Afghan Hound Society Of Northern Ireland

AHSNI Ch. Show 26 Sept 2026.

Thrilled to have been invited to judge at this lovely show, so well organised and the perfect location. Nice entry of 41 with very few absentees. Really enjoyed my day and very happy to see some very promising puppies coming through and particularly both open classes were full of quality hounds. Overall quality very good, just the odd lazy topline that usually righted themselves on the move, forechests, small feet and muscles need watching as this is a powerful running hound and these features are so important for the hound to be able to do the job it was bred for.

.

Minor Puppy Dog. 2 (1abs)

1st: Gilbert's AFFIETAR ATOMIC. 7 mths dark brindle, I love his head and dark eye, a very special young man who has such great depth of brisket and a proper forechest. Well laid shoulders with correct angles front and rear, low set hocks. Short coupled, level topline with lovely fallaway, tail set and carriage. A real showman who was the first of four excellent siblings exhibited today, all showing great promise for an exciting future.Best Puppy Dog and Res BPIS.

Junior Dog .1

1st: Lloyd & Webster's YASSIR DEL GHYRYO (IMP BEL). 16 mths b/silver, not a tall boy but masculine throughout, a little strong in head for me, dark eye, he has adequate length of neck with good lay of shoulder , strong front with big feet. He has good front and hind coordination with correct tail set and carriage. Prominent hip bones, still a little wild on the move but will settle with maturity ,topline better on the move, need to watch him standing. Heavily coated.

Yearling Dog. 2

1st: Bolland Ocallaghan's CLOUDSIDE BLACK EAGLE. 19 mths b/tan, gorgeous head, Dark eye and correct expression, lovely beard. Well-bodied with good depth and length, looked good standing and was sounder and more together on the move today than his classmate. Excellent front and hind angulation with good co-odination, nice low set hocks. Sound front and rear with good side movement.

2nd: O'Brien's RADIANCE SOUL AIDAR WILD FREEDOM,Nearly 20 mths b/m golden, very striking youngster who at first glance was my winner, long elegant head, super beard. Tall boy who looked great standing ,short coupled and level topline with rich red saddle and plenty of coat which is presented beautifully. Lovely tail set and ring, well carried. He looks mature but on the move he still needs to settle into his legs and fill his frame. Great side movement, big feet. He looks and reminds me in many ways of the famous Ch. Ranjitsinhji of Jagai,from the 1970's, who as a youngster was also a very slow maturer and took a long time to reach his potential.

Graduate Dog .1

1st: Lancashire & O'Donnell's DRISHAUN AUTUMNAL KING JW. Just 2 yrs self masked red, super head with lovely dark, almost triangular eye, great chiselling, roman nose and beard. Excellent overall confirmation with dark saddle, well-bodied with level topline , correct fallaway with good tail set, nicely ringed tail carried well on the move. Well balanced with no over exaggeration . Coped well with the floor which was a little slippery and he is sound throughout. Shame he stood alone.

Post Graduate Dog.1

1st: McCann's JAZZMEENAH MALIK. 4 yrs all black, would like more masculine head and underjaw but nice dark eye, adequate length of neck into well-laid shoulders, sound front and big feet. Well-bodied with prominent hip bones, good sweep of hindquarters with low set hocks, nice tail and set. Would like to have seen him move outside as he has good drive behind but struggled with the floor a bit. Good overall balance..

Mid Limit Dog.2

1st: McCann's AMASERWAH A BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY MASTERPIECE. 3 yrs black, I like his head , dark eye and correct expression, very nice beard. Would like a little more length of neck and more front and upperarm angulation, nice big feet. Great side movement but a little loose coming towards me, more hind angulation than front with low set hocks, correct tail set, ring and carriage. Topline better on the move than standing.

2nd: Watson's SHIMALMA CHAMBORD, 6 yrs self/masked cream, super head and dark eye,lovely expression, great chiselling, roman nose and beard. Excellent overall type which I preferred to above but he really was not happy and did not make the best of himself on the move, lack of muscle didn't help but he kept his topline at all times and has good style .

Limit Dog. 4

1st: Moore's CLOUDSIDE BLACK HAWK. Only 19 mths b/tan little brother to yearling winner. Very handsome youngster who is a real Bobby Dazzler, gorgeous head, dark eye, super expression , he really does look at and through one. I love everything about him and he is maturing correctly for his age. Looks lovely standing with great style and super outline with level topline. Excellent front and hind angulation , so sound throughout with lovely big feet. Great depth of brisket and plenty of forechest, well bodied and correct overall balance, perfect tail and carriage finish the picture. Pressed hard for the CC but just showing his age on the move in the challenge but no hesitation in giving him the reserve CC amongst top competition. I know he has a great future and another I would love to see moving outside as he has such a fabulous reach in front and powerful drive behind ,which was restricted in this ring.Res CC

2nd: Gilchrist & MacLennan's KHAWARI PURPLE REIGN.4 yrs self masked cream domino, more mature and finished than above and at first glance was my winner , Another quality hound who is masculine throughout and has great overall balance with excellent type. He has a lot to like about him ,well-bodied and a very nice dog to go over with good saddle, tail set and carriage, ringed tail. Topline kept well on the move ,he has a lot of style and presence , youngster just had a little more pizzazz and drive behind today .

3rd: Gardner's SAXONMILL MAJIC ME DANWISH.

Open Dog .10 (1abs)

What a super class with a variety of types and styles. Top 5 could change places anytime.

1st: Lee's ALTSIDE MICAH HOT PROPHET JW. 4 yrs shaded masked cream, one I have judged before and he has matured into a fine hound. Masculine, well-balanced head with dark eye, great chiselling and plenty of underjaw. Excellent length of neck into well-laid shoulders with good return of upper arm. Deep brisket with plenty of forechest. Lovely big feet. Proper saddle with correct topline, lovely sweep of hindquarters and low set hocks, correct tail set and carriage, ringed in action. Such a sound easy mover with that typical Afghan springy gait. Immaculate presentation and handling. Please to give him the CC and hear that he has gained his title today. Many congratulations. CC and Reserve0 Best in Show.

2nd: Millward, Race & Ferguson's CH.AUST .CH. TAHKIRA AFFOGATO (IMP AUS). Another super top quality hound in fabulous coat and presentation. 81/2 yrs b/tan, one I have watched with admiration from the ringside and he was a pleasure to go over and well worthy of all his awards. Still impressive, a very stylish mover who really uses the ring to his advantage and is at one with his handler. He just had to give way to the two younger hounds who just had the extra edge on him today .

3rd: Thompson's DRISHAUN ROCK ME BABY GOTHIKA.

Veteran Bitch.2 (1abs)

1st: Nisbet & Forrester's CH. PRAYMA HOT BUT NOT BLONDE AT FINIX (IMP FIN). Very pretty mature 8yrs b/silver in her prime. Lovely head and dark eye, correct expression. Good length of neck flows nicely into shoulders, well-bodied with good front and hind coordination, excellent overall balance with nicely ring tail. Topline better on the move. In grand coat and condition , she moved soundly front and rear ,just lacked the verve in the challenge.Best Veteran In Show.

Minor Puppy Bitch.2

1st: Gilchrist's AFFIETAR THE TIDE IS HIGH AT KHAWARI. Super 7 mths b/m gold, she really has all I like to see at this age, she is quite mature, great coat and fabulous monkey whiskers, one of an Afghans really unique and endearing features. So pretty with lovely head and eye,she has great overall confirmation ,depth and length and all her angles are in the right place. She looked smashing standing with correct topline and outline. So sound and absolutely true in all quarters with great springy gait, front reach and drive behind with low set hocks.correct tail set and carriage with a nice ring. Typical puppy naughtiness on the move but she really is a star in the making. Best puppy in show beating her excellent brother on maturity today.BPIS

2nd: Gilbert's AFFIETAR SUNDAY GIRL. 7 mths dark brindle litter sister to above, another very promising pup who is so similar in every way to her brother today, I am so pleased to see such great depth and spring of ribs with proper forechests and fronts on all the siblings I have judged today, so rare these days in ones so young, and all so sound with good coordination front and rear. The breeder should be very proud.

Puppy Bitch. 3

1st: Gilchrist's AFFIETAR THE TIDE IS HIGH AT KHAWARI. As before.

2nd: Gilbert's AFFIETAR MARIA. 7 mths b/m gold, another little sister, lovely classic feminine head and dark eye, taller and more rangey than above, although less mature she looked great standing with long neck, short coupled with excellent topline and outline. Lovely tail , set and carriage. She is sound when settled with excellent style and presence. Moved a little like a young colt, but with great front reach and drive behind , I'm sure she will settle and fill her frame with maturity.

3rd: Webb's MADELION LADY DEMENTER.

Graduate Bitch.1

1st: Aynsley's CLOUDSIDE ICE ANGEL.2 yrs Self masked silver, well balanced head with dark eye, excellent pigmentation, well-bodied with good spring of rib, nice big feet. A little more hindangulation than front she has a nice outline and topline slightly better on the move, correct ringed tail and set. In lovely coat with proper saddle. Not too happy on the move but when settled was sound throughout.

Post Graduate Bitch. 1

1st: Lancashire & O'Donnell's DRISHAUN CONSIDER IT DONE JW. Just 2 yrs b/tan, rather refined head with dark eye,I love her markings. Good length of neck into well-laid shoulder, plenty of forechest with sound front. Well-bodied with level topline and good coordinating hind angulation with low set hocks and no over exaggeration . In excellent hard muscular condition she moved soundly and with style.

Limit Bitch. 1

1st: Gilchrist's KHAWARI RASPBERRY BERET. 4 1/2 years red Brindle. Very pretty head with dark eye and plenty of under jaw, great neck into excellent shoulder and upper arm, sound front with good depth and forechest, correct ribbing and short loin, big feet. Level topline with low set ,well carried ringed tail. Good sweep from hip to hock she is a lovely sound bitch who pressed hard in the challenge, just outmoved for the reserve CC. Lovey coat and presentation.Just my style.

Open Bitch 7 (1 abs).

Another lovely Open class with particularly the first 4 all of excellent quality and all with alot to like àbout them.

1st: Stevenson's INT CH. IRE CH. AN CH. CENT CH.GOLDDRAGON BACCHANTE EXOTIC ILLUSIONS (IMP ESP). 6 yrs b/m red, a very special bitch who for me has all the essentials. In fine form with full coat and I would not change a thing about her. Oozes quality and type and such a gorgeous head and expression. Super sound front and rear with typical Afghan springy gate and temperament, even putting the brakes on a couple of times on the move. Excellent overall balance.Very pleased to award her the CC and Best in Show and to hear she has gained her UK title today, I'm amazed it has taken so long, so many congratulations. CC and BIS.

2nd: Gilbert's CH. ALTSIDE HOT AS HELL AT AFFIETAR. Another 6 yr old mature hound, full coated brindle in tip top form, excellent overall confirmation and although smaller in stature than above she excels in style and showmanship. Great body and substance. Looks good both standing and moving she is sound front and rear with great reach and drive. Not as elegant, for me, in the head as the winner, she is still a quality bitch outmoving the limit bitch in the Challenge for the reserve CC. Interested to see she is a full, but older sister to the dog CC winner and has passed her excellent qualities on to the lovely winning puppies today. Reserve CC.

3rd:Traversari's IR CH. ALTSIDE CARMINA. Excellent litter sister to above and so similar in many ways.

Res: Lancashire & O'Donnell's CH. DRISHAUN DON'T CALL ME BABY JW, Gorgeous self masked red who is a real favourite of mine and deserved a mention, shame she was unhappy in the hall today but a very worthy Champion.

Jenny Dove ( Judge)