KILKENNY '15 BEST IN SHOW
Judging Best In Show was Alan Matthews, well known for his Craigycor Pembroke Corgis. From the ten group winners, his choice for BIS 2015 fell to Gerry McFaul’s Long Haired Dachshund, Ch & GB Ch Dachville Special Blend. Five year old ‘Jill’ is no stranger to top honours since puppyhood and amonst her many awards both at home and across the water are 12CCs including Crufts. Reserve BIS went to Olive Taylor’s Chow Chow, Ch Chivas Royal Djalo At Taylorian, 19 months old ‘Boris’ an import from Belarus, and another who has had such a sparkling career since arriving in Ireland.

KILKENNY '15 BEST IN SHOW
Best In Show Gerry McFaul’s Long Haired Dachshund, Ch & GB Ch Dachville Special Blend under judge, Alan Matthews

KILKENNY '15 BEST IN SHOW
Alan Matthews assesses the 10 group winners prior to selecting Best In Show

KILKENNY '15 BEST BABY PUPPY IN SHOW
Alan Matthews chose Grainne Keeling’s homebred Alaskan Malamute, Kishdigra Criminal Intent as Best Baby Puppy in Show, just a day short of her 6 months birthday. Reserve BBPIS was Elizabeth Higgins’ 5 months old homebred Shetland Sheepdog, Cearthall Evening Star.

KILKENNY '15 CHAMPION STAKES
Simon Rooney’s Champion Stakes rosette went to Lyn Appleby, John Minchin, Jayne Edwards and Mary Mulvaney’s Afghan Hound, Ch, GB & Int Ch Dashvey To Tell The Truth, with second place awarded to Billy Henderson’s Dobermann, Ch & GB Ch Tuwos Halestorm.

KILKENNY '15 CHAMPION STAKES
Winner of the Champion Stakes, Lyn Appleby, John Minchin, Jayne Edwards and Mary Mulvaney’s Afghan Hound, Ch, GB & Int Ch Dashvey To Tell The Truth, under judge, Simon Rooney.

KILKENNY '15 PUPPY STAKES
Simon Rooney judged the Puppy Stakes, his winner was Ashling Connolly’s Bichon Frise, Ashmair Celtic Charm, 8 months old ‘Paddy’ winning his POTY qualifier ticket on his show debut; runner-up was Stephanie and Fiona Robertson & dad Steven O’Brien’s 11 months old Pointer, Hookwood Peacemaker.

KILKENNY '15 VETERAN STAKES
Topping the Veteran Stakes under Simon Rooney was Sally Tonks and Dione Fitzsimons’ Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Ch, GB & Int Ch Shanlimore Maverick, 9 year old ‘Darcy’ now challenging at the head of the Irish Canine Press/Royal Canin Veteran Leaderboard.

KILKENNY '15 BRACE STAKES
The Brace Stakes was won by Scarlett Burnside’s father and son Alaskan Malamute pairing of Ch Rizzis Moki For Libertia and Libertia Wot U See Is Wot U Get, with second place under Simon Rooney going to Bev Dummett’s American Cocker Spaniels, Almondsbury Paninaro and Almondsbury Domino Dancing.

KILKENNY '15 GROUP 1
En route to BIS 4, it was the Australian Shepherd Dog, GB Ch Allmark Spirit of St. Louis, co-owned by Jan Gregory and husband Pete Longhurst in partnership with Sarah Gibbons, who handled him to win under Peter Bailey from GB. Peter’s runner-up was the Old English Sheepdog, Ch Bellablue Bewitched by Scallywag, owned by Joe Dempsey and handled as ever by wife, Pia. ‘Bubble’, who was a POTY qualifier, was G 3 at Hibernian in May.

KILKENNY '15 GROUP 2
Keith Baldwin from England chose for his Group 2 winner the Dobermann Pinscher, Billy Henderson’s Ch & GB Ch Tuwos Halestorm. Seamus Magee handled his Bullmastiff, Ch Bullmeredith Captain Rowlo of Tarbhore, to take Group 2nd.

KILKENNY '15 GROUP 3
Heading up Group 3 under Malaysian all breeds judge, Chan Weng Woh, was the Bull Terrier, Thomas Redmond’s Warhorse El Pistolero, ‘Murphy’s’ first group win. Runner-up in Group 3 was the Kerry Blue Terrier, Daly’s Commanche Creek, a first group placing for this dog too.

KILKENNY '15 GROUP 4
Dog World’s own Simon Parsons was over in Ireland to judge various breeds including Dachshunds, and he also judged the Group, finding his winner in the eventual BIS winner, Gerry McFaul’s multi CC and Group winner, Ch & GB Ch Dachville Special Blend, with Martin McDonnell’s Miniature Long, Ch Smartdac Supernatural, taking the runner-up rosette.

KILKENNY '15 GROUP 5
Joe Daidone from Australia judged Group 5, he found his winner in Olive Taylor’s Chow Chow, Ch Chivas Royal Djalo at Taylorian, sending him through to reserve Best in Show later. The Pomeranian, Hobby Maryden Oriental Lily at Belliver, the latest star at the kennels of James Newman and Sean Carroll, took G 2.

KILKENNY '15 GROUP 6
Chan Weng Woh was back ring centre for Group 6, where he declared the PBGV his winner, Ivor and Michelle Keelan’s Ch Afterglow Chunkey Monkey of Tejas, was winning his first group this year. Runner-up was the Basset Hound, Barry O’Neill’s Ch, GB & Int Ch Knockogue Arthurs Legacy; currently top of the GAIN Petfoods/Irish Canine Press/Dog World Leaderboard, ‘Arthur has nine group wins this year.

KILKENNY '15 GROUP 7
Irene Krogstad from Norway made the decisions in Group 7 and her winner was the German Wirehaired Pointer, Maura and Seamus Gettings’ top winning Ch, Sh Ch & Int Ch Kimmax Krystal Klear at Beechillawn; Krys, who has topped the breed since 2009, was taking her first group win of the year. Runner up was the Pointer, Wendy Fleming’s Sh Ch Carmandine Kimono of Glenariff.

KILKENNY '15 GROUP 7
Ch, Sh Ch & Int Ch Kimmax Krystal Klear at Beechillawn, Maura and Seamus Gettings’ top winning German Wirehaired Pointer, winner of Group 7 under Irene Krogstad from Norway.

KILKENNY '15 GROUP 8
Chan Weng Woh adjudicated Group 8, where he sent on to the BIS ring the Clumber Spaniel, Ralph Dunne’s homebred CC winning Sh Ch Richley Royale Bond; ‘Eldridge’, Group winner and BIS 3 at Hibernian, is currently topping Group 8 on the GAIN Petfoods/Irish Canine Press/Dog World Leaderboard. Second was Emma, Bette & Frank Archibald’s Golden Retriever, Sh Ch Abinvale The Aviator.

KILKENNY '15 GROUP 9
Raymond O’Neill of the Trendylook Pekingese was centre ring for Group 9, and he chose for his winner Jason McMorrow’s Maltese, Ch Ripley Wonder Of Love, en route to BIS 3, with Katherine O’Herlihy’s Japanese Chin, homebred Axelwood Sakura, handled by Adrian Finlay, taking the runner-up rosette and a first group place this year.

KILKENNY '15 GROUP 9
Raymond O’Neill was centre ring for Group 9, and he chose for his winner Jason McMorrow’s Maltese, Ch Ripley Wonder Of Love, en route to BIS 3, with Katherine O’Herlihy’s Japanese Chin, homebred Axelwood Sakura, handled by Adrian Finlay, taking the runner-up rosette.

KILKENNY '15 GROUP 10
Chan Weng Woh judged Group 10, and here he decided that his winner was the Whippet, Lynda Cuthbert Matthews and husband, Colin’s BIS winning Ch Courthill Catch A Shadow; ‘Esther’ was taking her first group win of the year, handled as ever by Lynda. Second was Gerry and Pauline Clarke’s Irish Wolfhound, Ch Lady Rose of Shantamon, ‘Rose’ is currently top of the GAIN Petfood/ICP/Dog World Group 10 Leaderboard.

KILKENNY '15 AROUND THE SHOW
The show sponsor's stand

KILKENNY '15 AROUND THE SHOW
The BIS ring at Kilkenny

KILKENNY '15 AROUND THE SHOW
Lynda Cuthbert Matthews and husband, Colin’s Group 10 winning Whippet, Ch Courthill Catch A Shadow.

KILKENNY '15 AROUND THE SHOW
Thomas Redmond’s Group 3 winning Bull Terrier, Warhorse El Pistolero.