of the Year 2006, #1 Hound of the Year 2006 and Reserve Dog of the Year (All Breeds) 2006.

About Me

I work full time in a tertiary institution in Singapore and am the Deputy Director of the Business School. I hold a doctoral degree in the field of Consumer Behaviour; a master degree in International Marketing; and a bachelor degree in English Literature & Sociology.

Year 2002 was special. Martina won Dog of the Year 2002; and I won the title of Singapore's Handler of the Year 2002 - for consistently taking first place in three different handling competitions under an Australian, a Singaporean, and a Japanese judge during the year.

I am a licensed Whippet Judge at Championship Shows; and have a B License for the Hound Group. I also have B License for the following breeds: Italian Greyhound, Shih Tzu, Miniature Schnauzers, & Shetland Sheepdog.

Gratitude

For the four world-class whippets that I own today, I'd like to thank Mrs Molly Rule-Steele for parting with Martina, Charlie and Vogue; and to Mrs Lee Pieterse for sending me Cosmo. Special thanks to Ms Sonia Turay and Ms Alicia Taylor too.

In addition, I'd like to thank the following friends who have helped me to handle my whippets so expertly at our shows: Mr Rathakrishnan, Mr Edwin Hu, Ms Sharon Tan, Ms Ameeta Williams and Mr Louis Woo from Singapore; Mr Tony Kyman and Mr Douglas Sidebottom from Australia.

And to Mrs Carole Poh for teaching me how to create websites. Thanks a million, Carole!

This website may not be the best you've visited but I've had lots of fun building it over many weekends myself. Enjoy your visit!

Cheers,
Arnold Tan (Dr)
SINGAPORE

Photo taken on the night Martina and Cosmo were selected by a panel of four international judges (UK, Aust, Japan & Malaysia) to be amongst the top 4 dogs for the "Champion of Champions" Contest in Singapore on 31 Jan 2000. Amazing that 2 dogs of the same breed should be in the top 4 places, considering the contest was for champions of all breeds. Even more amazing that both whippets should belong to the same owner, who has only 2 dogs in his home! (You will forgive that 'heaven-is-a-place-on-earth' look on my face, won't you?)