Mrs. William Knox registered her first hounds with the Kennel Club in March, 1926 and joined the Irish Wolfhound Club in 1927. She lived in Raikeshill, Silsden, Yorkshire. She started the kennel with Gelert of Raikeshill and Roderick of Raikeshill (bred by Mr. C.E. Donnelly, by Patrick of Ifold ex Jilldon, wh. August 29th, 1925).
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| Gelert of Raikeshill |
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| Roderick of Raikeshill |
A report on the kennel in The Dog World Annual and written by T.M. Corbett
said: "The most striking thing about the small, yet very select company of
Irish Wolfhounds which I had the pleasure to examine at the beautiful residence
of Mr. and Mrs. W. Knox, at Raikeshill, Silsden, in the West Riding of
Yorkshire, was the tremendous size and substance of them all. Indeed, it is
questionable whether taking age into consideration, there are any taller or
more gracefully built wolfhounds to be found in the country.
"Mrs. Knox, I find, is essentially a profound lover of the breed and makes
of all her dogs personal companions, but as show specimens there are few that
can lower their colours. As before stated, the number of dogs is small, but
what is lacking in quantity is certainly made up in the wonderful physique,
size, condition and ability of the dogs.
"The kennelling arrangements are faultless. Indeed, no cost has been
spared to house the dogs in perfect parlours, though by no means canine
hothouses.
Every dog is as hard as nails, as keen in expression and in character as one
could desire, and at the gallop they are faultless.
"Mrs. Knox has acquired a stock, and in doing so has secured the very best
blood obtainable, and with it some of the finest specimens of the breed to be
found. It is her intention, as the result of a close and constant study, to
produce only dogs which have the best blood of the land.
"Already these dogs, the seniors, have won fame in the ring, but in a
wonderfully even company of puppies I fancy I saw a bitch which in days to come
will bring great fame to Raikeshill, or those who may be lucky enough to have
induced Mrs. Knox to part with her.
"In Gelert of Raikeshill (by Ch. Patrick of Ifold ex Jelldon¹) a
massive, beautifully proportioned dog, measuring 36¼ at the shoulder when
casually measured, is a dog which must always hold his own because of the
extraordinary quality, substance, outline, head and ear properties, expression
and coat. He stands on wonderfully shaped legs and moves as a wolfhound should.
He has been placed at stud, to approved bitches, at £10 10s., and must at
once appeal as a great getter of stock.
"Roderick of Raikeshill has also been placed at stud at the fee of
£10 10s., to approved bitches.
"By that great sire Ch. Felixstowe Kilshave², Roderick is one of the
most attractive of his breed - a great, charming fellow, measuring over 35
inches at the shoulders. Here, too, is grace moulded with massiveness,
substance, quality, the whole being so aptly moulded that the dog is one to
admire from every respect. A winner already, he has a great future before him,
and, because of his wonderful breeding and his recognised attributes, must
prove a wonderful sire.
"He is a most lovable creature, romping, agile, a wonderful galloper and
jumper, but withal so obviously a pal that to see him is to love him and
receive an unforgettable impression.
"Here are two stud dogs, bred in the purple - dogs which can claim the
attention of any judge and will prove most desirable dogs to
use..................."
(Notes: ¹It should be Jilldon; ² Roderick was, in fact, the litterbrother of Gelert and was by Patrick of Ifold. The Felixstowe Kilshane (not Kilshave)/Jilldon litter is mentioned below)
When Jilldon was mated to Felixstowe Kilshane, Mrs. Knox took four puppies from the litter born on December 6th, 1926 - Cheetah, Collin, and Duke of Raikeshill (all males) and Lady of Raikeshill. Lady was to become a well known champion, gaining her championship before she was two years old. One judge said of her "In my opinion this bitch most nearly conforms to the standard laid down by the Irish Wolfhound Club". When she died, Lady was stuffed and exhibited at the Natural History Museum in London.
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| Duke of Raikeshill | |
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| Cheetah of Raikeshill | |
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| Collin of Raikeshill | |
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| Ch. Lady of Raikeshill | |
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| A less attractive view of Lady | |
Mrs. Knox also bought in a bitch of Irish breeding, Cailin Beag (by O'Laoighaire ex Nora Creena) and it was from this bitch that she took her first litters. The first was by Roderick, and was born September 28th, 1928, from which she kept four dogs, Fare, Rory, and Wallace of Raikeshill, and two bitches, Nancy and Ann of Raikeshill.
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| Fare, Tarzan, and Ch. Lady of Raikeshill |
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| Ann of Raikeshill | Nancy of Raikeshill |
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| Nancy of Raikeshill | |
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| Fare of Raikeshill | |
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| Fare of Raikeshill | |
Nancy was offered for sale in several advertisements but there was no record of her having been transferred to another person.
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| Ann, Fare, Roderick, Spring, Nancy, Tarzan, Rosy, Croy, Ch. Lady, Cailin Beag, Duke, and in foreground Gelert, all of Raikeshill |
In the advertisement from which came this picture, Ann, Spring, Nancy, Tarzan, Rosy and Croy are all offered for sale.
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Updated July 12th, 2005