Veteran Dog (2 entries, 1 absent)

1st    King Merlin (M Riley)

 

Veteran Bitch (3 entries, 0 absent)

1st    Braewisan Kallai at Killoughery (K Gregory)
2nd   Goldswift Leap of Faith (KJ Bruce)
3rd     Goldswift Inyourdreams  (JM Littlefair) 
 

Champion Dog (1  entries, 1 absent)

Champion Bitch (4 entries, 2 absent)

1st   Ch Glengail Aarcus (S Bradley)
2nd  Ch Sade Prelude (C and J Amoo)

 

Judge's Critique

Irish Wolfhound Society 40th Championship Show

Sunday 25th January 2026​

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​​​I’d like to thank the exhibitors for bringing their hounds under me for assessment and for the pleasant atmosphere at the show.

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I’d also like to thank the committee for the opportunity to judge this show for the second time and for all their hard work both on the day and the planning beforehand. Also for the lovely gift, a beautiful scarf chosen by Joan, who has very good taste!

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My thanks also go to Anthony for stewarding and “organising” the ring and Peter for marking the catalogues.

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Thanks also to Tony Minett, for taking his usual professional photographs.

I was pleased with my entry and delighted with my winners, I had some quality Hounds shown under me typy, with sound construction, free and active movement and excellent temperaments. But the same faults still remain prevalent and a concern from when I have judged previously. Namely short upright upper arms leading to poor forechests, lacking width and depth with a narrow front assembly, restricting extension of front movement. Also steep croups seem to be an increasingly common fault.

DOG CLASSES: 

Minor Puppy Dog  1 entered, 0 absent

1st Forret’s Culvercroft Ivanhoe - Res CC and BPIS

Absolutely stunning 7month old well grown puppy with wonderful bone and substance. Full of type and exudes quality. Super head with a soft expression. Excellent bite. Rather flat ear. Strong neck into well laid shoulder with length and slope to upper arm giving an excellent forechest. Elbows well set under. A little flat in forefeet at present. Has beautiful lines and curves from head to toe. Drops off a little over the croup at present. Excellent bend of stifle and length to second thigh. Long tail. Great coat texture. Already muscled and in good condition. A little hocky. Unsure of the floor. Needs a lot more ring training, but he did enough both standing and on the move for me to see his full potential and when I turned and saw him standing in the line up he looked superb. He already has presence.

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Puppy Dog  2 entered, 0 absent

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1st Hepburn’s Barachois Scooby Doo.

10 months red with a masculine head with excellent pigmentation and the darkest of eye with a kind expression. Well held ear. Long strong neck into reasonable lay of shoulder, but short in upper arm and narrow in front therefore lacking width of forechest. Long straight bone. Tight feet. Has enough depth and substance, width over the croup and well conditioned with good muscle tone. Movement steady in profile and very sound going away, but tended to fly his tail on the move. Excellent harsh coat.

2nd Gregson Murray’s Ersebrayer Torn and Velvety at Flintdale

9 months with a super well furnished head a lovely dark eye and soft expression. Shoulder placement is fair, but short upright upper arm. Long straight bone, but down in pastern and a little flat in  forefeet. Nice curves throughout but needs to body up and carry more weight. Developing muscle. Good texture to coat. Movement rather erratic and rings tail on the move. Has time on his side.

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Junior Dog  3 entered, 1 absent

1st Gregory’s Xciting Luke VD Tortelduif at Killoughery [Imp NLD]

Strong and powerful balanced Junior in good condition and well muscled. Nice head with alert expression, looks a hunter. Lovely rose ear. Well laid shoulder with depth and width of forechest. Elbows well set under. Good topline which he maintained on the move. Rise over loin and width and strength to croup. Sweep to underline. Bend of stifle but slightly high on hock and a little close behind going away, but fluid active gait in profile moving around the ring.

2nd Harris’ Haziannes Knights Templar at Sullyenda.

Dark strong powerful looking Hound. Nicely furnished head. Long muzzle. Super dark eye. Ears well held. Length of neck, but short upright upper arm and rather narrow in front.

Long bone, but bursa impacting on left leg at present and movement coming. Super tight feet and spring to pastern. Looking a little dippy in topline and a touch long in loin, but has rise over loin. Rather flat in underline. Strength and width to croup.  Rather straight in stifle. In good hard condition. Movement in profile was active but close behind going away. Good tail carriage. Harsh texture to coat.

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Yearling Dog  3 entered, 0 absent

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1st Dawson’s Hydebeck Tyme to love at Graefyn JW.

Tall commanding powerful strong male with strength and substance throughout. There’s a lot of him! Well furnished masculine head. Small well held ear. Crested strong neck into a fair shoulder, a little short in upper arm, but enough forechest. Super bone. Curves through and topline with rise over the loin and sweep to underline. Good bend of stifle and length to second thigh. Moves out well in profile but a little close behind and flew his tail on the move. Heavy coat, but correct texture.

2nd Kingsley’s  Bonaforte’s Going for Gold.

A well pigmented head with kind expressive dark eye, flat in ear. Excellent bite. Strong neck into reasonable lay of shoulder but short upright upper arm and lacks width of forechest. Good bone with tight feet. Well bodied up with good topline with rise over the loin and sweep to underline. Width and strength to croup. Fair bend of stifle with well let down hock. Muscled and in hard condition. Active, sound movement. Excellent harsh coat.

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3rd Connor’s Hydebeck Eternal Love.

Another strong , powerful looking hound, the litter brother to 1st. Similarly built and much the same comments apply. Nicely furnished handsome masculine head with soft expression. Minor mouth fault. Reasonable lay of shoulder, but short in upper arm. Strong bone, but lacks spring to pastern. Depth and substance throughout. Wide strong croup. Not moving out in profile as well as 1st and 2nd and close behind. Fairly well muscled. Well covered tail. Good coat texture.

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Novice Dog  2 entered, 1 absent

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1st Dawson’s Cairnstorm Latest Edition of Shalico.

Balanced and curvy young male of good shape. Full of life and enjoying himself, quite a handful!

Furnished head, long planes with dark eye and keen expression. Well held ears. Nice arch to neck into fair shoulder placement. A little out at elbow at present. Long bone and tight feet. Good topline with rise over the loin, but drops off a bit steeply over  the croup. Bend of stifle and nice low hock. Moved with purpose and drive in profile a little unsettled behind and tended to fly his tail on the move. Has promise.

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Post Graduate Dog  5 entered, 3 absent

1st Littlefair’s Conmeryl Joshua Jopp.

Strong powerful boy enjoying his day out, rather exuberant and having a whale of a time. Super temperament.

Masculine head, with slight stop, nicely shaped eye with kind expression, but rather flat in ear. Strong neck with good lay to shoulder but lacking in upper arm and out at elbow. Long strong bone and nicely shaped knuckled feet for such a large male. Substance throughout. Lacks sweep to underline. Lengthy hindquarters, but needs more width through stifle. In good condition. Movement ok in profile but rather untidy behind and tends to fly his tail.

2nd 3rd in Yearling, Hydebeck Eternal Love.

Limit Dog  6 entered, 3 absent

This was a good class.

1st Tebbutt’s Fidelio Della Bassa Pavese Caredig [Imp ITA]  -  CC and Res BIS and BOS

Stallion Hound of fabulous type and commanding appearance, full of quality. Powerful young male with presence, curvaceous lines all through. Lovely long head with level planes and super expression, so kind. Well held ears although a little on the large side. Crested neck into excellent front assembly with layback of upper arm with prominent forechest. Great bone. Good topline with rise over loin, a little flat in underline. Width and strength to croup but at present falling off slightly over the croup. Great bend and sweep of stifle with width through and length of second thigh. Super low hock. In excellent muscular condition which showed in his easy, active, reachy movement with extension in front and driving off his powerful hocks. He could hunt all day.

2nd Evan’s Killoughery Ricochet with Braewisan.

 A very well made, balanced Hound who has matured very nicely into a handsome dog. He has power and muscle all through, although mum needs to feed him a little less, he has lost his waistline!

Masculine head with expressive eye. Well held ears. Strength and crest to neck, but could be a little longer, into well laid shoulder, giving depth and breadth of forechest. Strong bone, tight feet with well arched toes. Great topline with rise over the loin and strength to croup. Bend and width to stifle. Well let down hocks which he drives off with energy and power, also moves out well in profile, but just tends to throws his right forefoot coming. Correct coat.

3rd Sharratt’s Lynelouper Lynedene Laddie.

This boy has taken a long time to mature due to his great size, but he has grown into himself and has become a tall, powerful young male with depth and substance throughout showing lots of potential. A very honest dog.

A little plain in head with a slight stop and ears rather flat, but kind expression. Long, strong crested neck leading into great front assembly with forechest. Excellent long strong bone.  Tight feet with arched toes, great to see in such a large Hound, but he is in lovely condition and very well muscled. Bend of stifle with length of second thigh, but needs more width through his stifle. Moved out steadily  with power. Well set on tail and carriage. Harsh coat.

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Open Dog  5 entered, 1 absent

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1st Amoo’s Diomede Della Bassa Pavese to Sade. [Imp ITA]

Typy, upstanding powerful young male with presence. Handsome, furnished, masculine old fashioned head. Good length of neck into reasonable lay of shoulder but short upright upper arm and compensates in front movement. Long straight bone. Tight feet. Length and depth to body, but a little steep in croup and lacking sweep to underline. Powerful well muscled hindquarters with length of second thigh and width through, which he used well on the move to drive actively around the ring. Excellent crisp coat.

2nd Gregory’s Killoughery Touchstone.

Balanced Hound with depth and substance throughout but looking heavy in appearance rather than houndy, although he is hard condition and well muscled. Well furnished head with large open black nose.  Beautifully held rose ear. Crested strong neck into well angulated forechest. Strong bone, could have more length of leg. The tightest of arched feet and well sprung pastern. Super width through stifle which is well angulated with a nice low hock. Moved very soundly both coming and going and gaited easily around the ring in profile.

3rd Allit’s US Airforce at Jascarah of King Howard Legends [ATC BA29187FRA]

A red wheaten dog of nice type and good proportions, he is of good make and shape, balanced with a super harsh coat and lovely pigmentation. Darkest of eye and another big black open nose. Minor mouth fault.

Strong neck into well angulated shoulder with lay back of upper arm. Good bone, knuckled feet and spring to pastern. Topline with rise over the loin which he maintained on the move. Strong croup. Well angulated hindquarters and lovely low hock.  Moved soundly but tail carried gaily on the move, exacerbated by a white plume.

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Veteran Dog  2 entered, 1 absent

1st Riley’s King Merlin [ATC AVO17731KC]

8 years 4 months handsome boy, thoroughly enjoying his day out, wagging his tail and having the time of his life. Super outgoing temperament and a credit to his owner. Still very active and he went off like a train around the ring.

Still in great condition if a little overweight. Lovely well furnished head with super dark pigment.

Powerful neck into angulated shoulder placement. Strong bone. Nice lines throughout. Width and strength to croup. Harsh coat.

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Champion Dog  1 entered, 1 absent

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BITCHES

Minor Puppy Bitch  4 entered, 1 absent

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1st Forret’s Culvercroft Isolda.

Fabulous typy puppy full of quality, excellent bone and substance for such a young age and in super condition. Beautiful curves from head to toe. Stunning old fashioned head with lovely planes.

Wonderful angulation of shoulder and upper arm. Superb forechest. A little flat in forefeet at present, could be exacerbated by white forefeet. Lovely topline, but falls off a little over the croup at present.  Well tucked up. Excellent bend and width to stifle. The longest tail. Eventually got into her stride enough for me to assess her powerful movement. So much promise and potential, but she does require a lot more ring training!

2nd Tebbut’s Honoris Caredig Della Bassa Pavese [Imp Ita].

Another super puppy of excellent type and quality. I preferred 1st for bone and substance. Feminine pretty houndy head with an alert, keen expression, she looks a huntress. Lovely make and shape. Beautifully balanced and elegant.

Well laid shoulder, maybe a little upright in upper arm. Lovely tight feet, spring to pastern. Excellent topline with rise over the loin and super tuck up. Well angulated hindquarters already well muscled and in hard condition which showed in her sound active free movement, despite having a nasty slip on the floor. Crisp harsh coat.

3rd Gilbert’s Eresebrayer Lagavulin Cum Anstyarna.

Another very nice puppy with lots of bone and substance and so shapely. She looks powerful.

She has a lovely outgoing temperament and was enjoying her day.

Well furnished head with dark eye and kind expression.. Strong neck into good front assembly.

Nicely tucked up. Falls off over the croup a little. Well bent stifle with length of second thigh and width through. Long well covered tail.

An inexperienced handler who tried her best to settle her puppy and did get into her stride at times, although she was erratic on the move, she was sound and active.

Coat of good texture, but needs tidying to give a better outline.

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Puppy Bitch  2 entered, 0 absent

1st Forret’s Culvercroft Isolda : 1st MP Class.

2nd Cope and Kingsley’s  Dainwolf Another Debut.

Balanced curvy bitch of nice make and shape, although a little short in upper arm.

Sadly she was spooked as she came in to the ring and it was difficult to settle her, so moved her fairly extensively to calm her. A little tight in front, but moves out actively in profile and very sound behind. In muscular condition.

Pretty, feminine head, ears set on a little high. Excellent bite. Good topline with rise over the loin and width and strength to croup.

Nicely tucked up. Angulated bend of stifle with width though and lovely low hock that she used to drive around the ring. Correct harsh coat.

I hope she recovers from her scare.

Junior Bitch  6 entered, 1 absent

1st  Warwick and Gregory’s Cairnstorm Legacy.

Athletic, active, muscled, powerful young bitch in hard muscular condition, who really drove around the ring with free easy movement.

Old fashioned head with a long muzzle. Dark eye with keen expression. Big black nose. Beautifully set on and well held ears. Crest and power to neck into well laid shoulder, but slightly upright in upper arm. Has width of forechest, but at present lacks depth. Long straight bone and arched toes. Plenty of substance. Drops off a little over the croup.

Coat has been stripped, but new coat growing through and of good texture. Long tail.

2nd Crosse’s Cairnstorm Lullaby.

The litter sister to 1st place and similar comments apply to her, although she is not in such hard muscular condition and doesn’t move out as freely and actively. She also doesn’t have as quite as much bone as her sister. She is a pretty bitch with more furnishings to her head and a lovely soft expression and also has well held ears. Her coat is also growing back nicely.

3: Malone’s Barachois Quackle.

A smaller more compact bitch with clean lines who has found more confidence and is more settled in the ring.

She has a very pretty head with a keen alert dark eye. Super small rose ear.

Lay of shoulder is angulated, but could have better return of upper arm. Lovely tight well knuckled feet. Topline with rise over the loin and strength to croup. Super tail carriage. Sweep to underline. Bend and width to stifle and nicely muscled. A little high on hock. Moved out well in profile but a little untidy going away.

Pin wire harsh coat.

Yearling Bitch  5 entered, 2 absent

A very difficult decision between the first 2 places.

1st Bennett’s Hydebeck In The Name of Love

Balanced very curvaceous bitch with sweeping lines all through. She has a thick coat which can make her look a bit heavy, but it is of correct texture and she is lovely to go over, curves from head to toe and powerful. She has a lovely temperament and was enjoying her day out. A very pretty feminine well furnished head with a gorgeous expression. Slight mouth fault, which will hopefully improve as she is not yet 2.

One of the best shoulder placements of the day with a superb forechest. Excellent bone. Tight feet and slope to pastern. Lovely topline with rise over the loin and sweep to underline. Strong croup. Well angulated let down hindquarters with plenty of width through her stifle. Movement was very easy and active in profile and she really covered the ground. Also sound coming and going. Long well covered tail that she carried well.

2nd Pask’s Florence Della Bassa Pavese to Baronglen JW [ IMP ITA]

A taller bitch, beautifully made and of lovely type, but she was a little unsettled today. Super head with long level planes and a soft kind expression. Long neck into good lay of shoulder but a little upright in upper arm. Lovely long straight bone and tight arched feet with well sprung pastern. Good topline that she maintained on the move, with arch over the loin and depth and sweep to underline.

Length of stifle and second thigh, but needs more width through and slightly high on the hock.

Movement free, easy and active in profile, but a little hocky going away.

In hard muscular condition. Correct coat.

3rd Cairnstorm Lullaby 2nd in Junior

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Novice Bitch  4 entered, 0 absent

1st Bennett’s Hydebeck In The Name Of Love   1st in Yearling.

2st Cope and Kingsley’s Dainwolf About Time Too.

Still a puppy but strong powerful red wheaten bitch who moved out easily and actively covering the ground well and was very sound coming and going. In hard muscular condition.

Nicely furnished head with a dark expressive eye. Excellent bite.

Crested neck into well laid shoulder and upper arm giving forechest. Strong bone and tight feet.

Well tucked up and good topline maintained on the move with a well covered tail with good carriage. Bend and width through stifle and nice low hock. Harsh coat.

3rd Avevor’s Killoughery Madeline.

Tall shapely bitch of old fashioned type, who at 3 years of age has never been shown before, so was a little unsure of herself and movement although sound was a little erratic with her inexperienced handler.

Lovely old fashioned head with long level planes and soft far away expression. Super rose ear.

Long neck into excellent shoulder placement. Long straight bone. A little flat in forefeet and down in pastern. Curves and long sweeping lines all through with substance. Length and bend of stifle, low hock and a well carried tail. Correct coat texture but needs tidying to enhance her curves.

Post Graduate Bitch  3 entered, 3 absent

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Limit Bitch  5 entered, 3 absent

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1st  Ashby’s Ashgrove Betty Mae  - Res CC

A real huntress. Powerful, strong bitch who looks as though she could hunt all day. In such hard muscular condition she absolutely powered around the ring with extended ground covering action. Looked an absolute picture of power in profile, but was also totally sound coming and going.

Old fashioned head with alert, keen expression. Rather flat in ear.

Strong crested neck into excellent front assembly. Prominent forechest.

Wonderful bone. Tight feet. Super curves and substance, maybe slightly long in loin. Super width and strength to croup, no falling off here!

Angulated hindquarters with well let down hock. The powerhouse behind her driving movement.

Fantastic harsh pinwire coat.

2nd Crosse’s Rainster Evie.

A pretty, feminine, elegant bitch of good type.

Lovely greying head, well furnished with a kind dark eye. Super rose ear.

Balanced and curves throughout with depth and substance. Lovely length of neck. Angulated forequarters with layback and slope to upper arm and forechest. Good bone. A little flat in forefeet. Bend of stifle, but a little high in hock. Not in as hard muscular condition as 1st place but moved out steadily and easily. Well carried tail. Correct coat.

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Open Bitch  2 entered, 2 absent

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Veteran Bitch  3 entered, 0 absent

All 3 bitches were a real credit to their owners

1st : Gregory’s Braewisan Kalli at Killouhery. - BEST VETERAN IN SHOW

7 ½ year old in superb condition, well muscled and flew around the ring striding out with reach and drive and still sound coming and going.

Shapely, balanced bitch with curves through and well made.

Head a little short in muzzle, but kind expression. Well placed shoulder and laid back upper arm giving depth and width to forechest.  Strong bone, still has tight feet and spring to pastern. Maintained her topline on the move. Rise over the loin. Width and strength to croup. Angulated hindquarters and well let down hocks. Long well covered tail.

2nd : Bruce’s  Goldswift Leap of Faith.

These 2 litter sisters at 9 and1/4  years were very unlucky to meet the 1st place, giving away almost 2 years in age.

A nice bitch of lovely type. She has the most beautiful greying head with a kind dark eye and the softest of expressions. Rose ear. Angulated forequarters and decent front assembly. A little flat in forefeet now. Has retained her topline and underline. Strong croup with width across. Bend and length to stifle. A little high on her hock. Thick well covered tail. Still sound and moved out well enjoying her day out. Lovely temperament.

3rd : Littlefair’s Goldswift In Your Dreams.

The same comments apply to her sister, especially with regard to her stunning well furnished elegant greying head and super rose ear. She hasn’t aged quite as well as her sister and is a little dippy in topline and down on her hocks, but she was so pleased to be here and enthusiastic on the move, excited and loving to be in the show ring again. She also has a lovely temperament.

Champion Bitch  4 entered, 2 absent

1st Bradley’s CH Glengail Aarcus - CC and BIS

Stunning quality bitch with commanding appearance and presence, She stood away in this entry today. She is a picture both standing and on the move. A total huntress exuding power and strength but maintaining her femininity, there is nothing coarse about her, she’s exquisite.

Beautiful old fashioned head with keen alert far seeing expression. Ears a little large, but well held. Strong powerful neck . Lovely shoulder placement, could maybe have a little more slope to upper arm. Substance and strength throughout, super underline and topline. Well angulated stifle, lowest of hocks. The view of her rear end from behind is perfect, so muscular and powerful. Moved around the ring with power, reach and drive and absolutely sound fore and aft. Excellent  harsh coat. Lovely tail carriage.

2nd Amoo’s CH Sade Prelude.

A beautiful bitch of quality. I gave both her Sire and Dam the CC’s when I judged them at the IWC Ch Show and she is so much of their type.

Beautiful furnished head with the kindest expression. Large black nose. Ears a little flat. Crested long neck flowing into a well angulated front assembly with one of the best forechests today and elbows well set under. Long straight bone and arched toes, slope to pastern. Substance throughout and well ribbed up. Topline with rise over the loin. Nicely tucked up .

Length and width to stifle but rather high on the hock. Strong powerful movement in profile and sound coming, but rather hocky going away. Super well conditioned harsh coat.

 Chris MacLeod

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