Ireland Gene Gallaghers Dog Show And Race Day At Grange Co Sligo Saturday 5Th August 17

[appleblossom 681]

North Sligo Agriculture Show Gene GallaghersTerrier/Lurcher/Whippet Dog Show and Race Day Saturday 5^th August 17

 

We started out early on Saturday morning, met up with some friends along the way, and headed up the motorway to beautiful Yeats Country and the North Sligo Agriculture Show/Dog Show.

 

Sitting in the lap of the beautiful table mountain of Ben Bulben, lies the village of Grange Co Sligo. This was the venue for North Sligo Agriculture Show, and Gene Gallaghers Lurcher, Terrier, and Whippet Dog Show.

 

The sun shone in abundance, and this was backed up with a wealth of craic, banter, good food, great company, and after the showing good music and song from Gerry Guthrie to dance to. What more could anyone ask for.

 

As we arrived early, we had time to go up through the show and soak up the nice Carnival buzz and all the fun of the fair. There were many feet on the ground and the atmosphere was electric.

 

 

Every Agricultural animal you could mention was on show. Cows, sheep, horses, various stands, bouncy Castles, and climbers for the children, and many more attractions on offer, to many to mention.

 

 

 

Along the way I met up with some good canine friends I had not seen for a couple of years. Catherine and Matt Slevin came all the way from County Wexford, as did Pat Lynch and his son Michael who travelled from Strabane. What great Canine and Country Sports people these people are, enjoying all the fun of the fair in Sligo

 

The venue for the dog show was superb this year, with well spaced out rings, easy access, ringside parking and a good racetrack.

 

 

The Racing started at approximately 12.30, followed by Showing. Here are the results

 

Racing

 

Under 21

Deirdre Mc Coy with Taylor

 

Over 23” Lurcher

Adam Cummins with Connor

 

Under 23”

Michelle Rafferty with Gin

 

Bull Cross

Kirsty Harpur with Skyler

 

Rough Coat

Peter Cummins with Harry

 

Whippets

Charlene Rafferty with Zio

 

Pups

Michelle Rafferty with Spot

 

Terriers

1/Jed Donagh with Faye

2/Michael Lynch with Randy

 

 

Showing Results

 

OVERALL CHAMPION WHIPPET

 

Colin Maguire with Pepsi

 

Reserve

Sean Dooher with Joe

3^rd

Charlene Rafferty with Zolo

 

OVERALL CHAMPION LURCHER

 

Jed Donagh with Hammer

 

Reserve

Charlene Rafferty with Red

3^rd

Kirsty Harpur with Regal

 

OVERALL CHAMPION TERRIER

 

Terence Mc Laughlin with Rusty

 

Reserve

Pat Maloney with Nipper

3^rd

Niall O Cloghan with Rex

 

OVERALL CHAMPION PUP

 

Wesley Scott with Midge

 

Reserve

Jed Donagh with Sid

3^rd

Brooke Rafferty with Milly

 

 

 

***Overall Champion and Best in Show went to :

 

***Colin Maguire with Pepsi ***

 

Reserve

Jed Donagh with Hammer

3rd

Terence Mc Laughlin with Rusty.

 

A Big Congratulations to Colin, Jed and Terence, and all above very worthy winners, both in Racing and Showing.

 

 

There was a very poignant moment, when Hugh Mc Gowan stepped forward to present the PJ Mc Gowan memorial Perpetual Cup to Colin Maguire : Best in Show winner. This cup was donated by the Mc Gowan family in memory of their late father, a top Terrier man and kept Terriers all his life. What a lovely accolade.

 

 

And Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank the judges, Peter Cummins Lurchers/ Terriers Matt Slevin/Whippets Michael Quinn for a job well done. Judging is not an easy job at any time, but you carried out your duties to perfection

 

And Finally, Finally, our very enjoyable day out at Sligo dog show would not of been possible without the hard work and determination of Gene Gallagher and his brilliant team of helpers. It was evident a lot of hard work and sleepless nights went on behind the scenes in the run up to this show.

 

Gene, your dog show was a credit to you and your team, and made Saturday a most enjoyable day for all the good Canine folk North and South of the border. We really enjoyed every moment of it Gene, and look forward to more of the same next year.

 

 

 

Margaret Mc Stay

Edited August 9, 2017 by appleblossom

[AlbertJ 569]

Well done to everyone and all who qualified for the Great Game Fairs of Ireland Championships - both the Five Nations Lurcher Championship at the Birr Game Fair Sunday 27th August 2017 but also the 2018 Championships.

 

And a big thank you to Margaret for another very atmospheric report.

[Scooby07 0]

Have to say this show has gone the same way as most shows now you knew who was going to win not by the standard of dogs but by who was judging never have i seen it so blatant the terrier and lurcher judges chatting with their friends and not even showing an interest in every one elses dogs

[source 135]

Great write up Margaret, really enjoyed the show, nice to meet up again after so long. I really enjoyed catching up with John and Michael. Hope to see you next year.