Sulhamstead

1970-1973

Mrs. Nagle went into partnership with Mary Jane Ellis, daughter of Mrs. Groverman Ellis of the Killybracken Kennels in the U.S.A. The hounds were transferred into this partnership in 1972.

In 1970 she judged Crufts for the second time, replacing Mr.A.W. Fullwood, the designated judge. The same year she judged Best in Show at WELKS, where she gave the top spot to an Airedale. The breed winner at that show was Bill Marriott and Tom Fidler's Ch. Sulhamstead Marika.

Sulhamstead Marika as a pup, with Bill Marriott	Ch. Sulhamstead Marika as an adult

Match took BoB at Windsor, Birmingham City, LKA, and Richmond, where he was Reserve in the Hound Group. He also won the dog CC at the Houndshow and Birmingham National. His daughter Sulhamstead Delia (bred by Catherine Sutton out of Kelperland Dignity) won the bitch CC at Birmingham National and Richmond.

Ch. Sulhamstead Delia

The breed had eleven sets of CCs at this time. At the LKA, a Maestro son, Sulhamstead Branwen Myles, won the Reserve dog CC and Muffet (Match ex Ch. Sulhamstead Modena) the Reserve bitch CC. Modena was by Maestro ex Ch. Maria.

Sulhamstead Modena as a youngster	Ch. Sulhamstead Modena as an adult (LKA, 1972)
Sulhamstead Branwen Myles as a puppy	Sulhamstead Branwen Myles at 3 years
(By Sulhamstead Maestro ex Branwen Ina)

On September 10th, 1970 Modena had a litter by Branwen Myles, from which came Sulhamstead Mentor and Mica. Mica was to become a Champion and Mentor, although he did not become a champion, did prove himself at stud. On the 28th December, 1970, Ch. Sulhamstead Morna of Eaglescrag had a litter by Myles, from which came Sulhamstead Moppet and Motley. Motley was a very handsome dark brindle but he had one foreleg almost entirely white, which did not go down well with some judges. He was not much used at stud but did not pass on his white leg to the progeny he did have.

	Sulhamstead Mentor
Sulhamstead Moppet

In 1971 Match won BoB at the L.K.A. for the third time and also won Reserve in the Hound Group (for the second time). At WELKS he went Reserve BIS, and was Reserve in the Hound Group at Peterborough. At the Hound Show he won BoB and was in the last few for the Hound Group. Also in 1971, Sulhamstead Delia gained her championship.

It was in 1971 that Mary Jane Ellis organised a Killybracken Get-Together at her home in New Hampshire, with a group of experts on the breed, of which Mrs. Nagle was one, and a large number of wolfhound owners eager to learn. Miss Ellis wrote in Harp & Hound (the magazine of the Irish Wolfhound Club of America), No. 1, 1972 that one reason for holding the Get-Together was that she had seen too often pet quality hounds being exhibited by starry-eyed owners who had been told they were buying a "perfect" I.W. Apart from the breed Standard, subjects covered were breeding, feeding, exercising and the responsibility of stud dog owners and of breeders. Mrs. Nagle obtained permission for us to print her talks in the Irish Wolfhound Magazine, vol.1, no. 2, July-September, 1972. To read these, click here.

Mrs. Nagle held a similar event in 1972 at Westerlands, a Sulhamstead Open Day, at which a group of enthusiasts were able to see and go over the hounds and be shown by Mrs. Nagle what to look and feel for when going over a hound. We have cine film which we took at this event. I am having it transferred to video and hopefully will be able to make it available on this site, plus film taken at shows in the early 1970s.

In 1971 Mica started her show career, doing well in puppy classes at Open Shows. In 1972 Modena gained her championship, and won BoB at the Club Show/LKA. Magnum won the dog CC and Sulhamstead Moppet the Reserve bitch CC from Novice. Modena won BoB at the SKC.

LKA, 1972 Judge May Atfield Mrs. Nagle with Modena, BoB, Tom Fidler with Magnum, dog CC & Reserve BoB

Mrs. Nagle being presented with the Graham Shield by Col. Harvey Kelly at the Club Show/LKA, 1972. Bill Marriott handing over the rosette

LKA/Club Show, 1972 Col. Harvey Kelly presenting the Irish Guards Shield for BOS to Mrs. Nagle with Ch. Sulhamstead Magnum Judge May Atfield standing at back

Sulhamstead Fredina was born April 21st, 1972, by Sulhamstead Woodside Finn ex Sulhamstead Melissa. Her litterbrother, Franco, went to Canada.

Sulhamstead Fredina as a youngster with Mary Jane Ellis	Ch. Sulhamstead Fredina with Mrs. Nagle

Delia won four CCs during 1972, and Sulhamstead Woodside Finn won his first CC and BoB at Birmingham. He was also a finalist in the Hound Group. Finn did not become a champion but he did become a notable sire. He was sired by Match ex Sanctuary Triena Girl and was born March 18th, 1969.

Sulhamstead Woodside Finn

Finn sired a litter out of Ch. Sulhamstead Mica which was whelped on September 24th, 1972 and from which came Sulhamstead Minstrel, later to become a champion, and Ming, which I thought to be the most stunning bitch I had ever seen, although the photographs of her do not do her justice.

Ch. Sulhamstead Minstrel

Sulhamstead Ming at a Club Summer Party at Henley Rugby Club
In the Match	Having won the Match Mrs. Nagle and Yvonne Bentinck behind Ming

Also in 1972, Sulhamstead Major (Match ex Sulhamstead Morna of Eaglescrag) made his appearance at the Hound Show, winning the CC and BoB from the Graduate class under judge Susanne Hudson. Major was a truly spectacular hound, but, sadly, was a unilateral cryptorchid, only gained one more CC and was never bred from.

Sulhamstead Major gaining his second CC at Crufts, 1973, under Dorothy Whitwell	Sulhamstead Major aged six years, at home at Westerlands near Petworth, West Sussex

Also in 1972 Mrs. Nagle judged BIS at Peterborough, giving the top award to a Miniature Poodle.

In 1973 at Crufts, Major won BoB and Modena won the bitch CC. At the Club Show/LKA (Judge: Elsie James), Mica won the bitch CC, with Muffet taking the Reserve bitch CC.

Crufts 1973. Mrs. Nagle heading the Post Graduate Bitch class with Sulhamstead Moppet

LKA & Club Show, 1973  Mrs. Nagle with Sulhamstead Mica, Judge Elsie James, and Mary Jane Ellis with Sulhamstead Muffet