I would like to thank the committee of the Irish Wolfhound Society of England for inviting me to judge their Open Show 2008 and making this day a memorable occasion. My special thanks go to the hard working show committee at and around the judge's table and my experienced ring steward who guided me through the day with expertise and humour.
It was an honour and a pleasure to go over so many beautiful hounds and I think the depth of quality in both sexes was just amazing! In the eighty exhibits I went over I found only a small handful of hounds that could commonly be described as pet quality.
Hindquarters were excellent in general, all showing sufficient if not excellent angulation, with good width across the stifle, giving them power and strength. Good fronts with a long upper arm and long shoulder blade seem to be harder to breed for; I found a number of shoulders that could be longer and more inclined. Coats were of correct texture, harsh and wiry.
As is so often the case, side movement was mainly very good, most hounds displaying good reach and drive, but coming and going there were a number of hounds that moved too close in the rear for my liking, and some dogs were toeing in too much on the approach. Bites were excellent, with only very few exceptions. Ears were generally okay, but I saw a number of low-set or flat ears that can easily distract from an otherwise good head. Ears do not impede a wolfhound doing its job but they are an important part of type and breeders should also consider these points when making their breeding decisions. Some skulls were too broad and heavy with too much stop and out of proportion with an otherwise correct and typical sighthound muzzle.
But these are the finer points; I can only repeat myself in saying that I was thrilled by the overall quality of the hounds! There were a good number of hounds I would have gladly taken home with me!
A big thank you to the exhibitors for allowing me to go over their hounds and for accepting my decisions so gracefully in an atmosphere of good sportsmanship that prevailed throughout the day.
THANK YOU ALL!
Ika Peiler
Minor Puppy Dog
1st Wilkinson's HUNACRES KLARK GABLE just a few days over six months. Very nice
puppy with strong bone, good coat, lovely head, strong hindquarters with good
width across stifle, curves all over, very together at this point. Topline
already showing nice rise over the loin. Not as steady on the move as #2 but I
forgive this in such a young puppy.
2nd Painter & Goodall's HUNACRES KARY GRANT litter brother to 1st, taller
and therefore already going into the gangly stage, losing some of the curves
which I am sure will come back later. Nice and surprisingly steady mover, nice
coat, both have nice temperament.
Puppy Dog
1st Pask's AINSEA MADOC 11 ms brindle, in good height to length proportion,
something that's rare in dog puppies at this age. Good strong head with a
gentle expression, long ribcage, good width across stifle, nice spring of
pastern, tight feet, nicely folded and high set ears.
2nd Pain & Hillier's RAVENSBEECH CINCINATTI 9 ms light brindle, good mover,
strong neck, nicely knuckled cat feet, less angulation than winner. Would
prefer more rise over the loin and less of a dip in the back
Junior Dog
1st Amoo's BOKRA WALLACE TO SADE tall 14 months old brindle, with nice curves
flowing from the top of his head to tail, good width across stifle, very well
proportioned hindquarters, pleasing head, good ears, deep ribcage, strong neck,
at this stage rather straight in pastern, movement a bit lanky.
2nd Clarke's RIVENHOUND STEEPLECHASER lovely sound mover, strong neck, good
ribcage, strong head, good coat, would like to see more length of leg at this
age.
Yearling Dog
1st Burt-Hughes' WINDSPRAY DANTE'S SONATA on his own in the class. Happy
youngster with easy and active movement, in good condition, good width across
loin and stifle, good coat, high set rose ear, head too broad in the skull and
lightish eyes giving him a stern expression.
Novice Dog
1st Wilkinson's HUNACRES KOLE PORTER despite being only just over six months
old, this little boy won this class with ease. Neat little mover, lovely
masculine head and gentle expression with nice rosed ears, strong neck and good
front, good width over stifle and strong bone all over. 2nd Dawson's CLEASEAC
CAMEMBERT BY SHALICO another puppy, three months older than 1st, well made with
a good front and nice topline, but not as good a mover. Would wish less stop on
his forehead, which gives him a strange expression, ears a bit flat, though
high set.
Post Graduate Dog
1st Thornton's MOCHRAS ONE STAR 2.5 year old dark brindle, a hunting type
through and through, with a curvy, powerful body standing tall and showing good
daylight, effortless easy and active mover with good reach and drive, correct
rise over strong loin, lovely head with gentle expression, long and strong
neck, good width across stifle. Best Dog and Best Opposite Sex
2nd Pinkney's HYDEBECK DEMETRIUS 3.5 year old brindle, lovely mover. Long
ribcage, good strong hindquarters, neck long but a bit weak, straight in
pastern, neat feet.
Limit Dog
1st McHugh's ANSTYARNA RUADA TO MADIAMOY Substantial nearly five year-old red
brindle, with easy and active movement and good reach and drive, strong boned
all over, good front, good head and expression, correct underline, low hocks,
tight feet. Would prefer a longer a stronger head and neck to match his
powerful frame.
2nd Brace's CLEASEAC COLONEL MUSTARD OF BRAEHEAD Another nice mover with a
lovely topline and well rounded croup. Good head with correct planes and nice
expression. Strong neck. Strong hindquarters with low hocks. A bit straight in
pastern. I would wish for a longer sternum to give his ribcage more length.
Open Dog
1st Pask's BARONGLEN THE JOURNEYMAN Curvy dog with a strong neck, good front
and good rear, correct topline and underline, low hocks, good mover and one of
the few that were also sound coming and going. Self-stacks nearly perfect, but
unfortunately reacts to being positioned by leaning back, thus giving him the
appearance of a rocking horse in the line-up.
2nd Neal's CAHMEGA MAHLOO Nearly five year old black brindle with a lovely
head, unfortunately marred by flat ears, good front and strong bone, correct
croup, broad loin, good hindquarters.
Veteran Dog
1st Goodall & Painter's DRIFTCOT OTTOWA This one is just such a lovely well
made veteran who kept all his gentle curves and still has powerful yet easy and
active movement, teeth and bite in amazingly good condition, very gentle
expression in this beautiful grey face, correct, lovely harsh coat, good
underline. Res Best Dog, Best Veteran in Show
2nd Cole's CULKEERAN QUEALLY Another lovely old man, with a nice head and wise
expression, good topline and underline, strong bone, also still a good mover,
just not as fluent as winner.
Minor Puppy Bitch
1st Simpson's TATTEREDGOWN TRUCE Happy eight months old baby, already with
great ring presence, well proportioned, nice head and expression, good front,
strong neck, lovely topline, sweeping hindquarters with good width across
stifle.
Puppy Bitch
What a lovely class! So much quality for the future.
1st Johnson's NELLWYN'S MS ELIZA DOOLITTLE Just nine months old dark brindle
with a lot of bone, good front and forechest, well ribbed up, strong sweeping
hindquarters, nice topline, lovely head and expression, high set tightly folded
rose ear, easy and active on the move. Best Puppy in Show
2nd Hawkins' CAREDIG FREYA Eleven months old light brindle, very strong boned,
with powerful movement. Good forechest, nice rise over the loin, croup a bit
short, nice powerful hindquarters. Ears could be higher set and rosed.
Preferred the more feminine head of winner.
Junior Bitch
1st Surrell & Coleman's BOKRA WINDCHYME Fourteen months old black brindle.
Very feminine youngster with lovely proportions, good forechest and front, good
neck flowing into a nice topline, very nice rounded croup and strong
hindquarters.
2nd Warwick's CAIRNSTORM FLORENCE MAY Sixteen months old wheaten with a harsh
coat. Long, pleasing head with lovely black points, ears high set and folded
nicely, good front, strong neck, well ribbed up, nice topline, good width
across stifle, would prefer slightly longer second thigh.
Yearling Bitch
1st Burt-Hughes' WINDSPRAY NOCTURNE Tall substantial 21 months old, with easy
and active movement, good underline, good width across stifle, eyes could be
darker.
2nd Critien's REGAL CHARM OVER KALERIGG Completely different type to the houndy
winner of this class, only two weeks younger but considerably smaller, yet with
a substantial body. Straight shoulder and short upperarm give her a dip in the
back which also affects her movement. Nice head, good depth of chest, nicely
rounded croup.
Novice Bitch
1st Pain's RAVENSBEECH CIMARRON A bitch with great promise! Lovely curves and
correct proportions, sound mover with good reach and drive, tight well-knuckled
feet, low hocks, lovely head with nice ears and beautiful dark eyes. Res Best
Bitch and Res Best in Show
2nd Thornton's MOCHRAS OTTALINE Another lovely bitch with nice curves all over.
Good long ribcage, well-tucked-up, strong loin and croup, pleasing head with
high set rose ears, not as fluent a mover as 1st.
Post Graduate Bitch
1st Neal's FIAGAI MITEXI AT CAHMEGA Tall dark brindle with nice curves, correct
rise over loin, good front, nice movement. Pleasing head and expression.
2nd Morris' AMARACH MACUSHLA Another lovely mover with great ring presence,
nice well proportioned head, good front and sweeping hindquarters, a bit too
long in the loin.
Limit Bitch
1st Wilkinson's HUNACRES KANTATA Nearly five year old wheaten with a lovely
head and gentle expression, good front and sweeping hindquarters, well ribbed
up and good underline, nice width across stifle, easy and active movement.
2nd Peek's MILKWOOD MAMA MIA Liked this girl a lot and it was a hard decision
between these two ladies. Attractive well proportioned dark brindle, with a
lovely head and harsh coat. Sound mover, Just preferred the front and longer
ribcage of 1st.
Open Bitch
1st Cole's CULKEERAN SIGH The words power and balance come to mind when seeing
this beautiful four year old. Everything about her is so well put together, she
has an uninterrupted set of flowing curves from the top of her head to the tip
of her tail. Lovely head and expression, tight and high-set rose ears, strong
neck. Sound and powerful movement, not putting a foot wrong. The harshest of
coats I've ever seen. Best in Show
2nd Trezise-Dundas' SOLSTRAND TIAN The only other bitch present in this class.
Six years old brindle with a nice dark eye and a good coat, which would have
benefited from a bit more tidying up. Reasonable front, good croup, would
prefer more rear angulation.
Veteran Bitch
Two lovely old ladies in this class!
1st Catlow's LAOISEACH FLORAGH Lovely 7.5 year old, so full of dignity. Still
sound mover. Tight feet, strong neck, long ribcage, very pleasing head with
such a gentle expression.
2nd Stayte's MALLANIGH LILI AT CARWENWY Very close to 1st, but unfortunately
she was not as sound in the rear on the day. Powerful yet graceful lady, with a
beautiful head and nice rose ear. Gentle curves all over. Still strong topline
and nice tuck-up, sweeping hindquarters.
Back to results page
Home page
Sitemap
Photographs of class winners - dogs
Photographs of class winners - bitches