Open Dog (3 entries, 0 Absent)

Judge's Critique

Irish Wolfhound Society 38th Championship Show

Sunday 28th September 2025 (am)

​

​It was a great honour to judge our magnificent breed at our breed Club Show.  A good entry in today's present world.  I congratulate the committee and the officers for all the hard work and planning going into a double championship show.  The newly renovated hall was ideal, light airy and a good floor surface.

​

I was extremely pleased with the quality of the main winning dogs, sound of correct type.  The temperament on all hounds was steady and friendly.  Mouth/bites and lower canines were correct, quite a few had flat, thick ears, mostly dark eyes, this is difficult to breed out.  Length of foreleg is good.  Top lines vary, quite a few flat standing and moving, dipping or no rise over the loin, steep croups, this can go with parallel underline, where has the curving underline gone on some hounds.  Tails!! this must be taken into account, yes young hounds can bring them up when young and excited but personally I don't want to see a ringtail.

​

Minor Puppy Dog    5 entered, 0 absent

​

1st   Dahmrak's Riogahn for Lindall (A and L Porter)

Very promising dark male, well-proportioned head with a dark eye and neat ear, clean neck into good lay of shoulders with length of upper arm, large knuckled feet with slope to pastern, his top line is correct as is his underline, he moves well with good reach and drive, I think it was only a second show he can only get better.

2nd  Haziannes Knights Templar at Sullyenda (J Harris)

More mature than one although around the same age, masculine head, larger ears, plenty of width across his fore chest and through his body.  He has depth to chest and length to ribs, straight forelegs and well knuckled feet will steady his movement.

3rd   Barachois Scooby Doo (A Hepburn)

​

Puppy Dog  2 entered, 0 absent

1st    Cairnstorm Latest Edition of Shalico  (S Dawson)

Well-proportioned in his head with neat ears, he has length of neck and his topline has a slight rise over loin, I would like a bit more strength in his hind quarters and second thigh.  He is quite wide in front today and he should drop in fore chest and brisket.  I would like to see less of a ring tail.  Moved easily.

2nd   Barachois Scooby Doo (A Hepburn)

3rd in Minor Puppy dog not as mature as 1 but sound and he has a nice outline, pleasing in his head, ear and eye, he has enough depth for age.  Movement OK

Junior Dog  1 entered, 0 absent

​

1st    Bonaforte's Golden Voyageur from Dainwolf  (T Stanton and S Latham)

He has a good proportioned head and length to muzzle, dark eye and neat folded ear, length in neck into fair shoulder.  Top line slight rise over loin, underline curving, width across chest with straight forelegs.  Movement was erratic, ring tail.

​

Yearling Dog  2 entered, 0 absent

​

1st    Fosco Della Bassa Pavese  (T Tingle)

Won this class and the RCC on imposing strength, he had the right bone and size.   Masculine head, dark eye, flat ear, correct bite, strong forefront which was well boned.  Moved powerfully.  RCC

2nd   Francistown Clifford (SM Hughes)

A little broad in skull but with a dark eye and neat ear, good bone and feet, spring of rib with depth, good harsh jacket.  In movement I would like a bit more to second thigh to push his hind quarters.   

​

Novice Dog  1 entered, 0 absent

1st    Francistown Clifford (SM Hughes)

 See second in Yearling Dog

​

Post Graduate Dog  0 entered, 0 absent

​

Limit Dog  5 entered, 0 absent

1st    Killoughery Ricochet with Braewisan (S Evans)

A sound hound, good head proportions and eye, strong neck into well laid shoulders, he has for fill in front with depth of chest, strong bone, slight rise over loin, good hind quarters and underline, low hock, good reach in front.

2nd   Killoughery Mission Two for  Inkleyboys JW (K Webb and CE Sheppard)

The same mould as 1st, a sound and honest hound gentle head but flat ears, strong neck and he has depth of chest, good substance, today he was slack in his topline.  Moved soundly.

3rd    Jaguar Shark at Sullyenda (J Harris)

​

Open Dog  3 entered, 0 absent

1st    Whitglen The Real Thing (A White)

For me he won his class on type.  He has a good outline and rise over loin, underline keeping both on the move, strong bone and feet, OK in head but flat ears.  Hind movement could have been more positive.

2nd   Creena Atticus Finch at Dukesarum (T Sumner)

A tall very sound hound, covers the ground.  Nice head with neat folded ears, long strong neck into a sloping shoulder, topline a little flat and also on the move, underline could have more curve/tuck up.

3rd    Killoughery Touchstone (K Gregory)

 Veteran Dog  4 entered, 2 absent

1st    King Merlin (M Riley)

Nearly 8 years old.  He was looking well and moved soundly.

2nd   Barrassy By Definition (B and SJ Bridges)

A lot to like about this boy, he had the makeup and shape of a good hound but for me today he could have done with a pound or two on him.

​

Champion Dog  3 entered, 0 absent

1st    Ch Caredig Mafioso (DE Tebbutt)

What can I say about this dog, he is on top form and I have to say foot perfect.  Out and back his movement was spot on.  He held his shape, easy active.  CC and BIS

2nd   Ch Whiteorchard Arcturus (D and W Reeves)

A true sound hound, pleasing head, dark eye and small well placed ears.  Strong bone with powerful hind quarters, just slightly dipping in top line today. Moved well.

3rd     Ch Dukesarum Murphy (T Sumner)

​

Minor Puppy Bitch  1 entered, 0 absent

1st    Dainwolf About Time Too (A Cope)

Promising puppy, sweet head, dark eyes and neat folded ears.  Nice neck into fair shoulders, her topline has a rise over loin with balanced hind quarters, straight forelegs with spring to pastern.  Movement was a bit all over, she just needs time.

​

Puppy Bitch  5 entered, 1 absent

1st    Windseeker Harmony  (K Sharratt)

Quite a shapely girl, she has substance and bone.  Her head is quite fine in skull making her eyes close together although they are dark, neat ears, strong neck and a good lay of shoulder leading into a level topline with a slight rise over loin.  She could look a little better with an ounce or two off.  Tight feet, movement was as expected with a puppy, ringed tail.

2nd   Cairnstorm Lullaby(A Crosse)

Gentle head, expression and small ear, shorter in neck than 1st, she is a bit in-between in movement needing to drop in brisket, fore chest and hind quarters.  Good bone, tight knuckled feet, ringed tail.

3rd    Kenbloom Sabinio  (K Kane)

​

Junior Bitch  3 entered, 0 absent

 1st    Neavetokilmacduagh Di Castello Berge (K and AE Campbell-Woodford)

I have seen this girl many times and she doesn’t put her best foot forward, today I saw that she is now starting to mature and drop into her frame.  She has a good head, small rose ears, length of neck into fair shoulders, rise over loin and correct croup.  She could move with more concentration.

2nd   Barachois Quackle (DJ Malone)

Lovely gentle head, small ears, she has width across her fore chest and the right depth for her age, length of ribbing, nice scope underline.  A bit down in pastern at the moment.  Moved OK.

3rd    Cairnstorm Lullaby (AT Crosse)

​

Yearling Bitch  1 entered, 0 absent

1st     Florence Della Bassa Pavase to Baronglen (P and P Pask)

A tall well grown girl, pleasing in head and eye, length of neck into a topline with rise over loin.  A little steep in croup.  I would like a little more width to second thigh which would give her more drive, but she has a good extension and reach in front.  An imposing girl.

​

 Novice Bitch  6 entered, 3 absent

1st    Angitta Aisha (T Sumner)

A lot to like about this imposing girl, her head was gentle, dark eyes, not the best ears, shoulders had a good lay back, a little straight in upper arm, straight forelegs and tight feet.  Topline has a nice rise over loin, movement was free and active both ways, although a little near behind.  She should mature to be a nice hound.

2nd  Dainwolf Another Debut (A Cope)

A 7 month puppy, giving so much away in this class but she has a lot going for her.  A lovely outline and underline.  The best ears of the day with a sweet head, clean neck into good shoulder, straight forelegs, spring to pastern and good tight feet.  Movement was a bit hesitant, a promising puppy

3rd   Neavetokilmacduagh Di Castello Berge (K and AE Campbell-Woodford) 

​

Post Graduate Bitch  4 entered,1 absent

1st    Dukesarum Evie (T Sumner)

Upstanding girl, pleasing head proportions and ears, her outline has a rise over loin and a curving underline.  Moved with extension and reach but hind movement was not strong.

2nd   Brachan Neve Di Natale (C MacLeod)

A very honest type of girl.  A bit masculine in head, strong in front and chest, topline correct, slightly down in pastern.

3rd    Bonaforte's Beautiful Dawn with Clanwolf (L Lees)

​

Limit Bitch  4 entered, 0 absent

1st    Ashgroave Betty Mae (P Ashby)

Quality girl, so much to like about her.  Gentle head, small neat ear, dark eye, clean neck into correct lay of shoulder, strong topline, enough strength in hind quarters and straight bone in forelegs with spring to pastern.  In harsh jacket, a difficult decision for RCC.

2nd   Rysheron's American Hope for Clanlily (C Stirling)

So much to like about her, pleasing head, lovely outline, good shoulder, depth and straight foreleg, with spring to pastern, tight feet.  Her topline has a rise over loin and correct croup, in good coat.

3rd    Rainster Eilex Among Hunacres (S Wilkinson)

Open Bitch  1 entered, 0 absent

1st    Dukesarum Tallulah (T Sumner)

I liked her easy movement and stance, very typy, nice head and neck, she has depth of chest, I would like a bit more strength behind and lower hock. 

​

Veteran Bitch  4 entered, 1 absent

​

Lovely class of Veterans.

1st    Clanlily Diamond Dust (C Stirling)

Just won this class today on a bit more size and length to foreleg, a nice shape and she moved freely.

2nd   Comedias It's About Liberty at Ballanroo (KF  and YT Harmer)

Another quality girl, I could see these 2 changing places, a difficult decision, she has a lovely shape and moved very soundly.

3rd     Kilmacduagh Aednat (K and AE Campbell-Woodford)

​

Champion Bitch  4 entered, 1 absent

1st   Ch Sade Prelude (C and J Amoo)

I liked the substance of this typical girl, she had fill of fore chest, spring of ribs, depth of brisket and width across her loin, croup and powerful hind quarters.  Movement was true although I might have liked a fraction more reach. CC & RBIS

2nd  Ch Dukesarum Niamh (T Sumner)

A lighter framed bitch, gentle head and expression, strong neck into correct sloping shoulder.  Straight forelegs into knuckled feet, nice curving underline.  A bit long in hock, light footed mover.

​

​Ms C Louise Pinkney [Hydebeck]

​​​​