He is extremely beautiful and majestic, being the greatest
of the dog kind to be seen in the world. He was made extremely like a
Greyhound, but more robust.
Oliver Goldsmith (1770)
Over the last 39 years, I've met many experts in our breed, and gotten their advice about how Irish Wolfhounds should look, feel, move, and act. I've also seen the hounds they bred. During the same time, I've studied everything I could find in books and art from the time of Captain Graham and other stalwarts in the 19th century who saved our breed from near extinction. From them I learned what they believed were the typical (and not so typical) Irish Wolfhounds of their time.
In the course of what is now my thirty-nine-year love affair with our beloved breed, I also learned about (and experienced first hand a little bit of) the struggle it has been (beginning with Captain Graham himself, and continuing right up to today), to remove the departures from type caused by relying on the breeds Captain Graham and others used to save our breed, mainly the Scottish Deerhound and the Great Dane.
There are so many authorities from books, art, and real life that I owe so much to, I can't begin to acknowledge my full debt to them here. So, I'll pick just three people whose advice was in my mind when I had the honor and the pleasure to judge the first Irish Wolfhound Society Championship Show in September 1987, and which advice I reminded myself of when I had the honor to judge the Society's Show 21st Championship Show in September 2008. First comes from Mrs. Nagle of the great English kennel, Sulhamstead. She gave me this advice about judging: "As you look down the line, ask yourself, which of these dogs would you like to have at your side if you encountered a ferocious wolf?" Sam Ewing, of the great American kennel, Eagle, summed up his advice about judging in two words: "Think Greyhound!" Finally, Sheila Kemp (known to you as Sorcha Wilde), whose Witchesbroom hounds are among the most beautiful of our time (and whose very junior partner I was honored for a brief moment to be) hammered home to me, "Look for big wolf killers in a Greyhound form."
I hope my judging reflects what I've learned from Captain Graham's time, the advice of my teachers, and the examples of the hounds they kept. I hope that the detailed report of the placements that follows explain what I was thinking as I watched and touched the hounds on that memorable day. I believe Captain Graham was frowning down on how many hounds, especially in the dog classes, suffer from the still too powerful influence of the rectangular Great Dane, though happily not the more refined Scottish Deerhound which we saw all too often in the past. On the other hand, I believe the Captain was surely smiling down on the depth of type and quality so prominent in the soft curves of the giant wolf killers in greyhound form among many of the bitches. The depth of type and quality was particularly evident in the Minor Bitch, the Yearling, Post Graduate, Limit, and Open Bitch classes. And, surely it must have pleased Captain Graham to see (as it surely pleased me to award) the Challenge and Reserve Certificates, and the top class placements, to giant hunters in a greyhound form who are both fast enough to catch a wolf, and when caught, strong enough to kill it.
I'd like to say that the placements were entirely the result of my judging, but that wouldn't be true. The real credit for the depth of Greyhound wolf killer type, depth of quality, depth of soundness, and depth of balance between power and speed lies elsewhere. It belongs to the hard work of the owners and breeders who at such great expense and time brought their hounds to Coventry on that beautiful September day. All I did was pick the hounds they "brung" me.
Please indulge me a few more words worthy of acknowledgement. Owning and breeding Irish Wolfhounds isn't just about hard work and great expense. It's all too often about heartbreaking struggle and suffering. We can glimpse the early days of struggle and heartbreak in the entries in Captain Graham's stud book, sober but necessary reading for all of us. A century later, Donna Elzer (Keystone) summed up the suffering bluntly, "Breeding and owning Irish Wolfhounds is like getting up after you've been stomped on over and over again."
One last point. At the end of the day, all of us - owners, breeders, and judges - are the primary custodians of our magnificent breed. It's up to us to remember that the power of custody carries with it the heavy responsibility to leave the breed in as good a condition as we found it. I believe that we're blessed in 2008 with custodians whose power we can trust.
Thank you all for giving me the thrill of seeing and touching in living flesh, what my mind's eye sees when I think of our beloved Irish Wolfhound.
Minor Puppy Dog (6, 1A)
1. (Also Best Dog Puppy and Best Puppy in Show) Tebbutt's Caredig Ellis.
Handsome, high quality hound with typical greyhound curves; good head and
expression; excellent long forelegs with plenty of bone; very deep chest;
proper length of loin; very strong thighs and second thighs; excellent bone in
hock, good stride with correct greyhound shape in motion. Definitely the best
shape and mover in the class.
2. Roe's Ballylyn's Face to Face at Darkhyl. Too rectangular, not enough
curves; good head and expression; strong neck; excellent long forelegs with
lots of bone; excellent depth of chest and spring of rib; needs more width
across the stifle; strong thighs and second thighs; good hock bone; stiff
moving away, short stride, adequate front movement; tail slightly gay; lacks
proper greyhound shape in motion
3. Amoo's Caredig Elidon to Sade TAF NAF. Needs more soft curves and
less abrupt angles; good head; neck could be stronger; good bone in foreleg; a
little loaded in shoulder; good thighs and second thighs; moves wide in rear,
short stride, not an easy mover; lacks the correct greyhound shape in motion.
Puppy Dog (3, 2A)
1. Lloyd-Jones' Bribiba's Celtic Mix for Nightwing. Very tall with very
long legs; a bit too retangular; masculine head, skull a little too broad; very
strong neck; excellent bone in foreleg; good feet; needs more forechest; very
deep; too long in loin; hard, big thighs and second thighs; good hock bone; ok
rear movement; short stride; lacks greyhound shape in motion.
Junior Dog (7, 4A)
Note: I deeply apologize; somehow there's a blank section on my recorder where
this class critique should be.
1. Dawson's Cleaseac Camembert by Shalico.
2. Parson's Kilfenora's First Mate.
3. Wilkinson's Hunacres Klark Gable.
Yearling Dog (6, 2A)
Note: Again deep apologies, only my summary of the class placements survived
the blank on my recorder.
1. Gregory's Killoughery The Maverick. Compared to 2 and 3, he's the
strongest and most greyound-like.
2. Guntrip's Ainsea The Lancer. Big, strong dog with a nice head; lacks the
correct greyhound shape standing and in motion; short stride.
3. Lloyd-Jones' Rynchanon Rock Steady for Nightwing. Good quality, too
long in loin, and shy on the day.
Novice Dog (3)
(Note: more apologies for blanks on the recorder)
1. Clarke's Rivenhound Steeplechaser. Strong dog with a good outline;
strong neck; excellent forelegs…
2. Thomas and Riley's Ballyphelan Malachi. (recorder blank)
3. Smith's Nightwing One More Knight. (recorder blank)
Post Graduate Dog (15, 6A)
1. Brace's Cleasac Colonel Mustard of Braehead. Adequate greyhound
outline; strong masculine head with good expression, rosed ears; strong neck
with good line into shoulder; strong, long forelegs with excellent bone,
pasterns a little straight; good depth in chest with good spring of rib; good
thighs and second thighs but muscles soft, good bend of stifle when he relaxes,
good hock bone, good rear feet; sound going away, good front movement, stride
adequate with better shape in motion than 2 and 3.
2. Harvey's Cualinn Celtic Pilgrimage. Adequate greyhound outline;
strong masculine head a little broad in skull; strong neck; excellent long,
strong forelegs with plenty of bone; pasterns a little straight; excellent
depth of chest with good spring of rib; good topline with good arch over the
loin; good width across the rear, good bend of stifle, powerful thighs and
second thighs, adequate hock bone; a bit weak going away, needs more stride,
adequate front movement. Pushed 1 hard, but 1 edged him out on the last go
round.
3. Neal's Fiagai Ghost Steps at Cahmega. Big strong dog; needs more
gazehound curves and less Great Dane angles.
Limit Dog (12, 3A)
1. (Also Dog CC and Best in
Show) Tebbutt's Caredig Galileo. Powerful, tall wolf killer in a
greyhound form, this young dog overpowered and stood away from the rest right
from the start; masculine head; very strong arched neck; lots of forechest,
long foreleg with plenty of bone, good pasterns and strong front feet; lovely
smooth line down neck into shoulder across a strong back and arch over the
loin; very deep chest and rib cage well sprung; good bend of and width across
stifle; huge, powerful, hard, thighs and second thighs, excellent hock bone and
strong rear feet; thick tail; harsh coat; sound going away and coming; good
stride, excellent greyhound shape in motion.
2. McConnell's Hydebeck Menelaus. Impressive dog, good quality,
presented well but overshadowed by 1. Strong masculine head with good
expression; strong neck; adequate forechest; excellent length and bone in
foreleg, pastern a bit straight; very strong neck, nice line from neck into
shoulder; chest very deep, good spring of rib; good arch over the loin but loin
a bit long; good width across rear; adequate bend of stifle and very good width
across stifle; huge hard thighs and second thighs, good hock bone; good rear
movement, a little weak in hocks; adequate stride but gay tail detracts from
outline in motion.
3. Watson's Rivenhound Chase the Ace. Correct greyhound outline;
adequate neck; needs more forechest; good foreleg bone; nice line from neck
into shoulder down back and arch over loin; deep and well-sprung chest; loin
long; good bend of stifle and width across the stifle; thick thighs and second
thighs; adequate hock bone, decent rear feet; weak rear movement, a bit tied at
elbow coming; needs more stride.
Open Dog (9, 3A)
1. (Also Reserve Dog CC and Reserve BIS) Neal's Cahmega Mahloo. Beautiful
strong greyhound type with excellent topline, neck set properly into shoulder,
back strong with excellent arch over the loin. He caught my eye from the first
go round. Lovely head and expression; strong neck; good forechest, good upper
arm, good foreleg, pasterns a bit straight; good depth of chest and spring of
rib, proper length of loin; good width across the rear, excellent bend of
stifle and width across the stifle, strong thighs and second thighs, plenty of
bone in the hock, strong, thick tail; a little weak behind, good front
movement, very good greyhound shape in motion.
2. Pain's Ch Conchobar Fancy Free to Ravensbeech. Good quality dog.
Strong masculine head a trifle broad in skull, very strong neck, very good
forechest, good upper arm, excellent foreleg with plenty of bone, straight
pasterns, good front feet; good depth of chest, could use a bit more spring of
rib, too long in loin, good arch over the loin, excellent bend of stifle and
width across the stifle, strong hard thighs and second thighs, excellent hock
bone, sound rear and front movement, adequate stride, not as good shape in
motion as 1 on the day
3. Timmins' Ch Cornovi Cassian. Good greyhound type, not as much leg as
1 and 2. Strong masculine head and expression; strong neck, good forechest, a
bit short in upper arm, good bone in foreleg, a little straight in pastern;
chest very deep but could use a little more spring of rib, loin too long, good
arch over loin, good bend of stifle and width across stifle; good width across
rear, thick thighs and second thighs muscle a little soft, good hock bone;
sound but a little stiff moving away, adequate stride, good front action.
Photographs of Dog Class Winners
Minor Bitch Puppy (6, 1A)
Note: Overall high quality class of promising puppies
1. (Also Best Bitch Puppy, and third in Novice
Bitch) Macleod's Brachen Loch Aisla. Excellent strong greyhound type,
long legs and soft curves, not harsh angles. Feminine but strong head with
beautiful soft expression; good forechest, well-angulated upper arm, plenty of
bone in foreleg, a bit straight in pastern, good front feet; good depth of
chest and adequate spring of rib, a trifle long in loin, good arch over loin;
nicely bent stifle and very good width across stifle; excellent thighs and
second thighs, good hone in hock, strong rear feet; weak rear movement, sound
front movement, correct greyhound shape in motion.
2. McDonald-Ulliott's Hibeck Bathsheba. Good greyhound type, plainer
than 1; good head and expression; good bone in foreleg, straight pasterns;
excellent depth of chest and just the right spring of rib, loin a trifle long,
excellent arch over loin, adequate bend of stifle and width across stifle; good
width across rear, strong thighs and second thighs, adequate hock bone, rear
feet a little weak; sound going but a little close, adequate stride, sound
coming.
3. Amoo's Ballalyns All Or Nothing to Sade TAF NAF. High class puppy;
lovely feminine head and expression; excellent forechest, well-angulated upper
arm, good bone in foreleg, good pasterns and good front feet; strong neck with
good line into shoulder; good depth of chest and spring of rib, correct length
of loin; good bend of stifle and width across the stifle; excellent width
across rear, excellent thighs and second thighs, could use more hock bone;
sound going away and excellent movement coming, very nice greyhound shape in
motion.
Puppy Bitch (7, 3A)
1. Pain's Ravensbeech Sabella. High quality puppy who clearly stood away
from the rest right from the start. Excellent strong feminine head; good
forechest, good bone in foreleg, pasterns a bit straight; very strong neck;
excellent depth of chest and correct spring of rib, loin a trifle long, good
arch over loin; good bend of stifle and good width across the stifle; excellent
width across the rear, strong thighs and second thighs, good hock bone; sound
going and coming, adequate stride but a little more drive than reach, good
greyhound shape in motion
2. Heather's Ravensbeech Sylla. Excellent outline, long legs. A little
broad in skull, dark eyes; good forechest, good bone in foreleg, pasterns
straight; strong neck; very deep, correct spring of rib, long loin but good
arch over loin; huge thighs and second thighs, adequate hock bone, reasonably
good rear feet; sound going and coming, not enough stride and not so good shape
in motion as 1.
3. Wilkes' Strickenoak Louise Marie. Doesn't want to cooperate today.
Strong, feminine head, good expression; needs more forechest, good bone in
foreleg, pasterns slightly straight; strong neck; very deep with correct spring
of rib, loin too long, good arch over loin; nice bend, and adequate width
across, stifle; powerful large thighs and second thighs, needs more bone in
hock, weak rear feet; sound going away, coming and stride difficult to make out
today (maybe she's bored.)
Junior Bitch (10, 5A)
1. (Also First Yearling Bitch), Trethowan's Braewisen Abreaun. Powerful,
balanced bitch in a greyhound form; very pleasing to behold. Beautiful head and
expression, dark eye; needs a bit more forechest, good bone in foreleg, good
pasterns, reasonably strong front feet; strong neck sloping smoothly into
shoulders; chest deep with correct spring of rib; proper length of loin with
good arch over loin; nicely bent stifles with adequate width across stifles;
very hard thighs and second thighs (very pleasing to go over); sound going and
coming; very good stride, excellent greyhound shape in motion which stood her
away from 2 and 3, and which has been all too rare today so far.
2. Donaldson's Ravensbeech Camarillo. Typical with long legs but a faint
hint of the rectangle and not quite enough soft greyhound curves. Good head, a
trifle broad in skull; adequate forechest, upper arm a bit straight, adequate
bone in foreleg, pasterns ok, front feet ok; strong neck with excellent smooth
line into shoulder; deep chest with just the right spring of rib, loin a trifle
long, good arch over loin, nice bend of stifle, adequate width across stifle;
very hard thighs and second thighs, adequate hock bone, ok rear feet; a bit
weak going away, narrow in front coming, adequate stride.
3. Johnson's Nellwyns Ms Eliza Doolittle. Typical but slightly
rectangular. Excellent head and lovely expression; decent forechest and upper
arm, adequate bone in foreleg, pasterns good, good front feet; good shoulder,
good depth of chest and correct spring of rib, loin a trifle long; very good
thighs and second thighs, adequate hock bone, rear feet ok; sound rear
movement, adequate stride, toes in slightly coming, fair greyhound shape in
motion. (This bitch wants a slimming diet.)
Yearling Bitch (13, 5A)
Note: Excellent depth of type and quality in this class of promising bitches,
but several want slimming
1. (Also First Junior Bitch).Trethowan's Braewisan Abreaun.
2. Ensor's McLight Heather at Tiketyboo. Another lovely strong, typical
bitch ; typical head with good expression; good angle in upper arm, good bone
in foreleg, good pasterns, fore feet a bit down; strong neck sloping smoothly
into shoulder, good depth of chest but a bit barrel-chested (maybe because she
wants slimming), correct length of loin with good arch over loin, adequate bend
of, and width across, the stifle; very big thighs and second thighs but a
little soft , adequate hock bone, reasonably strong rear feet; excellent rear
movement, moves a trifle wide in front; excellent stride with a beautiful
greyhound shape in motion which has been rare up to this point today.
3. Tugby's Rynchanon Ain't Misbehavin. Rangy, tall, strong bitch with an
excellent greyhound shape; strong feminine head with good expression and dark
eyes; needs more forechest, upper arm a tad straight, adequate bone in foreleg,
decent pasterns, strong front feet; neck fairly strong; deep chest with correct
spring of rib, loin a trifle long, good arch over loin, good bend of stifle and
reasonable width across stifle; hard thighs and second thighs; sound going
away, ok coming, adequate stride and good greyhound shape in motion.
Novice Bitch (8, 3A)
1. Trethowan's Braewisan Blathnaid. This powerful bitch in a greyhound
form looks like she could definitely catch and kill a wolf; she also definitely
has a mind of her own. Strong feminine head with good expression; good
forechest, reasonable angle in upper arm, good bone in foreleg, pasterns
somewhat straight, front feet down a bit; strong neck, chest very deep, rib
cage well-sprung, loin a trifle long, good arch over loin; good bend of stifle
and good width across the stifle; strong thighs and second thighs, adequate
hock bone, rear feet down a bit; very good greyhound shape in motion. Stood
away from 1 and 2 in spite of her strong will to do otherwise.
2. Harmer's Ballanroo Orcadia. Powerful greyhound form with impressive
long legs. Strong feminine head, a trifle broad in skull; adequate forechest,
adequate angle in upper arm, good bone in foreleg, straight pasterns, front
feet a bit down; strong neck, good depth of chest, adequate spring of rib, long
in loin, good arch over the loin, nicely bent stifle, good width across the
stifle, good thighs and second thighs, good hock bone, reasonably strong rear
feet; ok going and coming, good stride and good greyhound shape in motion.
Overpowered by 1.
3. (Also first Minor Puppy Bitch, which see for critique) Macleod's Brachan
Loch Aisla.
Post Graduate Bitch (16, 3)
Note: very good depth of type and quality in this class; The majority are
worthy contenders for only five placements.
1. Tebbutt's Caredig Grace. This powerful tall, rangy bitch in a
greyhound form stood away from the rest straight away in first go round; she
definitely looks like she could catch and kill a wolf. Strong but feminine head
with good expression; very good forechest, adequate upper arm, good bone in
foreleg, good pasterns, strong front feet; very strong neck with excellent line
into shoulder; very deep chest with properly sprung rib cage; correct length of
loin with good arch over the loin; stifles nicely bent with very good width
across the stifle; huge, hard thighs and second thighs, excellent hock bone,
and strong rear feet; powerful easy movement going away (very impressive hock
action), excellent easy front movement coming, easy long stride with just the
right greyhound shape in motion. This stride and shape in motion clearly set
her apart from all the other placements, and other excellent bitches in this
class who didn't place.
2. Malley's Ainsea Gypsy. Typical powerful greyhound type with lots of
quality. Strong but feminine head with lovely expression and dark eyes; good
forechest, proper angle in upper arm, plenty of bone in foreleg, pasterns a bit
straight, front feet down a little; strong neck with excellent line from neck
into well-laid back shoulder; very deep chest and well-sprung rib cage, a
trifle long in loin, excellent arch over the loin, excellent width across
nicely bent stifles; thick but soft thighs, strong second thighs, good hock
bone, rear feet down a little; sound going away and coming, adequate stride,
excellent greyhound shape in motion. (Wants a slimming program.)
3. Sumner's Ballyphelan Jeni Jones. First class, high quality, rangy,
powerful bitch in a greyhound form. Strong but feminine head with dark eyes and
lovely expression; adequate forechest, adequate angle in upper arm, pasterns
ok; strong neck; deep chest, well-sprung, length of loin ok, good arch over
loin; nicely bent stifles, adequate width across stifle, thick thighs and
second thighs, both soft, good hock bone, reasonably strong rear feet; moving
close going away, a little loose coming, needs more stride, fairly good
greyhound shape in motion.
Limit Bitch (18, 8A)
Note: Another class of outstanding bitches with great depth of type and
quality; Nearly all 10 of these bitches are worthy contenders for only five
placements
1. (Also Reserve Bitch CC) Tebbutt's Cualainn
Psyche Caredig. Outstanding powerful wolf killer in a greyhound form.
Strong true sighthound head (in my judgment the best head of many excellent
heads on the day) with reasonably-rosed ears to finish off this outstanding
head and expression; good forechest, good upper arm, good bone in foreleg, good
pasterns, front feet down ever so slightly, powerful neck with excellent line
into shoulder; chest deep and properly sprung, correct length of loin with
excellent arch over loin; excellent bend of stifle and excellent width across
the stifle; huge, hard thighs and second thighs, excellent hock bone; sound
coming and going, excellent stride and impressive greyhound shape in motion.
Although 2 and 3 are high quality bitches, 1 overpowered them. She also scored
by her impressive look of a wolf killer in a greyhound form, a look she
retained while moving.
2. Macleod's Brachen Busted Khia. Beautiful strong bitch in a greyhound
form. Strong feminine head with lovely expression and dark eyes; wonderful
forechest, good upper arm, good bone in foreleg, pasterns slightly straight,
strong front feet; very strong neck; excellent depth of chest and spring of
rib; correct length of loin with excellent arch over loin; nicely bent stifle
with good width across stifle, powerful thighs and second thighs, good hock
bone, strong rear feet; slightly weak in hocks going, a trifle wide coming in
front, good greyhound shape in motion despite seeming to lack the desire to
move out on the day.
3. Kenis-Pordham's Solstrand Unity. Wonderful old-fashioned type with
great dignity in a true greyhound form. Lovely head and expression with
excellent rosed ears (very rare on this day); good forechest and upper arm,
good bone in foreleg, straight pasterns, front feet a little down; strong neck,
line from neck into shoulder a bit sharp and abrupt; very deep and good spring
of rib, a trifle long in loin, excellent arch over the loin; nice bend of
stifle and good width across stifle, strong thighs and second thighs, good hock
bone; very sound going with excellent easy flexible hock action, sound coming,
good stride with adequate greyhound shape in motion.
Open Bitch (8, 3A)
Note: Still another excellent class of bitches of depth in quality and type;
all placements are worthy contenders.
1. (Also Bitch CC and BOS in
Show) Tebbutt's Ch. Caredig Hegarty. Outstanding quality bitch
with the look of a powerful wolf killer in a greyhound form. Strong head with
good expression and lovely dark eyes; very powerful neck leading flawlessly
into her shoulder; in fact her topline flows in one unbroken near perfect line,
beginning with the crest of her powerful neck, running down her strong back,
arching over her loin and croup and finishing in a well-set tail; plenty of
forechest, good upper arm, plenty of bone in foreleg, good pasterns, strong
front feet; chest very deep with perfect spring of rib, correct length of loin
with excellent arch over the loin, stifles nicely bent with excellent width
across the stifle; excellent width across the rear, strong thighs and second
thighs, good hock bone, rear feet down slightly; very powerful rear movement
and strong hock action, sound coming, excellent stride with the correct
greyhound shape in motion. She has all the soft curves of a sighthound and none
of the abrupt angles of a Great Dane. Although pushed hard by 2 and 3, she
edged them out in the appearance of great power.
2. Crane's Ch. Seplecur Letitia. Beautiful powerful bitch in a greyhound
form who maintained in motion her excellent greyhound shape; from the first go
round she was a worthy contender in this outstanding class of bitches. Strong
but feminine head with lovely expression and dark eyes; excellent forechest,
good upper arm, excellent bone in foreleg, front feet a little down; strong
neck with excellent line from neck into shoulder; very deep chest, correct
spring of rib, correct length of loin, excellent arch over the loin; excellent
bend of stifle and excellent width across the stifle, big hard thighs and
second thighs, very good hock bone, down a little in rear feet; good hock
action going, coming toes in slightly, excellent free stride, very good
greyhound shape in motion. Pushed 1 hard but on the last go round 1 just edged
her out in the appearance of power.
3. Pain's Ravensbeech Brittanica. Another high quality bitch with a
near-perfect greyhound outline. Feminine but strong head with soft expression
and lovely dark eyes; good forechest, adequate upper arm, good bone in foreleg,
good pasterns, good front feet; strong neck with excellent line from neck into
her shoulder; chest deep with correctly sprung rib cage, good length of loin
with excellent arch over the loin, excellent bend of stifle and excellent width
across the stifle; strong hard thighs and second thighs, good hock bone, and
strong rear feet; sound but a trifle close going away, very sound front
movement coming, adequate stride and acceptable greyhound shape in motion. A
first class bitch who pushed 1 and 2 hard but they slightly edged her out in
appearing to have more power.
Photographs of Bitch Class Winners
JOEL SAMAHA (Judge)