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There seems to be no end to that story of what ‘Katy Did Next’ because on the evening of Sunday, 11th February in the comfortable, traditional, surroundings of The Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge, Co Kildare, where the Irish Kennel Club hosted their Top Irish Showdog 2023 Finals and IKC Awards night, and the Irish Canine Press Top Winners’ Leaderboard, sponsored by Gain Pet Nutrition for the past 9 years, presented their trophies, Katy, formal name Ch, GB & Int Ch Longrange Caílin Dubh, took all before her, clinching the title of  IKC Top Irish Showdog  under respected judge Frank Kane from GB, and taking home the crystal for topping the ICP/Gain Leaderboard with her points wins from the All-Breed Championship shows during 2023.
Photos: Ervin Gaspic, Joyce Crawford-Manton & Tracey Douglas
Report: Joyce Crawford-Manton   Video: Tracey Douglas
The Top Irish Showdog contest is an historic event, having been going since pre nineties, but took a step back after their 2016 finals, that evening styled as the ‘Eukanuba Challenge 2016’ which was held in May 2017 and sponsored by Eukanuba in the Regency Hotel, Dublin. Irish judges John J Walsh, Brian O’Hara and Joyce Crawford-Manton judged four heats of the 35 qualifiers present and drawn at random, as was each judge, to ensure absolute fairness, with Geoff Corish, so well known in GB as a top handler, breeder and exhibitor, judging the final four dogs sent through by the Irish judges. The winner was David and Morag Connolly’s Border Collie, Australian import, Ch Naroff Blurred Lines at Huntly, who went on to great things in the showrings in Ireland and Great Britain, whilst the runner-up spot was Sean Carroll and James Newman’s Papillon, Ch, GB Ger & CZ Ch Juno Pondabudens, and Sally & Sean Burns and Mary and Val Coghlan’s Standard Poodle, Ch Dinastii The Libertine Afterglow, was third. In fourth was Tina and Catherine Broaders’ Lakeland Terrier, Ch Brookside The Aristocrat.
It was a popular decision by the IKC to resurrect their long-standing competition, giving exhibitors something to aim for once again, over and above their crystal trophies from the ICP/Gain Leaderboard, A chance to get dressed in their best and have a good night out with their fellow exhibitors and friends. It all started in the early afternoon with exhibitors arriving in their best bib and tucker, with their winning dogs, greeted by IKC Secretary, Karen Murphy, along with some of the Board Members who had all organised the event. All exhibitors and guests received a complimentary glass of bubbly, courtesy of Irish Canine Press, who sponsored the Prosecco Reception, which seemed to go down well. MC for the evening, former Director Paul Lawless, had, together with Chairman Dermot Alford, Vice Chairman June Wall, Lynda Matthews, Orlagh Murray and Myles Leonard, set the whole event up in the ballroom of the hotel complete with green carpet on the floor and a rather spectacular display of an arch of gold and green balloons serving as a backdrop to the arena which was surrounded by the diners’ circular tables. 

Formalities began with our Irish Kennel Club President, Pat O’Boyle, warmly welcoming everyone to the event and thanking Agria Petinsure, Gain Pet Nutrition, Awardboard Ireland and all the other sponsors for their valued support of the evening. She also thanked those members of the board and beyond who had worked hard to organise the evening, which was an important date in the IKC’s 2024 diary. She finally congratulated all the qualifiers and the winners of the various Golden Paw awards which would be presented later, and which were introduced to the IKC calendar last year at the IKC Centenary Gala Dinner, making a popular addition to the Irish show scene.

The evening continued with each of the qualifiers that were able to attend being presented with special rosettes sponsored by Awardboard Ireland. Of the forty finalists invited, there were a number of absentees, with just three in Groups 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 and two in both Groups 3 and 4, so a total of 30 of the top dogs from 2023 competing for the crown.  

In a change from the traditional format, this year there was just one judge, Frank Kane from England, a well-known and respected judge of many years’ experience, and a real dog man. Frank judged his first rounds in his usual efficient and pleasant manner eventually selecting eight dogs for the ‘grand finale’.
In a departure from the usual procedure, after a presentation of sashes to the final eight, again sponsored by Awardboard Ireland, the finalists were called into the ring for one more time, this being a definite plus for those competitors who did not have to wait until after the meal to know their fate…. Once again, they were put through their paces in front of a full audience at packed tables, and then it was down to two dogs, ‘Katy’, Cathrina Dunne’s Shetland Sheepdog, Ch & GB Ch Longrange Caílin Dubh, and the Basset Hound, Lesley and Katie Blevins’ Ch & GB Ch Blevwil Kenny Dewitt. Around the ring again, to loud applause from the audience, and it was another triumph for the Shetland Sheepdog, ‘Katy, with ‘Kenny’ the Basset Hound a close runner-up.
Following an excellent buffet dinner efficiently served by most pleasant and helpful staff, the Irish Canine Press/Gain Pet Nutrition Top Winners’ Leaderboard 2023 presentations were made with Jim Tracey, a familiar face at the Gain stand at the shows, there on the night doing the honours. Several of the trophy winners had also been absent for the finals, so there are several dogs that will be waiting until the IKC St Patrick’s weekend shows to claim their crystal. Unfortunately the winners of both Groups 3 and 5 were not qualified for the IKC Top Irish Showdog, as they are not owned or domiciled in Ireland, therefore they were not in attendance; they are Group 3 winner, the Miniature Bull Terrier, Marek Wojciechowski’s Polish owned Ch Coxgal Erin Go Bragh, currently in Ireland being campaigned by breeder, Ger Cox, and the American Akita, Ellen O’Neill’s Scottish bred Ch & GB Ch Geilsaven Suzie Que, a regular to Ireland together with her brother, ‘Bo Diddley and niece, Tout Suit who also won a BIS each here during ’23.  The L H Kaninchen Dachshund, Ch Lampchien Stud Muffin, owned by Gary McAlpine, topped Group 4 on the leaderboard, but unfortunately Gary couldn’t be there on the evening and gave his apologies for both the Show Dog and Leaderboard presentations.

The title of Irish Canine Press/Gain Pet Nutrition Dog of the Year 2023 was hotly contested with the Irish Canine Press website itself getting just under two million hits during 2023, with almost 20,000 unique visitors, and may regulars checking directly after every All Breed championship Show to see the updates on the standings. In the end it was 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. 2023 was a year to remember for Cathrina and Katy, who also has 7 CCs and a group placing over the water, to add to her 3 Best in Shows and 16 Groups won at home…
The Irish Canine Press Veteran of the Year, won on points from the Veteran Stakes during the year, making it worthwhile entering for these stakes as crystal is presented for the first four on the Leaderboard, and you can keep tabs on this on the Irish Canine Press website. 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.
The Irish Kennel Club, having introduced a Special Awards section at their Gala Centenary Dinner last year, decided to carry on with this not popular feature and thus the IKC Golden Paws Awards, or Pawscars were presented tonight as well.
GOLDEN PAWS AWARDS
Irish Canine Press Veteran of the Year
ICP/GAIN Leaderboard Presentations
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