Attacked by their rough, shaggy appearance and gentle character, quiet impression and soulful eyes we got on the waiting list of the famous Eaglescrac-Kennels of Ruth and Leslie Jenkins in Ware - Herts. In 1971 IW's were pretty rare and we had to wait for two years till our puppy was born. It was "Eaglescrag Corinna" ("Ch. Eaglescrag Fintan" x "Ch. Clodagh of Boroughbury"). We had "Pick of litter", because "Cora" as we called her, was a singleton pup. The following year we aquired at Cruft's a half-sister "Quethiok Sceptre" ("Ch. Eaglecrag Fintan" x "Ch. Aelius Elfreda") nicknamed "Zulu". Her mother "Elfreda" was twice Cruft's winner two years running. We showed our treasures at shows in Germany and at the "Irdie Club Show" in the Netherlands. Under Mr. van der Molen "Cora" was best bitch in open class.

	In Germany IW's were seldom seen at shows with maximum entries of 2-3. Encouraged by our show success we somewhat uncritically took this as legitimation, to venture on the breeding line. Meanwhile we met Susan Hudson of "Brabyns" who was associated with the breed all her life. She recommended to us a young dog from her line of a descent not too close to our "Eaglecrags". This was "Wellandscroft Flynn" ("Ch. Petasmeade Chieftrain of Brabyns" x "Buckhurst Rosalind") from a litter of 26, 11 alive !

	Our aquaintance with experienced breeder Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, Miss Hudson, and the Misses Harrison & Atfield we got more inside knowledge of the breed and fascination grew. Later we met Bill Siggers - Ouborough - who managed this important Kennel of the twenties and thirties. He was one of the greatest characters of the doggie world ! Slowly the fog of ignorance lifted and we dared to make a practical start not knowing that perhaps after 20 years with luck you might have reached a line of your own. Without the work of the old generation this short spann of time hardly allows this achievement. Beginners don't take this in account. Our good old "Flynn" gave us his first mating on first birthday. At that time we couldn't know, that his last successful mating happened on the day 10 years later. Meanwhile he gained many show titles. Bundessieger, Weltsieger '75 and several Landessieger. His first daughter also became World Youth Champion and many of his progeny were successful in the showing, including "Ch. Beldale Belle von der Oelmühle", the first IW-Verbandssieger. Flynn was only 84 cm tall, lovely head, great front with the right curves. His strong muscular thighs, but somewhat straight angulation enabled him to make enormous jumps. He also covered a lot of ground in the ring with powerful thrust from the rear, typical for the breed and seldom met these days. This magnificent gait he inherited from his longlived Sire "Chiefrain", who gained, aged 8, a well deserved 2. place at Cruft's under Ron Baird . Our "Flynn" lived to 10 years.

	While planing the first litter we couldn't imagine the difficulties of rearing the puppies. It was a round the hour long task of feeding the right food and to train the fast-growing youngster to avoid deficiency. No other breed of dogs needs more intensive care. You have to support the dame in the upbringing round-the-clock watching and supplementary feeding. It was a great help to put the right puppies of 500 - 800 g, 3 times daily on the scales. It was a stroke of luck that we could aquire "Eaglescrag Fingal", a dark grey brindle strongwilled & powerful dog with his wonderful strong hindquarters, which he gave to his progeny noticable to this days. "Fingal" was three years in succession Nr. 2 at the world championship show, after the number first has disappeared from the lime light, a proof of his top condition & quality. He was used as stud 12 times only. After he recovered from a torsion, he didn't survive a second attack. He was Papenfu&Mac223;'s favorite IW and is remembered fondly. Being the leader of the pack he was a true law and order dog !

	Another important stud was "Connacht of Brabyns". After winning two classes at Cruft's Jürgen Rösner admired this beautiful specimen. His breeder Susan Hudson remarked: You can have him! There we got to own one of the loveliest, most typical representatives of the breed which gaves us many winning off-spring. "Connacht" was very well balanced with elegant, far-reaching movement with sound step. A charming character. He roared and made funny noises constantly, a "great talker" as his breeder put it. Many of our wellknown dogs were direct from "Connacht", "Quite Good" and consequently "Zeno".

	We were fortunate with the acquisition of our import bitches. Puppies or youngsters were selected for us by the breeders themselves, a good example of trust & confidence. Jürgen Papenfuß brought from Eaglescrag for Burkhard Beine (Shamrock) and ourselves 2 young bitches "Barly" and "Shea", off-spring of the famous "Ch. Eaglescrag Toby" x "Ch. Eaglescrag Kelt", a stroke of luck (a third, "Eaglescrag Kathleen went to the Deemers, USA). I went to Wales in a Polo to fetch these untrained youngsters . They didn't move one step on the lead. Beine made use of our stud dogs because of a similar breeding base. He was very successful but disbanded his Kennel for personal reasons. We took over most all of his hounds, including the Deerhounds. I must mention "Ch. Shamrock Erotic Eileen" who was successful at shows and in breeding work.

	Our friend Dagmar Kenis-Pordham opened new chances for us. We took on "Solstrand Pieter" as a welcome addition to our stud dogs to broaden our base. "Pieter" was used by the Belgium Kennel. "Of the good Heath" to father "Ch. Nash of the good Heath", later he became Sire of the legendary "Quincy of Kilmara", perhaps the most sought-after Sire in the history in the breed. Another interesting development came about by the mating of "Ch. Whistle von der Oelmühle" to "Ch. Solstrand Kaspar" (2 x IW Clubwinner & BIS, Crufts winner, etc.). Three champions were the result in this litter. "Oelmühle Alison" and "Anton" stayed with us. "Oelmühle Atlas" was exported to Sweden to live with our friends Janson. "Amely" stayed with Dagmar and was mother of the Irish Guards Regiment, maskot, Soldstrand Malachy (pictured on the frontpage of Mary McBryde's book „The Irish Wolfhound“.

	Our exchanges of breeding stock with breeders in the US brought off interesting combinations and developments. In the past we didn't breed very close but now we opened up new perspectives with the help of friends breeding a similar IW like the late "Jackie Karpinski". Pam Paloma & Samuel Ewing, all very keen breeders and strongly devoted to the Irish Wolfhound. And we own much during the course of almost a quarter of the century to our British, Belgian, Danish, Dutch, Swedish & Polish friends and the fruitful exchange and sporting competition which the wheel keeps turning.

	Jürgen Papenfuß & Jürgen Rösner Oelmühle, 42699 Solingen, Telephone +49 212 810899, Fax +49 212 817800 E-mail papenfuss-roesner@t-online.de