In 1930 only seven CCs were won, with Erin winning two and gaining her championship. Biddie also won two, with Cloghran, Ch. Galleon and Ch. Harbury Brinda each winning one. Galleon also took the Graham Challenge Shield, and the Irish Bowl; Erin took the Irish Guards Challenge Shield and the Ch. Clodagh Cup; Ch. Harbury Brinda the K.C. Challenge Bowl; Slane of Ouborough the Dog Type Cup and the Brabyns Cup; Biddie the St. Loes Cup and the Movement Challenge Cup; and Lindley Saint the Non-Champion Bitch Cup, so not a bad year all round.
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| Patsy Rank with Ch. Iduna of Hindhead, Biddie, Cloghran, and Slane of Ouborough |
In 1931 ten CCs were won, three by Galleon, three by Alayne of Ouborough (making her a champion), two by Cloghran (making him a champion), one by Biddie (making her a champion), and one by Slane of Ouborough (his first). They also won eight trophies, including the Stud Dog Cup for Galleon and the Brood Bitch Cup for Ch. Iduna of Hindhead.
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| This picture appeared on the front cover of The
Tail-Wagger of July, 1931 as "Representing Ireland" and was captioned: "The Irish Wolfhounds, Houndsworth of Ouborough and Moira of Ouborough, belonging to Miss Abbot, Lynchmere, Haslemere, Surrey" |
| Houndsworth was bred by Isaac Everett and originally registered as Felixstowe Kilbrin. He was by Felixstowe Kilbarry ex F. Kilbirnie, born September 14, 1924; Moira was bred by Mr. Donnelly, registered originally as Molly Malone, then renamed Molly de Grace, and finally renamed Moira of Ouborough when purchased by J.V. Rank. She was by Patrick of Ifold ex Jilldon and born August 29, 1925 and was a littersister to Roderick and Gelert of Raikeshill, the first wolfhounds owned by Mrs. Knox of the Raikeshill Kennels. |
Also in 1931 Farnoge of Ouborough was born - November 23 - by Cloghran ex Lindley Saint. He won his first CC at the L.K.A. the following year
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| Ch. Farnoge of Ouborough |
In 1932 only three CCs were won, but eight trophies, with Farnoge winning the Graham Challenge Shield, the Irish Bowl, the Dog Type Cup, and the Brabyns Cup.
In 1933 five CCs were won, with Farnoge gaining his championship, but only four trophies were won. Ch. Farnoge of Ouborough did win Best of Breed and the Hound Group at Crufts. Fethard of Oubrough was born June 25, 1933, by Ch. Galleon ex Sgeolan of Brabyns.
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| Fethard of Ouborough |
Sgeolan of Ouborough was born March 27th, 1934, by Farnoge of Ouborough ex Conna of Ouborough.
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| Sgeolan of Ouborough |
Fonab of Ouborough (born June 12, 1932 by Ch. Farnoge of Ouborough ex Ch. Biddie of Ouborough) won Best of Breed at Crufts in 1934. This was his first CC and he won four more during the year, with his kennelmates winning another nine between them. Ch. Galleon of Ouborough had by this time won eleven CCs in all, and Ch. Erin of Ouborough had won nine, five of them during 1934, so the kennel was doing really well again..
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| Ch. Fonab of Ouborough | |
In 1935 Killarney of Ouborough took the Irish Guards Challenge Shield and the Type Cup (Dog) at the Club Show. Kilune of Ouborough took the Non-Champion Cup (Bitch) and Mrs. Nagle's Challenge Cup, and Galleon took the KC Challenge Bowl.
Ch. Killarney of Ouborough won Best Sporting Dog at the Kennel Club Show, 1936 and Best of Breed at Crufts in 1937. Killarney was born March 27, 1934, by Ch. Farnoge ex Conna of Ouborough - the same litter as Sgeolan. Conna was littersister to Am. Ch. Croughil of Ouborough.
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| Ch. Killarney of Ouborough | |
In 1936 Cloghran took the Graham Shield and Ch. Kilkea of Ouborough the Irish Guards Challenge Shield, the Baily Booth Strohmenger Bowl and the Thelma Challenge Cup; Killarney took the KC Challenge Bowl; Fethard the Nagle Challenge Cup; and Kilune the Hon. Mrs. Parker's Challenge Cup.
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| Ch. Kilkea of Ouborough |
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Before he met up with Mr. Rank, Bill Siggers had been an animal trainer, training snakes, dogs, goats, among other creatures, for a Variety act but the General Strike brought this to an end. It was just after this, in the Spring of 1921, that he met J.V. Rank at a dog show. This early experience in training stood him in good stead with the Ouborough dogs, who were all very carefully trained to be groomed, shown, and walked in groups. They would all stand, and walk and trot on a loose lead and could be exercised in large groups both on and off lead even on public roads. He had a rapport with animals and talked to the dogs he was exhibiting all the time they were in the show ring. He did not believe in punishing an animal but used positive reinforcement. He also trained several dogs for films and television.
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| Bill Siggers and, from l to r: Ch. Cloghran,
Kilkea, Ch. Erin, Kilune, Ch. Galleon, Ch. Biddie, Ch. Farnoge, Ch. Killarney, Ch. Fonab and Ch. Fethard |
In an early report on the kennels it was stated: "....exclaimed, 'here comes Mr. Siggers' (the kennel manager) and, true enough, he did in real style, mounted on a cycle followed by a pack of 18 Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds..... It was splendid to see those 18 Danes and Wolfhounds follow the cycle like a company of soldiers; the even pace of Mr. Siggers kept the dogs going without any undue effort on their part. Does this explain the splendid action and obedience of the Ouborough dogs, I wondered?"
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| Bill Siggers exercising Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds on the road |
The dogs were road walked, usually with a bicycle at a pace at which they had to trot, but often with their handler on foot and running so that the dogs had to trot. Bill Siggers felt it was so important to take the dogs out, not just to turn them out in a paddock. The dogs were fed meat, goats milk, cereal, and raw marrow bones, with some codliver oil. Daily grooming was carried out, and preparation for a show was done well in advance. On show days the dogs being exhibited were not fed until after they returned home. And dogs were only shown when they were in top condition and, in the case of puppies, really ready for the showring.
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Updated July 21st, 2005
