The Erindale Hounds
This is the story of the famous Erindale wolfhounds, bred by Marjorie and Roy Saunders, UK. Written by Lynne Charlier, who lived for many years among these beautiful hounds, raised, trained and loved them.
Helga Mueller
I have been asked to send an article about the Erindale hounds for inclusion in the Irish Wolfhound Society magazine, which of course I am delighted to do but due to various reasons, cannot get to include many of the pictures I would like too. However, most of those have been seen before in publications and are mainly of the winning hounds that were shown and well known.
I thought it would be of interest to include pictures and informal snaps that haven’t been seen before and also to write about the original hounds, show, lightly shown and not shown as they are all equally important to the basis and foundations of the Erindale lines. For those that never knew them and those of you that would like to learn something more about them.
The Erindale’s became quite a significant and valuable influence to many breeding lines around the world. I used to work and live at the kennel for some considerable time and I share with you here my opinions and experience with these hounds which I hope will benefit some and be of interest to others.
Lynne Charlier
Marjorie and Roy Saunders had their first wolfhound beginning of 1969. This was to be a bitch called “Brid of Ballytobin" {Tina} Born 11th March 1968, her sire was Ch Connel of Nendrum, dam Maeve of Dunamaise. She was looking for a home through circumstance and she had broken her front leg when young which had set badly so it was quite bowed. Being checked over by the vet , her leg had mended well and strong despite being bent, her condition and form was excellent. Later, in view of her otherwise good form and merit, Marjorie and Roy decided they would like to breed so they sold up and moved to Sunningdale Farm in Etchinghill, a nice rural area near Folkestone in Kent. They approached the Sanctuary kennels about breeding where “Tina” was met with great approval and put to Sanctuary Knight of Kerry which produced the first litter at Erindale containing "Eileen of Sunningdale" born on the 15th January 1970 …and that was the beginning of it all…
Marjorie and Roy looked towards buying in stock from other lines and I think they were blessed with fate and luck to end up with what they did! Meanwhile, a repeat mating was done with Brid of Ballytobin to Sanctuary Knight of Kerry which produced the infamous "Jason of Sunningdale" born 28th Sept 1970.
Thalia of Brabyns [Fay] was bought in, born 13th July 1967, her sire Brabyns Gerland of Eaglescrag, dam Ballykelly Tanaise-na-Gael of Brabyns. She had already had puppies to Feccna of Brabyns before she came to Erindale and the end of her tail was missing. Keady of Eaglescrag [Peggy] litter sister to Ch Caio of Eaglescrag,born 23rd June 1969,sire Ch Clindhu of Eaglescrag, dam Eaglescrag Alice of Nendrum.. Keady was bought in at about a year of age. Others to join the ranks were Boroughbury Bridie Girl born 17th July 1970 by Jorchants Aurthurs Boy/Kelperland Chastity. Ballykelly Shanlaragh [Sheila] born 14th Nov 1970 by Ballykelly Cavin/ Ballykelly O’Pratie bought in at 8 weeks. Thelbern O’Malley [Shamus] born14th March 1969 by Sanctuary Domenick/Kynewardesley Shillelagh and Sanctuary Loreen [Mary] born 2nd April 1970 by Sanctuary Knight of Kerry/ Sanctuary Granua. Then Tara of Erindale born 9th July 1971 by Thelbern O’Malley /Haley of Eaglescrag .
These 10 dogs were there when I joined the kennels. The first litter I saw was that of Thalia of Brabyns and Jason of Sunningdale born 9th April 1972 containing Ch Erindale Grand Duchess, Aust Ch E. Fortuna and E.Fyntessa.
My opinions of these hounds starting with "Brid of Ballytobin", *11.03.1968 (Ch Connel of Nendrum x Maeve of Dunamaise) are as follows:- A very dominant “Alpha” bitch. Despite her handicap, she was packed with inner strength . She was never challenged, she didn’t need to be as she DID command attention, respect and had a great authority. Her form always remained good even though she did not gallop as the others did, her physical tone was bred for I think and was as tough as nails. Fairly big girl, dark with excellent rib, very fore square rear with width over and low sound hocks. Good front and width between elbows, good bone and proportions, strong neck but could have been a bit longer maybe, good head, well furnished , fraction short in muzzle for me, good eye although could have been darker pigment around them, good ears, textbook tail and excellent coat. Good strong type. Well made and constructed.
Strong foundation bitch and proved her worth as a brood bitch. Good health and life. Dam of Eileen of Sunningdale, Jason of Sunningdale, Sanctuary Red Sheevaun, Ch Erindale Bernice, Erindale Brid, Erindale Mollie.
Thalia of Brabyns, *13.07.1967 (Brabyns Gerland of Eaglescrag x Ballykelly Tanaise na Gael of Brabyns). Old fashioned huntress type, extremely fit, agile, inner strength and very intelligent. Good proportions and conformation, dark, noble lady, good coat, eye, ear, not much furnishing, a very thick bell rope tail but end missing. Well sprung rib, substance, correct length. Sound and strong boned, very muscular and purposeful, un frilly, dignified and a true hound. One you would definitely want alongside you on the field, excelled as a coursing hound. Very loyal and true friend. Could maybe use a tad more height. Excellent brood bitch and her qualities and style passed on. Good health and life. Dam of Fortuna, Grand Duchess, Fyntessa, Camilla and Tamara.
Keady of Eaglescrag, *23.06.1969 (Clindhu of Eaglescrag x Eaglescrag Alice of Nendrum). Grey, no elegance whatsoever, very carthorse like, massive brisket and rib, heavy frame and bone, average height, very good overall conformation Lovely eye and expression, but a little heavy in skull. Strongly built, lovely character and clown like, very matronly type. Liked her food too much and lost tuck up after pups. Turned one front foot out slightly. Not a coursing hound but plenty of pulling power!
Quite a clumsy mother and hard work but well worth the effort with her offspring. Dam of Ch Erindale Princess, E. Adam, Int Ch E. Colqhoun E. Vanda, E. Nolan.
Ballykelly Shanlaragh. No oil painting this one and a Queen Ann front, red. Moderate size and bone but extremely strong bone, good length, moderate/fair angulations, excellent tail, well sprung rib, highly agile and athletic, packed with inner strength, very muscular and sinewy, as if she were made of rubber, bounce off anything, go through or over anything, you had to be 3 steps ahead of this girl, great escapologist, if she didn’t want to be somewhere…she wouldn’t be for long, brains and brawn she certainly had. Good coat, light eye and floppy ears, plain, no furnishings. Most definitely purposeful with a wonderfully sweet nature. Her undeniable strengths were an asset and her progeny a credit. Dam of Erindale Shanlaragh, E. Avenger of Kerryark, E. Countess, E. Leora and E.Barbarella. USA Ch E. Sicillia.
Sanctuary Loreen *02.02.1970 (Santuary Knight of Kerry x Sanctuary Granua).
I’d always thought of her as the Marylyn Munro of wolfhounds. Wheaten, good coat and black pigment, attractive and very curvaceous. Tremendously muscular and powerful on the field, lovely ears, eye and overall conformation. Wonderful sweeping quarters. Could have used a bit more height and longer back, had a coat hook tail and whippy.
Adequate bone and strong, excellent rib and body tone .Really a force to be reckoned with for physical performance and form and such a quality girl. Dam of
Erindale Loreen , Erindale O’Leary
Thelbern O’Malley *14.03.1969 (Santuary Dominick x Kyneswardesley Shillelagh).
Wheaten. Good strong front and feet with good bone and size. Well bodied and rib, imposing and a great
ambassador, attractive head, great expression, furnishing, eye and ear. Good coat. Unfortunately too straight in stifle and high tail but he did command
attention and had great presence. Sire of Aust Ch Erindale Cathy, E. Colleen, E.Commodore
Erindale Coleen
Jason of Sunningdale *28.09.1970 (Sanctuary Knight of Kerry x Brid of Ballytobin).
Dark grey. Very tall, upstanding dog built on long boned frame. Incredible stamina, strength combined
with elegance and agility, superb soundness and easy active movement. Very regal and noble with just the most gentlemanly nature. True hound in every
respect, harmoniously put together and ultra purposeful fellow..
Amazing ability as a stud dog and passed on a great many of his virtues, stamp and qualities to his progeny. For me, he had the best male head, very houndy with a
super Roman nose, even un stripped was quite magnificent. However, his failing was that he was slab sided, if only he were a bitch he may have corrected that by way of a litter, as many bitches have, to develop spring of rib. Well despite that it did not detract from his splendor, capability or performance, very deep chested and great tuck up. Could turn on a sixpence this fellow even without a tail, due to accident when young was left with just a stump…
I can still see him wagging that stump furiously even now!!! Tremendous athlete and a master in all fields…
If I could choose ONE to bring back… it would be HIM!
Good health and life. Progeny include, Ch Sanctuary Mona. Erindale Leora. B Ch Royden Glenda. Ch Royden Finnegan. Erindale Barbarella .Aust Ch Erindale Francesca..E.Sicillia. Chicanery and Charlotte of Bokra. Ch Erindale Grey Rufus.D Ch Erindale Camilla. Erindale Tamara. Solstrand Astri. Topa of Lenham. Int Ch Erindale Colqhoun. Int Ch
Erindale Surveyor. Int Ch Erindale Nolan.
Boroughbury Bridie Girl *17.07.1970 (Jorchants Arthur´s Boy x Kelperland Chastity) .
Very typical wolfhound, average size and moderate angulations, well furnished head although a little small maybe. Sweet expression and always wanting to please. Very light on her feet. Dark grey, wavy coat of good texture.
Nothing to rave about with her and nothing to hate about her either. Dam of Aust Ch E.Cathy , E. Colleen.
Eileen of Sunningdale [Katie]*15.01.1970 (Santuary Knight of Kerry x Brid of Ballytobin).
Big grey, good substance, length, nice overall conformation and tall, well boned and spring of
rib with good proportions. Nice typical head and furnishings, very sweet nature, very different type to her brother. Matronly girl, sound but was pigeon toed unfortunately. Nice typical, strong girl, good coat and tail.
Keady of Eageslcrag, Eileen of Sunningdale, Thelbern O´Malley
Tara of Erindale *09.07.1971 (Thelbern O´Malley x Erindale Haley of Eaglescrag).
Striking silver grey with lovely coat. Very attractive head, expression and smart looking. Great body,
rib and front but sadly too straight in stifle, as her sire, with a curly tail. Very bouncy personality and her
sire’s aura about her.
Ch Erindale Grand Duchess [Aussie]*09.04.1972
(Jason of Sunningdale x Thalia of Brabyns).
Tall, dark grey brindle bitch built on long bones, adequate angulations with easy active flowing, long striding and precise movement.
Lovely front legs and feet, nice long neck, deep chest and good tuck up, super tail, beautiful face, my favorite
bitches head of all. Long foreface and well furnished with good eye and expression. Very houndy, aristocratic style with femininity.
Very fit, agile and super muscle tone. For me an inch or so too long in the back but didn’t detract from her overall balance and symmetry.
Long time developing and finishing. An elite and graceful lady with true abilies and a lovely person to know. Dam of Ch Erindale Triston, E Tasha, E. Melody Queen and E Harmony Queen.
Erindale Melody Queen