Irish Wolfhound Society

IRISH WOLFHOUND SOCIETY CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW

27 September 2026

After judging a show, it’s always important to give a huge thank-you to the committee members who put in the hard work and make us feel so welcome, the stewards who keep it all running smoothly, and the exhibitors - who are the whole point of the day. Given how our breed entries have been on a downward slide these past few years, I was very appreciative of the entry today, and for those who made it to the show to present your hounds for my opinion, thank you. It was very exciting to see so many puppies coming through, bodes well for our future and it was great to see some new exhibitors with their hounds, I hope everyone enjoyed their day as much as I did.

Minor Puppy Dog

1. GAELMARQUE AETHENGLEN: Cracking pup, well-grown with super bone, good feet, and strong pasterns. Well-proportioned head with small ears and a good bite. Really promising, rangy yet balanced, with a good front and rear. Easy movement, looking so together for his age.

Puppy dog 

1. GAELMARQUE SILFR MUIGE: Litter brother to the minor puppy winner and many of the same virtues apply. A rangy youngster who is also very together for his age. He has a slightly longer cast, possesses a beautiful head, nice long shoulder lay and return of upper arm, great bone and tight feet. Good depth of body, and a correct rise over the loin. True moving exciting prospect.

2. GAELMARQUE HEREWARD: Another nice youngster. Overall very shapely, slightly shorter in neck, topline rises a touch too soon. Strong muscular thighs with good rear angulation and his movement again very sound.

3. DUKESARUM AUGUST: Super youngster and very tall; everything has gone upwards at the expense of his angulation at this stage. He has a well-proportioned head with well-set ears. He moves out easily on a loose lead, looking super from the side, though just a touch close behind. He just needs time for everything to drop into his frame.

Junior Dog

1. CULVERCROFT IVANHOE: Stood alone, but a very substantial male whose first impressions are of maturity and curves. Slightly broad in head but possesses a kind expression. Strong neck running into a lovely forehand, a good line over the topline, and well tucked up. He curves over the croup to well-let-down hocks on well-bent stifles. A very impressive male who is sound in movement with a long stride in profile. I would just like to see him move out with a little more self-confidence.

Yearling

1. CULVERCROFT INVANHOE

2. DAHMRAK’S RIOGAHN FOR LINDALL: Love this dog’s type. I thought he was going to be my winner, but I just preferred the substance of the first-place at this stage. Beautiful head, well-laid shoulder and upper arm, and enough length of leg. I would just like a little more rise to the topline. Super curvy rear quarters. Moves freely and with purpose; one to watch.

3. DAINWOLF ADVENTURER: Although this dog needs a coat tidy-up, beneath it is a nicely made hound. Slightly short in neck, with a typical, well-proportioned head. Tad steep in croup but well-angled rear and a nice low hock. He scored on his settled topline and well-filled forehand. 

Novice

1. SHERMAT SIRIUS BLACKTHORN: Fourth in Minor Puppy Dog, and a nice puppy. He has a gorgeous, correctly proportioned head with dark points, and a balanced forehand to his rear. At this age he is a bit narrow, which is to be expected. His tail was carried well and wagging constantly. He was a bit fidgety for his handler, but on the move when he gets going, he has a super side action.

2. FRANCISTOWN CONNOR AT NANASHE: A substantial dog with a nicely proportioned head correct rosed ear. He needs a coat tidy-up. Balanced front and rear but needs more angulation overall. Moving well away, but he was a little untidy coming towards me.

Post Graduate

1. GLENGAIL CCILLIAN: Most balanced outline in this class for his angulation and overall outline; he kept his shape and topline on the move. Head is a little on the broad side for me, with heavy ears. Good forechest and depth throughout. A sound-moving hound.

2. HYDEBECK ETERNAL LOVE: Lovely quality head and a nice neck into a well-laid shoulder. Plenty of depth, would like a tad more width of chest, ribs well carried back back, and his rear quarters are nicely angled. However, he was running up behind on the move and flying his tail today.

3. STRATHMITHIE BUT AND BEN: A more compact dog overall but pleasing type. Carrying a tad too much weight today, but very balanced in angulation with a good forechest and nice depth all through. A sound mover.

Limit

1. HYDEBECK TYME TO LOVE AT GRAEFYN JW: Very balanced outline on this dog. Well-proportioned head with a kind expression, rosed ear. Good length of neck, nicely laid shoulder, fair upperarm return and sufficient forechest. His rib depth is good and well carried back. His topline has a nice rise over the loin, leading into curvy rear quarters. Free-moving side action, though just a touch close behind.

2. BRACHAN GIORNO DI NATALE: This lad looked like he would have preferred to be elsewhere today. Looking mature now, with a well-proportioned head and a good length of muzzle. Neck could be longer. Fair shoulder and upper arm, good depth, a touch long in the loin, and a well-angled rear. I would prefer heavier bone on him.

3. JAGUAR SHARK AT SULLYENDA: Good type. A shorter-bodied male who is balanced, but he does not quite have the angulation of those placed above him. Soft expression on a nice head, just a tad short in the muzzle. Moves out well.

Open

1. KILLOUGHERY MISSION TWO FOR INKLEYBOYS (RCC): Well-proportioned masculine head with a kind expression. Good length of neck, a well-laid shoulder and upper arm, matched by well-angled rear quarters. I would like a bit more strength in his topline, but he presents a lovely curvy outline and moves with easy, sound strides and excellent freedom of movement. RCC.

2. KILLOUGHERY ROCKAFELLA OF OUTSIGHT: Another curvaceous male, very appealing for type. More cobby in outline than the winner. He has a well-laid shoulder, although he felt a little heavy there. Good topline and underline, with well-angled quarters. I just preferred the cleaner line over the forehand of the winner.

3. KILLOUGHERY RICOCHET WITH BRAWEISAN: Liked this dog a lot for his balanced and rangy outline. He does not quite have the lay of shoulder of the first two, and he is slightly narrower through the chest. Beautiful head. Moves soundly and is very light on his feet.

Champion Dog

1. KILLOUGHERY TOUCHSTONE (CC, RBIS): A mature male now coming to his best; I have watched him mature and he has kept improving. Super masculine head of good proportions with correct ear placement. Nice flow from the neck into the shoulder. While the upper arm could be set a little further back, he possesses ribbing of a good depth that is well carried back, a good rise over the loin, and a correct underline. Curvy hindquarters with well-let-down hocks, and he is well-muscled all through. A sound mover in all directions. CC & RBIS.

Minor Puppy Bitch

1. GAELMARQUE HILDELIL: What a cracker. Feminine head with kind, dark eyes and small ears. Loved her length all through. Well-angled front and a matching rear with low hocks. Her movement is so together and sound. She is looking raw, but what a prospect!

2. GAELMARQUE TUATHLA: Similar comments apply as for the winner. A tad longer in loin, but she has all the same qualities. A curvy, quality puppy with, again, such together movement for this age.

3. BRAEWISAN LILITH: Pretty wheaten with a lovely head and a sweet expression. A more compact outline overall, but she has a nice neck running into a good shoulder and upper arm. Plenty of body depth. Just a tad steep over her croup at this stage, but she has a well-angulated rear and is well-muscled. A little uncoordinated on the move today, but a lovely puppy.

Puppy Bitch

1. DUKESARUM CAOIMHE (Best Puppy in Show): A very mature, well-filled young bitch with curves all through from head to tail. Feminine head of good length, dark eye, and a gentle expression. Well-angled front and rear. She has a sound, easy action covering the ground. There is a great future ahead for her. 

2. GAELMARQUE TORFRIDA: A much rawer youngster who does not quite have the front development of the winner yet. However, I loved her lengthy frame. Super type, lovely head, and a shapely rear. For her age she is moving well; there is nothing not to like.

Junior Bitch,

1. ERSEBRAYER MOONSHINE FOR CLANLILY: I preferred her rangier outline at this stage. Nice shoulder placement, plenty of depth of body, a good topline, and a lovely line over the croup leading into curvy quarters and well-let-down hocks. Moved out with easy style.

2. KILLOUGHERY ECLIPSE: A very appealing youngster. She is more compact than the winner but is all curves. Loved her head, which is pretty and well-proportioned. Super front and rear angulation, with plenty of bone and depth. A sound mover.

Yearling bitch

1. CAIRNSTORM LEGACY: Won this class on her balance and shape which she held well on the move. Possesses a lovely feminine head, correct ear placement. Well-laid shoulder and upper arm, matched by curvy hindquarters. She is a tad steep in the croup, moves freely.

2. DAINWOLF ANOTHER DEBUT: Very nice for type. Super head with a small rose ear. She is not quite as balanced front and rear as the winner; she needs more forechest yet and her upper arm to settle further back. Well-boned with good feet and a super curvy rear.

3. KENBLOOM HUHARVURA: Feminine head, which is kind, well-proportioned, with rosed ears. She is balanced, a little light on bone and just needing that bit more overall angulation, correct harsh coat, she moves out freely in profile.

Novice

1. BARACHOIS QUACKLE: A mature, not over-big, curvy bitch. Well-proportioned head with a small, well-set ear. Nicely laid forehand, well filled chest and body well ribbed back, matched with nicely angled rear quarters. Sound on the move, but she just lacks a little in confidence.

2. KENBLOOM MAHURVURA

3. GAELMARQUE GLYDENYLVA AT GOLDSWIFT: Fourth in Minor Puppy Bitch earlier, and very much a baby having a lovely day out. She has the prettiest of heads, well-furnished, with a dark eye and well-set ears. Nicely laid shoulder and good depth of body. Long bones to her rear and nicely angulated when she stood still long enough to see her! She was wagging her long tail constantly.

Post Graduate

1. HYDEBECK IN THE NAME OF LOVE: Loved this bitch's type and preferred the femininity of her head. Strong neck and a balanced curvy outline from front to rear. I preferred her breadth of ribbing and particularly her breadth of pelvis, broad well-muscled thigh to well-let-down hocks; moving out well.

2. GLENGAIL CCAOIMHE WITH AELFSIGE: Sister to my Dog CC winner, and another nicely proportioned bitch with long lines all through. Well proportioned head, though slightly flatter in ear than the winner. Very balanced angulation and good leg length. Easy mover, if just a touch close behind.

Limit Bitch

1. DUKESARUM EVIE: Appealed straight away for her rangy sighthound build. She flows from head to tail in curves. Well-proportioned head, well-set ear, and a nicely laid shoulder and upper arm. Body is well ribbed back with well-angled hindquarters. Sound movement with good reach on a loose lead.

2. RAINSTER EVIE: Lovely type. She is heavier set but without losing any femininity. Well-furnished, attractive head, a well-laid shoulder, and a well-angled rear. She was slightly dipping her topline today. Plenty of depth of ribbing; a very sound mover.

Open Bitch

1. HYDEBECK DREAM TO LOVE: A mature wheaten bitch full of quality. Lovely head with dark points and a dark eye, with small, well-set ears. Strong neck running into a nicely laid shoulder, with a well-placed upper arm and plenty of forechest. Body is deep and well ribbed back, showing a correct topline and underline. Well-let-down rear with low hocks; she shows an easy move. A super-quality bitch.

2. RYSHERON’S AMERICAN HOPE FOR CLANLILY: Another quality bitch with a good outline and plenty of curves. I would prefer her upper arm slightly further back, and she does not quite have the forechest of the winner. Nice line over the loin into the croup, and a well-let-down rear. Moves off with a nice, easy action on a loose lead.

Veteran Bitch

1. CLANLILY DIAMOND DUST: What a grand girl, now 8¼ years old and still showing a smooth, curvy outline. Lovely feminine head, good forehand, and a matching rear. Her body is well ribbed back, and she is still moving out with smooth, easy reach. BEST VETERAN IN SHOW.

Champion Bitch

1. Ch. GLENGAIL AARCUS (CC, BOB, BIS): As an example of the Irish Wolfhound standard, for me, she fits the bill completely. A line of curves from her long muzzle with a proportionate skull, high-set small ears, and a strong neck running into an excellent forehand. Good breadth of chest, deep and well-ribbed back, a well-tucked-up underline, and a correct arch over the loin into a correct croup flowing into powerful rear quarters, well-bent stifles, and low hocks. She can be lazy, but she picked up her pace to the applause, showing her sound, strong stride

2. Ch. DUKESARUM TALLULAH (RCC): Another quality bitch from this kennel. I love her rangy outline, quality head, strong neck of good length, and a well-angled front. She is slightly longer cast than the winner, with nicely angled hindquarters, and is well-bodied all through. It was a pleasure watching her move sound and easy on a loose lead. 

Judge : Jean Timmins