Irish Wolfhound Club

Irish Wolfhound Club 31stAugust 2026 

I would like to thank Chairperson Debbie Treadwell and the committee for the invite to judge the 51stChampionship show held at the Kennel Club buildings at Stoneleigh on the 31st August 2026. The hospitality was greatly appreciated, thanks also go to my stewards Alan and Sonali who kept everything running smoothly especially having to contend with the Championship and Open show running together.

I would also like to thank the exhibitors for allowing me the privilege of accessing your hounds at our own breed show which I consider the highest honor in judging.

I was looking for that elusive balance of properly constructed hounds who could do the job they were bred for with the quality and type which makes a top class hound. I was not disappointed in my main winners and was pleasantly surprised that the majority of hounds were constructed quite well with no glaring faults and that most of the erratic movement was due to handling and not anatomical faults.

What did concern me was the lack of infill to forechest, short ribbing and long loin. The rear movement being too close needs watching with considered future matings taking this into account.

Minor Puppy Dog 4/0

1st Mrs K Spry’s Gaelmarque Templar at Killoughery

Well grown 7mth old with nice head of correct proportions, well held ears, strong neck leading into good shoulders and upper arm, good width to chest for age, well ribbed back, good drive from the rear, he looks more mature and fuller bodied than his siblings.

2nd Mrs Severn-Kumar’s Gaelmarque Hereward

Nice moving hound with good shoulder and topline, well balanced overall and a steadier mover than 1st, should have a good future in store.

3rd Mrs Severn-Kumar’s Gaelmarque Silfr Muighe

Good head and expression, strong neck leading into fair shoulder, a little long in loin at present but moved soundly and true.

Puppy Dog 2/1

1st Mrs O Filippetto’s Ippolito Della Bassa Pavese

Well grown 9mth old grey brindle with a strong masculine head, good eye, strong neck leading into good shoulders and front with good infill of forechest, well sprung ribs which were ribbed well back giving correct length of loin and good topline flowing into strong well made quarters with easy and powerful movement. BPIS

Junior Dog 2/0

1st Mrs S Forret’s Culvercroft Ivanhoe

Substantial 14mth old hound of good type, strong correctly shaped head, good neck flowing into correct topline, wide hips and well muscled rear, good depth of chest and spring of rib, movement sound and powerful if a bit uncoordinated at times.

2nd Hepburn’s Barachois Scooby Doo

17mth old with good head and gentle expression, nicely held ears, fair neck into ok shoulders, good harsh coat and free steady movement.

Yearling Dog 6/1

1st Mr & Mrs Porter’s Dahmrak’s Riogahn For Lindall 

Very typey dark brindle dog who is balanced and has correct proportions throughout, good head, strong neck into good shoulders with good infill to forechest, flowing topline that he holds on the move extending well in front and driving from a well muscled rear, glad to award him the RDCC he pushed the CC winner hard.

2nd Mrs S Dawson’s Cairnstorm Latest Edition Of Shalico

A well grown dog with good bone and substance, larger than 1st, nice head and expression, strong neck with reasonable forechest, good shoulder, correct topline, moved with drive, expect he will be slow to mature and fully come together.

3rd Forret’s Culvercroft Ivanhoe

Novice Dog 1/0

1st Mrs J A Berry’s Shermat Sirius Blackthorne

Nicely balanced youngster with nice head and kind expression, moved really in time with his wheelchair handler, nice to see our breed being so responsive, steady movement, good top and underline and moved with drive.

Post Graduate Dog 1/0

1st Mrs C A Connor’s Hydebeck Eternal Love

Strong well grown brindle dog, harsh coat, well shaped head and good eye with kind expression, neatly held ears, strong neck, good under and topline, a little long in loin, moved steady and enjoying his day out.

Limit Dog 4/0

1st Mr P Guntrip’s Brachan Giorno Di Natale

Old fashioned typey dog, he is well balanced and of good proportions, good infill to chest and sloping shoulders, good head with kind expression, correct topline, powerful well muscled quarters that gave him true and steady movement.

2nd Mr & Mrs Dawson’s Hydebeck Tyme to Love at Graefyn (JW)

Substantial balanced hound with lovely head & expression, good front and depth of chest, a little long in loin and not driving as well as 1st.

3rd Mr J Harris’s Jaguar Shark At Sullyenda

Another balanced hound with good head, nice shoulder, good return of upper arm, correct topline, steady mover.

Open Dog 8/2

1st Ms S Evans’ Killoughery Ricochet with Braewisan

Typey hound with good head, ears carried well, well laid shoulders with good infill to forechest, correct top & underline, good feet, wide well muscled rear which he used well.

2nd Miss Webb & Mrs Sheppard’s Killoughery Mission Two for Inkleyboys (JW)

Smaller than 1st but built correctly. Flowing topline from good shoulders and strong neck holding a well shaped head, moved with drive but not quite the rear movement of 1st.

3rd Mrs K.M.Dickson & Mrs S.M.Allen’s Strathmithie But and Ben

Another strong dog with deep chest and well sprung ribs, movement sound but not the balance of 1st & 2nd.

Champion Dog 2/1

1st Mrs K.Gregory’s Ch.Killoughery Touchstone

An impressive well grown dog, when stood he is a series of gentle curves, well sculptured masculine head with excellent ears, he has a strong neck of correct length flowing into well laid shoulders with good return of upper arms, proper depth of chest and good under & topline leading to a well muscled rear which he used to great effect, one of the best movers of the day, happy to award him DCC & RBIS.

Veteran Dog No entries

Veteran Bitch 1/0

1st Mrs C. Stirling’s Clanlily Diamond Dust

8yr old sprightly hound of good type, in quality condition with good muscle tone, feminine head on strong neck leading into good shoulders, has correct top & underlines, moving easily and steadily, a credit to her owner.

Minor Puppy Bitch 3/2

1st Mrs M.Severn-Kumar’s Gaelmarque Torfrida

Very houndy 7mth old youngster with lines flowing smoothly from her feminine head to her shapely rear assembly, she has a good neck and shoulders and her movement was easy and positive.

Puppy Bitch 3/2

1st Mrs K.Spry’s Killoughery Eclipse

11mth old well balanced typey bitch, good head with alert expression, she has a pleasing outline when stood with good topline and underline, has width to her hips and excellent bone and muscle.

Junior Bitch 6/1

A very nice class of youngsters

1st Dr L.Salamon’s Culvercroft Isadora Pavese

A very typey 15mth old grey brindle bitch who has a great head with well held ears, strong neck, good infill of chest and lay of shoulder, she is strong and balanced with correct topline which she held on the move, she extended well in front and drove off her sound quarters, RBCC awarded as she gave that bit extra in the challenge.

2nd Mrs S.Forret’s Culvercroft Isolda

Litter sister to 1st with many similar qualities, slightly longer than her sister, good in front with excellent head and topline, well muscled rear giving her plenty of drive if at times moving a bit erratically.

3rd Mrs M.Severn-Kumar’s Ersebrayer Orkney Gaelmarque

Another good quality youngster with a nice head and strong neck flowing into good shoulders, a little long in loin at the present, good sweep to stifle and well muscled rear giving powerful rear movement.

Yearling Bitch 5/0

1st N.Warick & K.Spry’s Cairnstorm Legacy

A well grown sound bitch who covered the ground with powerful strides, good forechest and topline which she held on the move, good curve of stifle and powerful rear drive.

2nd Mrs A Crosse’s Cairnstorm Lullaby

A well proportioned bitch with good head and strong neck, well sprung ribs and good rounded rear giving her steady movement.

3rd Mr D.Cope & Ms K.Kinsley’s Dainwolf Another Debut

A lovely headed and typey girl who moved well in between being a bit unruly.

Novice Bitch 3/1

1st Mrs S Forret’s Culvercroft Isolda

2nd Mr D Malone’s Barachois Quackle

A bitch who moved well around the ring with good head and neck, fair shoulders, good topline which she held on the move.

Post Graduate Bitch 2/0

1st Ms S Evan’s Killoughery Rhapsody

A well balanced workmanlike bitch, nice head with well held ears, strong neck leading into correctly layed shoulders and return of upper arm, good infill to forechest, correct length of loin, good quarters and moved well with drive.

2nd Miss L Lee’s Bonafortes Beautiful Dawn with Clanwolf

A larger and longer bitch than the winner who moved around the ring well but not with the power of the winner.

Limit Bitch 5/2

1st Mrs C MacLeod’s Brachan Neve Di Natale

Substantial bitch with strong well shaped head & gentle expression, good bone & substance, strong neck, good shoulder, well sprung ribs which carried well back giving correct length of loin, good top & underline, best rear drive in the class, could do with less weight and a tidy up.

2nd Mr P & Mrs P Pask’s Florence Della Bassa Pavese to Baronglen (JW)

A houndy girl with plenty of leg, good top and underline, moved well in profile, lost to the winner on ribbing and rear drive.

3rd Mrs C Stirling’s Rysheron’s American Hope for Clanlily

Quality girl with nice head, good topline, movement very easy covering plenty of ground with and effortless stride, not the substance of 1st & 2nd.

Open Bitch 2/1

1st Mrs S Wilkinson’s Rainster Eilex Among Hunacres

A good sized bitch of correct type and proportions, well shaped head with a kind soft expression, strong neck leading into well laid shoulders and return of upper arm, adequate infill of forechest, good top and underline, well muscled leading to easy and powerful movement, close contender for top awards.

Champion Bitch 2/1

1st Dr C & Mrs C Shephard’s Ch. Gaelmarque Treasured by Goldswift

A stunning bitch who had everything that I was looking for in an example of the breed, others had many good points but she had them all in the correct porportions, she is both feminine and powerful extending well in front and driving powerfully from behind, her head shape is correct with a kind expression, shoulders are well laid, perhaps have a little more infill to forechest would not go amiss, she is balanced holding her topline on the move, well ribbed back with the correct length of loin leading into a well curved and muscled rear assembly, built the way she is I am sure she could hunt all day definitely ‘fit for purpose’ and a credit to her breeder and her owners. BCC & BIS.

Steve Bradley Glengail Wolfhounds