Manchester Dog Show Society

MANCHESTER CH SHOW

JANUARY 2026

IRISH TERRIER

SBD 1(0)

1. Thomas/Print’s Bilarny Hotcross Bun. This is a smart, young male who presents a nice overall appearance. He has some substance to him but is not overdone and has a racy outline. Quality head with good length of back skull of foreface which is strong without any weakness. He has a neat set of small ears which he uses well. Pleasing length of neck into well placed shoulders, nice top-line with correct rise over the loin, well set tail, hindquarters are not overdone and he has a moderate bend of stifle. Good bone and neat well arched feet. In good top jacket but need of some more undercoat. Moved well in front but needs more drive through the rear. BSpB.

PD 5(0)

This was a well filled class of promising youngsters.

1. Connell’s Sonorra Enter The Dragon. He really took my eye from the moment in came into the ring and my eyes kept being drawn back to him. He has the most beautiful headpiece with a long length of skull and foreface which is lean without any evidence of cheekiness. His foreface shows no weakness and he is nicely chiselled. He has the most lovely keen, dark, small eye and probably the best set of ears I have seen on an Irish, small, v-shaped, of correct thickness, well set and clearly natural. He has a beautiful neck of good length into well placed shoulders, he has a nice front assembly with correct bone and has neat feet with well arched toes and well managed tails. He has good depth to his chest and is neither too wide or too narrow, is well ribbed back with the correct Irish top-line. Strong hindquarters which are correctly angulated. In the best of jackets with good undercoat. He presents an overall racy appearance which is what I was looking for today. I thought his head and expression were outstanding, his movement was foot perfect and he was in excellent condition and trim. Wouldn’t want him any bigger. I could not deny him the class and certainly in the challenge he took on his sire. His head and expression and his overall performance gave him a slight edge over the more mature dog and I was happy to award him his first CC. Later he challenged the bitch and annexed BOB, despite his young age he put up an excellent performance in the Group at the end of a long day.2. Bradley’s Montelle All Is Bright (AI). Another very promising young Irish male who is another nice prospect for the future, lovely overall outline which is typical, has substance, but remains racy and typically Irish. He has a nice pleasing headpiece which has length and is lean. Neat ears but not using his ears as much as he could have done in this class, good neck into well placed shoulders, neat front assembly, well off for bone for a male, well ribbed back with strong loin, good hindquarters. Just needs to settle into his job. I could have easily have given him a class today but he was just pipped to the post by the winner whose length of head and overall expression I preferred. 3. Ryan’s Saredon The Outlaw. Another good one in the making. All three should do well.

JD 1(0)

1. Cooke’s Sifelly Speed of Light to Lionwood. Pleasing young dog of good size and overall shape. He has a pleasing headpiece with no evidence of cheekiness, keen dark eye and neat ears. Correct neck length into good shoulders, well ribbed. Correct top-line with good set on. Enough behind the tail. For me, he was a little overweight today and needs to lean down to enhance his appearance, he is also in need of a new jacket. Moved well although a little more enthusiasm would have given him an advantage.

LD 2(0)

1. Thomas/Print’s Bilarny Hotcross Bun. Repeat.2. Chilvers’ Apispolb Fleet Street (AI). This is a very nice Irish male. When he is settled and is doing his job he presents a beautiful outline. He has a neat expression. Good length of head with well placed neat small ears set high on the skull, neat dark keen eye, good length of back skull and good length of foreface giving him an overall good length of head which is well furnished. He is clean through the neck and has a pleasing front. Well off for bone with good tight foot. His chest is of good depth and is not too wide. Correct top-line and well angulated rear. Unfortunately did not help his handler today and fell apart a little towards the end of the class which cost him a higher place. When he settled he moved well and was in good jacket and good trim.

OD 5(1)

1. Connell’s Ch. Sonorra The Godfather. This is a dog I have admired from ringside previously. He is a beautiful headed dog with a lovely expression and neat ears and good dark eye. He has good length of head and is delicately chiselled. Well placed shoulders which are fine and well laid back. Good bone and neat feet, short strong pastern, his chest is deep and has good length of body. He is well muscled in the loin which has the correct arch to it and is well ribbed back. His hindquarters are strong and powerful, he has a correct bend of stifle for an Irish terrier. His tail is well set. He is in a good harsh and wiry coat and is sound on the move. He had a strong challenge from his son today and I just preferred the youth of the puppy, the fiery temperament and the overall head and expression, RDCC. 2. Cooke’s Montelle Flash Light to Lionwood JW. Another nice dog and racier in outline and if I’m honest I slightly prefer his outline to the winner. However, the winner excels in his head and expression and is a little better in the hind action.

3. Ruffles’ Holbam Midsummer Knight at Ruffmar JW OSW (AI).

VD 1(0)

1. Hardman’s Int/Sw/Fin/Est Ch. Red Lucifer at Bonosue VW Re (imp). Well known dog who I have judged before, he presents a pleasing overall outline and balance, he has a good length of head with neat small ears. He has a very small dark eye which is correct and gives him the desired expression. I would prefer him to have more strength in the underjaw and the lack of furnishings accentuate this. Good neck into nice shoulder placement and correct overall top-line. Well placed tail with plenty behind it and well carried. Good width of front with nice neat bone and tight feet. He does pick up a little bit on front action which detracts from the overall picture but drives well from the rear, BV.

SBB 1(0)

1. Buss’ Magairlin Swan River. Smart typy bitch. Correct overall outline. Pleasing headpiece although not using her ears today which detracted from the overall picture and from her expression. Good neck of pleasing length into well placed shoulders. Correct front assembly for the breed, neat bone and enough of her for a bitch. Good depth of chest and well ribbed back. In a good jacket of good texture. Moved well.

PB 2(1)

1. Fitter’s Dartmoorred Vixen Tor. This is another puppy who has qualities and with maturity should do well. However, today she was a little unsettled and not helping her handler. She has a pleasing head and expression and is well made through the neck and shoulder, has a pleasing front assembly and good depth of chest at this age. Well ribbed back. I would prefer a better tail set if I am to be critical. Hindquarters are well angulated and well muscled at this age. In excellent jacket which is well prepared. Moved well but needs to settle a fraction in the front.

JB 2(0)

This was a very difficult class to judge 1. Karau’s Newguild River. A little full of herself at the moment and she does need some time in ringcraft to settle. She is a nice shape and overall size. She won here on her head and expression and her good harsh typical jacket. Difficult to assess movement. 2.Another of good size however, in a rather soft woolly jacket which was a disadvantage over the winner. She has a good length of neck and pleasing shoulder placement. She has enough bone for a bitch and nice feet. She is well ribbed back although her top-line is not her fortune. Nicely angulated rear, moved ok.

PGB 2(0)

1. Chilvers’ Apispolb Standing Stones (AI). Smart bitch who pleased for her overall type. She is of good size and well balanced. Presents a very typical racy outline. Pleasing head and expression with good dark eye and well placed neat ears. Pleasing overall body shape and well ribbed back. Moved out well in the front although could be a little freer in the hind action.

2. Buss’ Magairlin Swan River. Winner of SBB.

LB 4(2) 1. Lee’s Ivyblue Red Sunlight. Racy bitch who pleased for her overall shape, size and symmetry. Pleasing head and expression, keen expression and very typically Irish. She is well made in the front with a typical front assembly. Good overall body ratio. Correct length of leg, of good bone and neat feet. She has a good depth of chest and is well ribbed back but a fraction long in loin for me. Moved well. 2. Fitter’s Ghyllslap Limerick. Another typical bitch of quality. Not the length of head of the winner but nevertheless a pleasing pair of ears and keen dark eye. I would prefer a little more length of neck to complete her outline. Good bone and feet. Correct top-line, well set tail, pleasing hind angulation, moved ok.

OB 4(1)

1. Tureen’s Morley Taggiasca. Nice quality bitch who impressed as soon as she came into the ring. Pleased me for her size and beautiful head and expression. She has a head of good length which has the correct skull to foreface ratio, neat ears which are high set and set close to the head, dark keen eye. I would prefer, if I am being very hypocritical, a fraction more length of neck. However her shoulders are well placed back and she has the correct length of upper arm for an Irish Terrier. Good depth in her chest and well ribbed back with strong loin. Pleasing hind angulation. In an excellent coat which is well put down and of correct texture. Moved very well in both directions. I was pleased to award her the BCC which I am told makes her up. Many congratulations.Fleshier’s Int Ch. Galahad’s Guardian Kiss Of A Blossom. Quality bitch. Lovely head and expression. Well made through. Good neck and shoulder. Nice bone. Correct topline. Moved well. In good jacket. RBCC.

VB 2(0)

1. Karau’s Balirolyat Molly’s A Diva. Nice overall type, won here on her typical head and expression. Correct length of head with correct length of foreface, neatly chiselled, keen dark eye and well furnished. Pleasing neck into good shoulders and has a correct top-line. Front assembly is correct. Deep in the chest which is not too wide. Pleasing hind angulation. Moved well in both directions. 2. Price’s Magairlin This Girl Can. Although in a better jacket than the first placed bitch and indeed of good size and make and shape. Another with a pleasing head but not using her ears at all in this class which cost her a higher place. I just preferred the head and expression of the first placed bitch. She is well made throughout. Moved well for her age.

IAN GABRIEL