OAKBARK
WHIPPETS
Dennis and Dorothy Meakin have been producing Whippet Champions with remarkable consistancy since the 1960's They aquired their first whippet from the famous Bobby James' Samarkands Kennel for the princely sum of eighteen pounds, a fawn bitch Samarkands Sun Corona. From this beginning the Oakbark Kennel went from strength to strength. Their first Champion was Oakbark Dondelayo Storming. They have combined lines from other great Kennels with their own with success and their own lines have been used by many breeders both in the UK and abroad to produce Champions for other Kennels.
Both Dennis and Dorothy awarded CCs in the breed and both served on Northern Counties Whippet Club Committee until Dennis' retirement in 2004, Dennis held the position of both Chairman and President and were both made honoury life members of the Club.
Dennis sadly passed away on 19th February 2014 age 88
He will never be forgotten by his loving family and all those in the world of whippets. Dennis was a skilled breeder , the numerous Champions produced from this influential Kennel can be seen on
our Champions page.
Dennis pictured with Champions
Oakbark Mr Wonderful and Oakbark Generation Girl
Whippets were part of daughter Julie's life from a very early age, they were her special playmates and the puppies a delight she has never grown tired of.
Julie began handling at a very young age and judged her first Open Show at age 15.
Her first Champion was Ch Cottonmere Personality of Oakbark
followed by her first homebred Champion Oakbark Generation Girl
Julie first awarded CC's in the breed in 1988 and was honoured to be asked to judge the whippets at Crufts in 2012
Julie is the second generation of the Meakin family to enjoy her lifetime hobby with this wonderful breed, she is joined by her daughter Sarah , now breeding and handling her own Oakbark whippets.
Dennis, Dorothy, Julie and three of their winning Oakbark whippets
Mothers and Daughters
Julie and Sarah
with Molly and Scott
Sarah was born into dog showing and has been handling whippets all her life along with the occasional Sheltie. Sarah has always been involved with the dogs from handling grooming and breeding. She has grown up with 3 experienced whippet judges which has been beneficial to her as she has always been able to ask questions and debate opinions. She has been lucky to travel with her mother Julie when she has judged the breed both here and overseas. This has given her the opportunity to study whippets in other counties, which is a great experience as whippets do vary between countries. She has had some memorable days when showing and has been lucky to handle some superb examples of the wonderful whippet. She won her first CC at the age of 15 and bred her first litter of Oakbark Whippets in 2012.
She currently owns 4 whippets 2 of which she has bred herself. She dearly loves her dogs they are part of her family, they even made an appearance on her wedding photos and also the cake .Sarah is looking forward to a future within the world of whippets and to contributing to the breed through judging and breeding.
Sarah with her litter
Sarah handling "Scott"
Champion Oakbark Millenium Gold
Sarah with "Ziggy" Oakbark my Legend
Sarah with her wedding whippets
