Crufts is the oldest and biggest Hound-show on the planet. It started out as a Terrier-show in 1886, but became an All-breed show in 1891. 1892 saw the first entries of Irish Wolfhounds, and Irish Wolfhounds have participated ever since. This year, around 21,000 hounds from more than 200 breeds and 45 countries competes for one of the most prestigious awards in the dog world, Crufts Best In Show.  Among them were 139 Irish Wolfhounds, judged by Roger Tebbutt on Saturday march 9th.

Only once has an Irish Wolfhound become Best In Show at Crufts. That happened in 1960, when Florence Nagle’s Sulhamstead Merman won the award.

British show

As Crufts takes place in England, it has been dominated by UK bred-dogs. It wasn’t until 1997 that a foreign-bred dog won a CC. Shadow Of Kilmara was bred by Gary Janssens in Belgium and was owned by Dagmar Kenis Pordham in England.

Over the last 14 years, foreign hounds have started to dominate the Crufts-awards for Irish Wolfhounds, with 16 of the 28 last CCs being awarded to hounds bred outside of the UK. Around half of these were awarded to hounds bred in Italy.

There are numerous reasons why foreign hounds are doing better now than they used to do. Removal of quarantine regulations and easier travel over the years have obviously been important for them to actually compete. In order to enter at Crufts, the hound also needs to qualify. In continental Europe, qualification is done by being Best Dog, Best Bitch or winning the junior class at one or two qualifying shows in each country. In addition, international champions are automatically qualified for Crufts.

Sulhamstead record

The breed-history has seen 227 CCs being awarded to best male or best bitch at Crufts. Florence Nagle’s legendary Sulhamstead kennels has received 48 of those, starting in 1925, and the last CC awarded to a Sulhamstead-hound was awarded 51 years later in 1975.

Crufts winners

Below is a list of all 227 Irish Wolfhound Crufts CC-winners so far.

YearDog CCBitch CCBest of Breed
1892Dhulart (graham’s) Tara #83 (lindsay’s)  
1893Garryowen (1887) Tara #83 (lindsay’s)  
1894Navan (1891) Princess Oona (1892)  
1895Kincaid (1892) Princess Oona (1892)  
1896Flanagan (1894) Princess Oona (1892)  
1897Kincaid (1892) Pomona  
1898Dermot Astore (1896) Felixstowe Mavourneen  
1899 Felixstowe Mavourneen  
1900Dermot Astore (1896) Sportella (1897)  
1901Ballyhooley (1897) Daireen  
1902Marquis Of Donegal (1898) Sheila Of Kidnal  
1903Cotswold Daireen  
1904Cotswold Felixstowe Emo Formerly Emo  
1905Gareth (1903) Felixstowe Dromore  
1906Gareth (1903) Cotswold Patricia  
1907Cotswold Cotswold Patricia  
1908Cotswold Cotswold Patricia  
1909Felixstowe Kilronan Hibernia  
1910Cotswold Watch Dhudesa  
1911Felixstowe Kilronan Dhudesa  
1912Felixstowe Kilronan Chalfont Garetha  
1913Lindley Hector Felixstowe Kilrush  
1914Lindley Hector Ivo Dinah  
1915Lindley Hector Lindley Lupin  
1916Felixstowe Regan Felixstowe Clonakilty  
1917Felixstowe Kilgerran Lady Moll  
1921Felixstowe Kilgerran Felixstowe Fianna Formerly Home Farm Ishla  
1922Felixstowe Kilgerran Felixstowe Alana  
1923Torna Of Ifold Of Chillum Felixstowe Killcoo  
1924Felixstowe Kilcullen Felixstowe Killcoo  
1925King Shane Of Brabyns Sulhamstead Thelma  
1926King Shane Of Brabyns Sulhamstead Thelma  
1927Felixstowe Kilbarron Sulhamstead Thelma  
1928Clagan Of Clonard Morag Of Clonard  
1929Lindley Sinner Lady Of Raikeshill  
1930Chulainn Rajah Halcyon Erin Of Ouborough  
1931Slane Of Ouborough Rippingdon Rathcoolin  
1932Fion-mac-cumall Of Brabyns Sulhamstead Kesta  
1933Farnoge Of Ouborough Rippingdon Rathcoolin  
1934Fonab Of Ouborough Rippingdon Rathgalleon  
1935Fethard Of Ouborough Conna Of Ouborough  
1936Faithful Grey Kilkea Of Ouborough  
1937Sulhamstead Krim Rippingdon Wanda  
1938Killarney Of Ouborough Moia Of Ouborough  
1939Moran Of Ouborough Moia Of Ouborough  
1948Sulhamstead Monty Ouborough Maureen Of Boroughbury  
1950Artel Ballykelly Sandy Boroughbury Casino Of Spean  
1951Sulhamstead Majenta Regan Of Bradfield  
1952Sulhamstead Majenta Mavourneen Of Bradfield  
1953Rippingdon Rathgelert Ouborough Tara Of Boroughbury  
1955Sulhamstead Manna Sulhamstead Freda Sulhamstead Freda
1956Rippingdon Rathgelert Sulhamstead Freda Sulhamstead Freda
1957Sulhamstead Fellus Sulhamstead Freda Sulhamstead Freda
1958Sulhamstead Manna Sulhamstead Freda Sulhamstead Manna
1959Sulhamstead Manna Urla Of Arraghglen Sulhamstead Manna
1960Sulhamstead Merman Urla Of Arraghglen Sulhamstead Merman
1961Rippingdon Brackenbury Rhythm Urla Of Arraghglen Urla Of Arraghglen
1962Sulhamstead Merman Carol Of Eaglescrag Sulhamstead Merman
1963Sulhamstead Merman Mapleton Mermaid Sulhamstead Merman
1964Sulhamstead Romulus Sulhamstead Maria Sulhamstead Romulus
1965Sulhamstead Marvel Sulhamstead Maria Sulhamstead Marvel
1966Eaglescrag Clonroe Of Nendrum Sulhamstead Merle Eaglescrag Clonroe Of Nendrum
1967Sulhamstead Match Driella Of Eaglescrag Sulhamstead Match
1968Eaglescrag Clonroe Of Nendrum Sulhamstead Morna Of Eaglescrag Eaglescrag Clonroe Of Nendrum
1969Sulhamstead Match Baldeagle Fiana Of Eaglescrag Sulhamstead Match
1970Red Wully Of Eaglescrag Conchessa Of Eaglescrag Red Wully Of Eaglescrag
1971Sulhamstead Match Conchessa Of Eaglescrag Sulhamstead Match
1972Edgecroft Simon Aelius Elfreda Aelius Elfreda
1973Sulhamstead Major Sulhamstead Modena Sulhamstead Major
1974Sulhamstead Minstrel Sulhamstead Mica Sulhamstead Mica
1975Sulhamstead Minstrel Aelius Elfreda Aelius Elfreda
1976Outhwaite Am Cu Eaglescrag Kelt Eaglescrag Kelt
1977Eaglescrag Toby Sanctuary Mona Sanctuary Mona
1978Outhwaite Am Cu Outhwaite Athene Outhwaite Am Cu
1979Carrokeel Coillte Merlin Outhwaite Athene Outhwaite Athene
1980Carrokeel Coillte Merlin Drakesleat Roisin Carrokeel Coillte Merlin
1981Laird Of Solstrand Franshaw Rhyllagh Laird Of Solstrand
1982Drakesleat Kyak Clonara Laksala Drakesleat Kyak
1983Erindale Callan Of Finloren Brabyns Fiona Erindale Callan Of Finloren
1984Kellybourne Pilot At Ballalyn Bokra Mystic Bokra Mystic
1985Shalfleet Eaglerock Marumac Crystal Shalfleet Eaglerock
1986Shalfleet Eaglerock Brabyns Cymbelle At Outhwaite Shalfleet Eaglerock
1987Clonara Klint Donaghmore’s Finola Caolan Colleen Clonara Klint
1988Solstrand Kaspar Clonara Ascara Solstrand Kaspar
1989Hydebeck Reginald Snuffson Seplecur Mist Hydebeck Reginald Snuffson
1990Hydebeck Harmane Outhwaite Raina Outhwaite Raina
1991Culvercroft Benjamin Of Gulliagh Outhwaite Raina Culvercroft Benjamin Of Gulliagh
1992Jolanda Brora At Covenant Bokra Chance Jolanda Brora At Covenant
1993Drakesleat Odyt Rebecca Rose Of Seplecur Drakesleat Odyt
1994Edelmar Zach Bokra Etoile Bokra Etoile
1995Ballalyn’s Himself Uella Lexie Ballalyn’s Himself
1996Conlan Of Sufayre Uella Lexie Conlan Of Sufayre
1997Shadow Of Kilmara Hydebeck Darley Allyander Shadow Of Kilmara
1998Juxtalia Macmathuna Of Knocknarea Ballalyn’s The Jazz Singer Juxtalia Macmathuna Of Knocknarea
1999Saringa’s Mr Micawber Blakeskerra Anastasia Saringa’s Mr Micawber
2000Shanimarle Bay Brigand Bokra Image Of Caredig Shanimarle Bay Brigand
2001Ainsea The Diplomat Corniman Elkie Of Shalico Ainsea The Diplomat
2002Uella Flint Ebony Empress Of Nutstown Uella Flint
2003Culkeeran Seth Ainsea Fleur Culkeeran Seth
2004Gartlove Ghleannkyle Amarach Cliodhna Gartlove Ghleannkyle
2005Gartlove Galenkelso Driftcot Orlando Gartlove Galenkelso
2006Conchobar Evilenchanter Bokra Summer Conchobar Evilenchanter
2007Cerbero Shanimarle Artemis Shanimarle Artemis
2008Conchobar Fancyfree To Ravensbeech Sade Jynnx Conchobar Fancyfree To Ravensbeech
2009Bokra Wallace To Sade Cualainn Psyche Caredig Cualainn Psyche Caredig
2010Hydebeck Currant Tyme Gulliagh Corrig Hydebeck Currant Tyme
2011Aurelius Di Castello Berge Caredig Delilah Aurelius Di Castello Berge
2012Skibberdeen’s Rudolph Rivenhound Imperial Cream To Hydebeck Rivenhound Imperial Cream To Hydebeck
2013Pitlochry’s O’Bryan Orak Mascotts Another Dreamer At Cahmega Mascotts Another Dreamer At Cahmega
2014Justintime Of First Avenue Halleluiah Della Bassa Pavese Justintime Of First Avenue
2015Always My Bryan Roan Inish Ravenbeech Valeria Always My Bryan Roan Inish
2016Bokra Anarchy To Sade Femke’s Footsteps Coffey Bokra Anarchy To Sade
2017Donnerhall Della Bassa Pavese Halleluiah Della Bassa Pavese Donnerhall Della Bassa Pavese
2018Cormacs Tariq Miranda Della Bassa Pavese Miranda Della Bassa Pavese
2019Pendragon Della Bassa Pavese Ballyphelan Anna Lisa Pendragon Della Bassa Pavese
2020Sade Paris Noblesse de la Mascotte Couronnee Sade Paris
2022Sade Paris Sarabi Della Bassa Pavese Sade Paris

Sources for CC-winners: Crufts annotated catalogues, A. du Quoy’s “The Irish Wolfhound in competition” and Fosse Data.