Irish Wolfhound Society

Irish Wolfhound Society Open Show 26. 01.2025 – Judge – Alex Paisey

Well a lovely start to the year! Always an honour to judge a breed club show and I have been looking forward to this appointment for a while. A huge thank you to the Irish Wolfhound Society for the invitation and your warm hospitality. Thank you also to my two wonderful stewards, who kept us going, and kept me in line. As ever plaudits goes to the exhibitors who’s entries and enthusiasm throughout was nothing short of a pleasure. I was very impressed with the standard today and a pleasure to judge many exciting exhibits, with several classes causing me a few headaches.

Puppy Dog (5, 1)

1st, BPD and BPIS, Tebbutt’s - FIDELIO DELLA BASSA PAVESE CAREDIG (IMP ITA) – Handsome chap who has a bright future for sure. Loved his type. In proportion, with good size and substance. Good angulation throughout. Super expression, with dark eye, nice ears. Long strong neck. Lovely lay of shoulder, Straight front. Good feet. Ribs of good length, with strong loin. Showing power in his rear quarters, providing drive and width throughout. He is at an age where he’s starting to fill and become a man, keen to see his progress

2nd Tingle’s - FOSCO DELLA BASSA PAVESE (IMP ITA) – Litter brother of first, with similar qualities, and type. Of good size and substance. Smart head and expression, finished with a good eye. Good strong neck. Well made front. Appropriate depth of chest for age. Good feet. Well ribbed, of length, and providing plenty of heart room. Strong loin. Well made rear assembly, with adequate bend of stifle, and low hocks. Moves well on profile with good balance. Another one I’ll be tracking as he grows.

3rd Dawson’s - HYDEBECK TYME TO LOVE AT GRAEFYN – The largest dog here, but also the youngest in furnishings and development. Lovely expression, just begging to be approached and desperate to interact. Commanding size, with substance to match. Good ear, and nice long neck. Good lay of shoulder, and appropriate chest depth. Ribs of length and nicely shaped. Strong loin giving appropriate topline. Ok rear, just needs to develop I feel.

4th Gregory’s - KILLOUGHERY LOTHARIO

Junior Dog (3, 1)

1st, BD, RBIS & BOS, Amoo’s - DIOMEDE DELLA BASSA PAVESE TO SADE – An impressive dog of good stature, presence and substance. Carried himself with a look at me attitude which tipped my decision. Masculine head, good fold of ears. Strong neck of length. Good lay of shoulder. Lovely depth of chest. Nice shape to his ribs and of length. Good rear angulation, providing propulsion. Low set hocks and good feet. Covered the ground well on the move, showing good balance. A prospect for sure.

2nd Molyneux’s - FRANCISTOWN CONNOR – Raw youngster, who still needs time to develop. Of good size. Expressive eyes. Dark ear, nice texture. Straight front, chest still developing. Good underline. Ok rear providing suitable propulsion.

Yearling Dog (1)

1st Gregory’s - KILLOUGHERY TOUCHSTONE – Lighter coloured dog of good size, and substance to match. Good type, although a touch square. Upon inspection, he is handsome, with a masculine head of good proportions. Good fold to his ear. Strong neck, but maybe could have done with a touch more length. Good lay of shoulder, excellent depth of chest, straight front and ok feet. Shape to his ribs, and of length. Strong loin, aiding a good topline. Well made rear assembly, strong, with low hocks. Moved well in profile, showing balance.

Novice Dog (1)

1st Tebbutts - FIDELIO DELLA BASSA PAVESE CAREDIG (IMP ITA) – See puppy dog

Post Grad Dog (4,1)

1st Kelly’s - BONAFORTE’S ZIPPITY DO – Wheaten boy of good size. With substance to match. Good head, still with a touch of finishing to do. dark eye, good fold of ear. Neck could be a touch longer, but strong. Good lay of shoulder. Super depth of chest, with width. Ribs of good length. Strong loin to match and good topline. Would have preferred more rear angulation, nice low hocks. Ok in profile showing a ok balance.

2nd Littlefair’s - CONMERYL JOSHUA JOPP – A dog ticking the size and substance box. Nice head and expression. Long neck of strength. Ok front, with depth of chest. Ribs long. Strong loin. Ok rear, accompanied with strength. Moved out well in profile, just needs to settle.

3rd Guntrip’s - BRACHAN GIORNO DI NATALE – Another dog of good size, brown brindle. Masculine head with dark features. Good fold to his ear and a nice size. Strong neck of length. Appropriate chest depth, nice long ribs, with good tuck up. ok rear. Showed ok moving, just didn’t seem overly comfortable/settled.

Limit Dog (4,1) A lovely class to judge.

1st Evans’s - KILLOUGHERY RICOCHET WITH BRAEWISAN – Grey chap of good size and substance. Balanced and not overdone in profile. Handsome head, pleasing expression, with ok ear. Strong neck of good length. Good depth of chest, with straight front with good feet. Good shape and length to his ribs. Good tuck up. Strong loin. Good condition providing drive from well made rear with width throughout, assisted with nice low hocks. Covered the ground with ease with good reach to match.

2nd Severn Kumar’s - GAELMARQUE NOMATEUS – A smart dog who pushed first hard, for me I just wanted a touch more leg length. A balanced male, with suitable substance. Very good angles front and rear. Good head and expression, with good ears to match. Good neck length, strong. Well made front, straight with suitable chest depth to match. Nice ribbing and of length. Loin of good length and strength. Well made rear, with low hocks. Moved with balance in profile, covering the ground easily.

3rd Sharratt’s - LYNELOUPER LYNEDENE LADDIE – Taller dog, but not out of proportion, good substance to match his presence. Good condition throughout Smart head, of length. Nice ear, with reasonable fold. Neck of strength. Nice lay to his shoulder, deep chest, with a good spring to his ribs. Well made rear. Could have been higher up on another day, just preferred type of winners.

Open Dog (3,2)

1st & RBD – Reeves’s - Ch WHITEORCHARD ARCTURUS - A smart 4 yr old dog, who ticks a lot of boxes. Excellent substance throughout. Smart head and expression, with equal planes. Correct bite. Nice ear shape and set. Strong neck of good length. Well made shoulders, straight front and good depth of chest. Good feet. Ribs of good length and shape, strong loin. Rear angulation as it should be, powerful, with low hocks. Covered the ground well with active movement.

Puppy Bitch (2)

1st & BPB Pinkney’s - HYDEBECK DREAM TO LOVE – Smart wheaten bitch of good size and proportions. Lovely head and expression. Dark ear, would have liked more of a fold. Strong neck, and of length leading to a well made shoulder assembly. Excellent depth of chest, of good shape and spring. Good length to her ribs, excellent underline. Strong loin. Good rear angulation, with muscle and low hocks. Nicely balanced on the move, providing reach and drive.

2nd Gregory’s - KILLOUGHERY LEGACY – Raw puppy who will be a slow developer I feel. Of appropriate size and substance. Pretty head, ok neck and front shoulders. Chest still developing. Ribs of length and nice tuck up. Rear providing propulsion once settled.

Yearling Bitch (1)

1st & RBB Bradley’s - GLENGAIL AARCUS – A lot to like about this dark grey bitch. A nice type, good condition throughout. Lovely expression, and a correct eye. Good size ears and shape, super neck, of length and strength. Well laid shoulders, deep chest and forechest to match. Good shape to her ribs. Strength in her loin. Well made rear, with good muscle to match. Nice low hocks. Free movement, unfussy, covering the ground with ease.

Limit Bitch (6, 2) Lovely Class

1st Wilkinson’s - RAINSTER EILEX AMONG HUNACRES – Femineity throughout with suitable size and substance. Feminine head and expression, well set ears. Neck of good length. Leading to a well made shoulder assembly. Good depth of chest, with width, and length. Straight front with good feet. Good tuck up. arched loin leading to a well made rear. Good conditioning providing her to cover the ground easily with good width.

2nd Crosse’s - RAINSTER EVIE – Pushed first had here. Of good size and suitable substance, but in proportion. Nice head, excellent fold to her ear. Good neck length, and strong. Nice lay of shoulder, with a straight front. Excellent depth of chest. Ribs long, with a nice flow to her topline. Ok rear assembly, with nice low hocks, preferred movement of 1st today.

3rd Stirling’s - RYSHERON’S AMERICAN HOPE FOR CLANLILY (IMP USA) – A different type of bitch from the first two. Smart and well schooled. Good substance, a touch rangier so still developing. Lovely feminine expression, with a good set of ears. Nice neck length leading to well made front. Good chest depth and suitable width. Good length of ribs with good tuck up. strong loin, nice arched. Good rear angulation and condition to match. Moved well, covering the ground with ease.

4th Ashby’s - Ashgroave Crystal Sovoy

Open Bitch (5,2) Excellent Class

1st & BB & BIS Tebbutt‘s Ch CAREDIG MEDICI – I was looking for the overall package today, which is her in abundance. Size, substance and balance. Finished in a darker brindle, excellent condition throughout. Smart head, with a pleasing expression, finished with excellent ears. Long muscular neck. Well laid shoulder and a good depth of chest. Prominent forechest. Good feet. Nice tuck up with excellent rib length. Moderate angulation and low set hocks. On the move she ticks the boxes, free and active, with width.

2nd Heather’s - Ch WHITEORCHARD AD ASTRA JW ShCEX – Another quality exhibit. Smart bitch of good size and substance. Not exaggerated in any way. Ok head, nice eyes with a good ear. Strong neck of good length. Well laid shoulders. Lovely deep chest. Straight front. Ribs well shaped and of good length, nice underline. Strong loin. Good rear angulation, with powerful thighs. Covered the ground with ease in profile, with good balance.

3rd Heather’s - WHITEORCHARD AURORA – Pleasing bitch of good size and type. Slightly longer cast than first two, but with good leg length and substance. Pretty expression, with dark eye and good fold of ear. Strong neck of appropriate length. Good chest depth and underline. Ok topline and strong loin. Good angulation meant she covered the ground with ease.