Top Shooting & Working Dog Events

[AlbertJ 569]

The Irish Game Fair Shanes Castle, Antrim on the 25th & 26th June

looks certain to set new records for overall attendance and for shooting, fishing and working dog attractions and competitions.

 

Shooting – the fair with the largest range of guns and best clay prizesIf you are a shooter you will not want to miss the greatest shooting show ever mounted in Ireland with the largest display of gun dealers and guns ever seen at any Irish fair and some particularly unique attractions plus one of the best clay layouts with the best game fair prizes.

 

For the first time ever at any Irish game or country Fair, shooting expert Mike Yardley will bring his unique gun-fitting skills to Shanes Castle on 25/26 June 2011.

 

As most shooters know, an ill fitting gun really does not help their scores or put game in the bag. The obvious thing to do is have your gun shaped to fit you properly and that is exactly what Mike will be offering.

 

Albert Titterington explains: "Mike Yardley is one of the most highly respected authorities on all aspects of gun design, shooting and gun fit and the art of fitting a gun properly to the shooter is one of Mike’s particular specialities, having advised several gun makers on stock design, and writing the major work of ‘Gun-fitting: The Quest for Perfection.’

 

“Anyone can have a personal fitting session with Mike on both days of the Fair. But the really stunning news is that their own guns can be altered there and then. With Mike will be Chris Symonds, who has worked as a gunsmith for the London trade for many years. It was Chris who developed the infrared system of stock bending which offers a number of advantages over conventional techniques. So using this special infra red method you can get measured, wander off round the best Game Fair in the country and collect your weapon before driving home – all for the very modest fee of just £200. What could be more enjoyable or a better investment than that!"

 

And armed with your newly fitted gun you might wish to try your expertise on one of the finest clay lines in the country with some superb prizes.

 

The All Ireland Game Fair All Comers Championship Final comes to Shanes Castle with the final heat and grand final where the winner not only takes the title but the top prize of a Beretta 682 Golden worth over £3,000 jointly sponsored by Ardee Sports Ltd and Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine.

 

The Shanes Castle event is also a qualifier for the Barbour All Ireland Novice Clay Pigeon Championships which has its final at the Irish Game & Country Fair at Birr Castle on the 27th & 28th August.

 

Amongst a glittering array of prizes the Shanes Castle Champion wins a Bettinsoli Shotgun sponsored by Donal McCloy Guns Unlimited and a pair of Ranger XL Shooting Glasses worth £200 sponsored by Tommy Beattie.

 

Best unclassified score over the two days also wins a pair of Ranger XL Shooting Shooting Glasses and class winners compete for c£1,000 in cash and other prizes over the two days.

 

Working Dogs – The largest and most varied display of international standard canine events with the largest prize fund ever in Ireland.

 

Amongst a glittering array of canine attractions are: The Information Stand mounted by the Kennel Club; the Feedwell International Team and individual open event featuring teams and competitors from NI, ROI , Holland & Wales; the Chudleys UK and Irish Interclub Test featuring 10 teams of Golden Retrievers from all over the UK; the Feedwell Dog & Gun events and novice retriever test; Redmills Cocker and Springer Spaniel tests; the All Ireland Allcomers Game Fair Championships in Retriever Handling; a heat of the Barbour All Ireland Game Fair Novice Retriever Championships; the Irish Gundog Scurry Championships heat and final; gundog arena displays by the Irish CLA Team; arena display by HPRs; dummy throwing championships; display of sled dogs with a difference – Irish Setters!; NI Gundog Field & Show Society pedigree dog show for gundog, hound and terrier groups; dog agility show & display; horse and hound displays; displays of canine art including the unveiling of the new portrait of Master Mc Grath; a huge row of canine related products; children’s dog handling show; the Victorian Poacher & his whippet; the 24th All Ireland Terrier and Lurcher Championships – racing and show; heat of the Redmills Five Nations International Lurcher Championships ( final at the Irish Game & Country Fair at Birr) and the final of the Redmills Master McGrath Challenge to find the fastest lurcher in the UK and Ireland.

 

AND

Keith Mathews – the BBC’s Dog Guru is to try to better his WORLD RECORD set at the BALLYWALTER GAME & COUNTRY LIVING FAIR.

 

When you add in an action packed arena programme; a great range of quality trade stands; a magnificent living history village and all sorts of other entertainment for the whole family in the beautiful traditional estate setting of Shanes Castle, this really is a

a fantastic country lifestyle weekend for the whole family. For further details see www.irishgamefair.com call 028( from ROI 048) 44839167 /44615416 E:irishgamefair@btinternet.com