An Irish Blessing

© Photo by Pat Murkland

For Colin:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of His Hand.
(August, 2014)

Two dogs, two specialties, two wins

Photo by Rich Bergman

Gryffindor Colin at Tara Hill, with co-owner Barbara Call (also co-owned by Linda Souza), en route to winning Best of Winners at Irish Wolfhound Association of the West Coast specialty 1, July 2012. 
Thank you to Judge Miss Dorothy M. MacDonald. 
Thank you to handler Bill Buell. 
Colin, pictured here winning the Open Dog class, went on to Winner's for a five-point major and then Best of Winners, quite an exciting day!

Photo by Rich Bergman

 The next day was Irish Wolfhound Association of the West Coast's second specialty. Our GCH Gryffindor's Wild Rose O'Starry Glen, Colin's littermate, went Best of Opposite Sex. 
Thank you to Breeder-Judge Mrs. Beverly Little. 
And thank you to Bill Buell, who has been showing our wolfhounds since 2004!

Rose and Colin were the only two dogs we brought to the specialties. Their mother is GCH Glenamadda Starkeeper Verity, CGC, who won this specialty in 2008. Their sire is CH Taryn Tate of Limerick, SC, who won this specialty twice, in 2002 and 2006, and is the sire and grandsire of many champions.

Gryffindor Rocks the Specialties

At the Irish Wolfhound Association of the West Coast July 26 specialty, our Colin, Gryffindor Colin at Tara Hill, was Winners Dog and Best of Winners! 

Entry was 71 wolfhounds, including 19 class dogs and 29 class bitches, for a five-point major.

Thank you to Judge Miss Dorothy M. MacDonald for finding our young man, co-owned by Barbara Call and Linda Souza, among those in the open dog class. Thank you to handlers Bill Buell and Erin Hines.

The next day, July 27, was another Irish Wolfhound Association of the West Coast show, with an entry of 79 wolfhounds, including 24 champions. Now Colin's lone sister, our Rose, had her turn to shine.

Our new Grand Champion, Gryffindor's Wild Rose O'Starry Glen, won Best of Opposite Sex from breeder-judge Ms. Beverly C. Little. Thank you to Ms. Little and to handlers Bill Buell and Erin Hines.

At the all-breed Lompoc Kennel Club shows that followed, Rose also won very competitive Best of Opposite Sex ribbons both days, for three out of four. 

Rose and Colin are two years old.

Who Has the Dirtiest Beard, Brother?

© Pat Murkland

In the Ribbons at Silver Bay

CH Gryffindor's Wild Rose O'Starry Glen in January,
winning Best of Breed at Inland Empire Hound Club © Kit Rodwell Photo

Thank you to Judge Mr. Luc Boileau for awarding our young Rose Best of Breed at Silver Bay Kennel Club on Feb. 25, 2012. Entry was 15 Wolfhounds, including 5 champions. 
Rose is forging ahead toward her Grand Championship title; in just two show weekends she has now amassed 16 points, including four majors. All were wins over other champions.

Gryffindor Colin at Tara Hill. © Pat Murkland

At Silver Bay, Rose's littermate brother Colin also won Winners and Best of Winners for a three-point major. Thank you again to Mr. Luc Boileau and as always, to handlers Bill Buell and Erin Hines.

Gryffindor Colin

© Pat Murkland