GOLDEN PAWS AWARDS - Junior Handler of the Year 2023
The Irish Kennel Club/Awardboard Junior Handler of the Year 2023 was Molly Mullan from Cookstown in Co Tyrone, who won the Irish Junior Handling Finals for 2023 and is a regular in the showring with her Cocker Spaniel. Molly has a big day coming up this weekend as she will represent Ireland in the International Junior Handling Finals at Crufts, and will then go to represent her country at the World Show in Croatia. Unfortunately, Molly missed the evening as she was away on holidays, hopefully enjoying herself, but Emer Wright, Secretary of the Junior Handlers Association if Ireland, collected her Golden Paw award from sponsor Wendy Fleming of Awardboard, who was also responsible for all the beautiful rosettes for the Showdog Finals.
GOLDEN PAWS AWARDS - Breed Club of the Year 2023
The Irish Kennel Club/Agria Petinsure Breed Club of the Year 2023 was the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Ireland, a very active club with over 100 members. They organise a Breed Ch Show and four walks a year for their members and friends throughout Ireland and have also run heath Seminars for their breed and succeeded in securing reduced package prices for all breeds with leading Veterinary Clinics. Probably their biggest achievement and the one they are most proud of is successfully rehoming no fewer than 12 dogs of their breed that needed rescued or new homes, a sad, but satisfying achievement. Bernard O’Sullivan of Agria Pet Insure was there to present the award.
GOLDEN PAWS AWARDS - Top Native Breed for 2023
Topping the Irish Kennel Club/ Onlinedogshows Top Native Breed for 2023 was Anthony and Geraldine Dolan’s Irish Red & White Setter, Sh Ch Cilleigne Finn Ma Cumhaille at Grovelands, who topped the score of points accumulated from the special Native Breeds group, competing against all the other native breeds Best of Breed winners at All Breed Ch Shows. Presenting the award on behalf of the sponsors is Pat O’Boyle, President of The Irish Kennel Club. (You can see the points for all the breeds last year on this website).
GOLDEN PAWS AWARDS - Breeder of the Year 2023
The Irish Kennel Club/Dr Clauders Breeder of the Year 2023 winner was Viara Gentchev of the Greyfort Greyhounds, who amassed over 100 points in 23 in this year’s Dr Clauders’ Competition. Presenting the award is Stewart Carson, Managing Director of Ransconi Pet Products, distributers of Dr Clauders in Ireland.
GOLDEN PAWS AWARDS - Unsung Hero of the Year 2023
The Irish Kennel Club Unsung Hero of the Year 2023, sponsored by ODI/ODs and this award was presented to a lady many of us remember from the show ring in the late 80s with her Labrador Retrievers, making her dog up to a Champion in a breed that secured a great many entries back then. Nowadays Phil, with her dogs, channels her energy to help raise money for Guide Dogs For The Blind and also Children With Autism, and to date has raised the huge amount of over 1,5 million Euros. Congratulations in abundance and a huge round of applause for Phil whose dedication has been translated into so much financial help for these two most worthy of causes.
GOLDEN PAWS AWARDS - Steward of the Year for 2023
The Irish Kennel Club Royal Canin Steward of the Year for 2023 went to the ever smiling and popular Irene Walsh, from Co Offaly, and if you have ever been fortunate enough to have her steward for her, you will know that she really is one in a million, keeping the ring running efficiently and keeping her judges up to speed with the classes and awards. All this with a cheerful smile, rain or shine. Mary Davidson of Sponsors Royal Can, presented her with her Pawscar.
GOLDEN PAWS AWARDS - Stephanie Walsh Award
Finally, to a very special award, instituted in memory of someone many of us knew and loved, and who left this scene far too early. Stephanie was a hard worker at the grassroots of our sport, secretary of Sligo, serving on the Green Star & Judges’ committee and last year, as a member of the Board, despite having to travel from way out west to Dublin for numerous meetings. As most of you know we said a sad untimely farewell to Stephanie last summer, so this new award in Stephanie’s memory fittingly goes to the Club who best helped to support new and young exhibitors or Judges, and that club is Wexford Canine Club, whose lively and enthusiastic members were presented with their Pawscar by Dermot Alford, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Irish Kennel Club.
Irish Canine Press/Gain Top Winners’ Leaderboard 2023 Presentations
The Group 1 winner on the Leaderboard, giving yet another accolade on the night for the intrepid ‘Katy’, Ch,GB & Int Ch Longrange Caílin Dubh, with owner/breeder Cathrina Dunne accepting the engraved crystal trophy from Jim Tracey of Gain Pet Nutrition, and Joyce Crawford-Manton of Irish Canine Press.
Irish Canine Press/Gain Top Winners’ Leaderboard 2023 Presentations
Jim Tracey presented the crystal to the winner of Group 2 on the leaderboard to Billy Henderson for his Dobermann Pinscher, Ch & GB Ch Tuwos Mr Bombastic, ‘Jensen’ having had a great run both at home and across the water, winning his crowning CC with BOB at Manchester where he finished topping the Working Group, and he is just two years of age. Jurgen’s littermates have also won a collection of CCS between them and are out of Billy’s imported bitch Ch Irresistible Tuwos Dobgrace, who won the crystal for this group back in 2018, and who I believe is Top Brood in the Breed in GB for 2023 and also overall Runner up in the Working Group.
Irish Canine Press/Gain Top Winners’ Leaderboard 2023 Presentations
The winner of Group 6 on the ICP/Gain Leaderboard was the Bassett Hound, Ch & GB Ch Blevwil Kenny Dewitt, bred by Lesley and Roy Blevins and owned by their niece Katie and Lesley who handles him. Kenny was Top Basset in the UK for 2023 with two All Breed Ch Hound Group wins, and 5th Top UK Hound. He also took the title of Top Dog 2023 in the Arden Grange competition in GB, and now Top Group 6 and runner up Top Irish Showdog, not a bad year’s work!! Jim Tracey of sponsors Gain Pet Nutrition and Joyce Crawford-Manton of Irish Canine Press, which has been running the Top Winners Leaderboard for over 35 years, presented the crystal.
Irish Canine Press/Gain Top Winners’ Leaderboard 2023 Presentations
Stewart Cummings took the crystal for Group 7 with his Pointer, Sh Ch Highpoint Foreign Affair, taking the crystal from Jim Tracey of Gain Pet Nutrition and Joyce Crawford-Manton of Irish Canine Press. ‘Sydney’ was born, as perhaps his name might suggest, in Sydney, Australia, and having come to Ireland, now has accumulated some 50 Green Stars, 10 Groups, and was BIS at the Irish Gundog Field & Show Society Ch Show. He also has 1 CC and a Reserve CC and is the son of Stewart’s Sh Ch & GB Sh Ch Kanix Kroner at Sevenhills, who won the crystal for top Dog in 2019, having been runner-up the year before.
Irish Canine Press/Gain Top Winners’ Leaderboard 2023 Presentations
Emma Archibald, Mum, Bette and Dad, Frank’s Golden Retriever bitch, homebred Sh Ch & GB Sh Ch Abinvale Arrieta, topped Group 8 and Emma accepted the crystal from Jim Tracey of Gain Pet Nutrition and Joyce Crawford-Manton of Irish Canine Press. ‘Brogan’ claimed her GB title at the Golden Retriever Club in England, and now has 5 CCs and also a UK Group 3 placing together with 5 Reserve CCs. She is Top Group 8 in Ireland, with now 8 Group wins and 2 RBISs, 2 BIS 3 and 1 BIS 4, and also Annual Champion in ’22 and ’23. ‘Brogan’ has earlier finished in the final eight under Frank Kane earlier in the evening.
Irish Canine Press/Gain Top Winners’ Leaderboard 2023 Presentations
The crystal for top in Group 10 on the Leaderboard was taken home by Lyn Appleby for her Afghan Hound Ch & Int Ch Valkor Vritra, co-owned with John Minchin, Jane Edwards and Mary Mulvaney. ‘Kelvin’ was a ‘Covid’ youngster so was catching up after two plus years out of the ring. He is a multiple group winner and has taken Best in Show at The Hound Association on two consecutive years; he won his Irish title and also his International crown on the same day. He is following in the footsteps of his cousin, Lyn’s beloved ‘Kayto’ Multi BIS and Group winning Ch GB & Int Ch Davashey To Tell The Truth, who topped the ICP Veteran Leaderboard in 2022 and before that headed the ICP/Gain Leaderboard in 2016, 2018, 2019, runner-up in 2015. Jim Tracey of Gain Pet Nutrition and Joyce Crawford-Manton of Irish Canine Press, made the presentation.
Irish Canine Press Veteran of the Year 2023
The 2023 winner was the Standard Smooth Dachshund, Ch, Int, Dutch & Malaysian Ch Hacienda Better Tell Dad, owned and handled by Caroline Reynolds. ‘Memphis’ at ten years of age had several BOBs and also topped Group 4 in 2023, so he is still going strong in the breed. Caroline received the engraved crystal trophy from Jim Tracey of Gain Pet Nutrition and Joyce Crawford-Manton of Irish Canine Press.
Newtownards 2024
Best In Show under Dick McCoy was the Standard Poodle Ch Exalon Apache Moon at Tussars owned by Lorraine Crawford and her husband, Ross.
Newtownards 2024
Best In Show under Dick McCoy was the Standard Poodle Ch Exalon Apache Moon at Tussars owned by Lorraine Crawford and her husband, Ross,
pictured with the judges at this years show.
Newtownards 2024
Reserve Best In Show was the Siberian Husky Ch Winter Melody OMG Another Drama owned by Anita and Jimmy Duggan.
Newtownards 2024
Best In Show 3 was the Shetland Sheepdog Ch, GB Ch Longrange Cailin Dubh owned by Cathrina Dunne.
Newtownards 2024
Best In Show 4 was the Leonberger Ch Sulandi Electric Storm owned by Lauren and Diane Whan.
Mid West Champ Show 2022
BEST IN SHOW
Best in Show judged by Brian Moran was Philip Behan’s Chow Chow, Ch Finn Mc Cool De Los Perros De Bigo at Mingfield.
Mid West Champ Show 2022
RESERVE BEST IN SHOW
RBIS judged by Brian Moran was Cathy Collins Neill and Oliver and Erin Robertson’s Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, GB Ch Soletrader Pat On The Back.