Issue: 01/03/2024

by Paul Scanlon

The Irish Kennel Club had an awards evening at the beautiful Keadeen Hotel in the town of Newbridge in County Kildare in February which also hosted the first Top Irish Show Dog Final in around seven years. 

The first part of the event saw the UK’s very popular Frank Kane judge the Show Dog Final and 30 dogs from the qualified 40 took part in the event which is confined to Irish owned dogs only so unfortunately some of the year’s top winners could not compete. 

Since around 2007 the winner of this event would represent Ireland at the World Challenge but that prize is of course long gone. The other main award made to the dog winning the most Best in Shows and Reserve Best in Shows during the show year is the IKC DOG OF THE YEAR which this year was won by the Geilsaven American Akita show team of Joe and Ellen O’Neill from Scotland who took four BIS wins with CH Geilsaven Suzie Que. Remarkably they also took 2 BIS wins with another of their team, CH/GB CH Geilsaven Toote Sweet and one BIS with CH/GB CH Geilsaven Diddley Bo. Seven Best in Shows in all for the team during 2023 at all breed championship level. A remarkable record!

IKC Dog Of The Year was won by the Geilsaven American Akita show team of Joe and Ellen O’Neill from Scotland with CH Geilsaven Suzie Que.

The winner of the Top Irish Show Dog event was Cathrina Dunne’s Shetland Sheepdog CH/GB CH Longrange Cailin Dubh under Frank Kane. Katy has a number of Best in Show wins in Ireland over the last few years and won the Champion of Champions 2022 catch up event recently

Taking the Runner Up spot in the Top Irish Show Dog event was Roy and Lesley Blevins and Kelly Blevins Basset Hound male CH/GB CH Blevwil Kenny Dewitt who was handled by Lesley and Kenny is also a BIS winner in Ireland along with great successes in the UK.

A number of awards were made which were first introduced as part of the IKC Centenary events in 2022 and among them were the Our Dogs Ireland/Our Dogs Unsung Hero award presented by Paul Scanlon and the recipient chosen by the event committee was Philomena Geoghegan from County Kildare who works tirelessly on behalf of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind Kildare branch

The inaugural Stephanie Walsh Award to celebrate those who do much for those new to the sport went to the hard working Wexford Canine Club officers and committee who are one of the busiest clubs in the country supporting exhibitors all year round

Anthony and Ger Dolan collected the award for the Top Irish Native Breed in 2023 for their Irish Red and White Setter CH Cilleigne Finn Mac Cumaill at Grovelands who was bred by Ken Kennedy. IKC President Pat O’Boyle presented the award

Mollie Mullan won the Irish Junior Handler of the Year title in December under the UK’s Tamara Wallbridge to send her to the International Final at Crufts and the FCI World Dog Show in April in Zagreb. IKC President Pat O’Boyle presented the award

The exciting Combined Canine Club Rabart Canine Pup of the Year 2023 Final takes place in April this year and last year’s 2022 winner was the Irish Terrier, John Canty’s CH Megacant Ceannaire under Estonia’s Siret Lepasaar