From Sandy Dawson

Shalico Irish Wolfhounds

Crufts

Judge: Anthony Killykeen-Doyle

THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MEMORABLE DAY OF MY LIFE

The night before, it was very doubtful if we would get there. I had injured my ribs and I doubted my ability to handle the three dogs that I had entered.

Full to the brim with pain killers we set out to try, as we so wanted Tony's opinion on our dogs.

There was a lovely entry, and it was a pleasure to watch the professional, interested and very kind judging. Our day was made when our beloved Shalico Cloussea won the lovely Post Graduate class, worth the effort indeed.

In Limit dog we had the beautiful Shalico Adamski, imagine the excitement, when he won the Limit class.

In the challenge, Jean Malleys Champion won the CC, but the reserve CC went to Adamski.

We needed no petrol to get home, we could have just floated.

We had taken our very old fashioned, very classic bitch Corniman Elkie of Shalico, who we rarely showed, as her type was too extreme for judges who preferred chocolate box to workmanlike hounds.

Open bitch was a fabulous class, and we stood and admired some lovely Champions, when I watch the video now, I realize the quality that has been lost.

When Elkie won Open, I struggled to suppress a tear, she had come to us, as a very wild and nervous puppy, who we doubted would ever get on a lead.

We lined up for the challenge, still in disbelief, they say every dog has its day, it certainly was hers, she moved like a dream and never stopped wagging.

Elkie was awarded the CC, her son Adamski had the reserve dog CC. Never in our wildest dreams could we have hoped for this result.

Sadly, Tony never got round to a write up, but he did phone me some weeks later, I had never spoken to him before, to say how much he admired my breeding, and that I had stayed true to my original lines, and not used the 'dog of the day'.

Elkie was the perfect balance of power, hunting ability, and powerful driving movement.

THANKS AGAIN TONY FOR THE MOST AMAZING DAY OF MY LIFE.

MAY WE MEET AGAIN IN ANOTHER LIFE.

YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE OF THE BREED WILL BE SADLY MISSED

SANDY DAWSON (SHALICO)