Ireland Rathnew, Co Wicklow Charity Dog Show And Race Day, Sunday 25Th August 13

[appleblossom 703]

Dog Show in Rathnew Co Wicklow Sunday 25^th August 13

 

Rathnew, meaning “The Ring Fort of Naoi “ is a village in Co Wicklow, located south of the capital of Dublin, along the M11 between Dublin and Wexford. Famous for its Gaelic Football , the village of Rathnew football team has won the Wicklow Senior Provincial Championship 30 times, the most recent being 2010. This was the venue and beautiful scenic location for the Charity Dog Show and Racing on Sunday 25.8.13. We were up with the dawn chorus at 5.15am, dogs and car loaded up , and headed for Mc Donalds in Newry, to meet up with all the other Northern Canine folk for the journey down to Wicklow. After a few wrong turns and a few laughs, we all reached our destination at 10.00am.

The racing began at approximately 1.00p . The racing was a little different than we would have up North. If you wished to race your dog, you paid your 2 euro and away you go, and the winners received a small monetary prize at the finishing line. This was a great bit of craic and created some laughter and excitement. You also had the choice if you wanted to let your dog run out of traps, or slipped , whichever you wanted. I must say it was very relaxing, and I really enjoyed this part of the show immensely .

There was a chip van, toilet facilities, and a very good PA system on site. The sun shone all day, without a drop of rain in sight. Just one problem, the good weather brought the wasps out in force, and they decided to sting the life out of me. But alas I had a knight in shining armour come to my rescue. Yes that special person was Ricky Mc Elwaine with his first aid box. Ricky, one of our Northern Canine folk certainly knows his job. Within minutes the screaming and stinging stopped, as Ricky poured his magic potion on my finger and the pain just drifted away. Many thanks Ricky for your kindness yesterday. It was much appreciated.

I met up with some lovely people yesterday, some old friends and also made some new ones. As Dave has said , it would of been nice to see a few more Southern Canine folk in attendance, to support this very worthy charity show. But we all have commitments and it is not always possible to be two places at one time. May be next year.

The show started at approximately 1.00 pm with the racing first. Here are some Showing Results :

Champion Whippet Pup

Leah Gray with Moley

Champion Whippet

Michael Quinn with Finn

Champion Terrier Pup

Peter Morgan with Blizard

Champion Terrier

Tom Power with Sky.

Champion Lurcher Pup

Gary Smith

Reserve

John Moriarity

Some Lurcher Results

Under 24 Smooth Dog

Jed Donagh

Under 24 Smooth Bitch

Fiona Devlin

Under 24 Rough Dog

Greg Murphy with Dude

Under 24 Rough Bitch

Melissa Greer with Honey

Bull Cross

Mickey Quinn with Lady

Terrier Cross

Graham Brennan

Collie Cross

Tom Hennessey with Lola

Over 24 Smooth Dog

Sam Hennessy with Rita

Over 24 Smooth Bitch

Jed Donagh

Over 24 Rough Dog

Stephen Cousins

Over 24 Rough Bitch

John Moriarity

Lurcher Pairs

Jed Donagh

Champion Lurcher

Sam Hennessy

Overall and Best in Show went To :

Sam Hennessy

Reserve

Tom Power

Runner Up

Michael Quinn

A big Congratulations to : Sam, Tom, and Michael and well done and congratulations to all the other winners.

 

32 Counties Champion of Champions

Lurchers

Mark O Neill with Sweep

Reserve

Fiona Devlin

Terriers

Tom Power with Sky

Ian Heslip with Ranger

Whippets

John Shaw with Mango

Reserve

John Shaw with Blue

 

Overall 32 Counties Winner :

Tom Power

Reserve

Mark O Neill

A Big Congratulations to the nicest 2 Gentlemen in Ireland, and well deserved winners.

And Finally, I would like to thank the judges on behalf of Dave Dickinson , for carrying out your remit so diligently on the day.

Lurchers : Willie Flynn/ Whippets : Catherine Slevin/ Terriers : Matt Slevin/ Pets : Ian Whelan

32 Counties :

Lurchers : John Hendrix/ Whippets : Simon Murphy/ Terriers : Brian O Neill. Many thanks for a job well done. Bluebell ( Deidre Mc Coy ) was there in full swing with her camera recording all our moments of glory. Deidre, what would we do without you .Had some great laughs with you there yesterday. Looking forward to seeing the photographs up shortly.

And Finally, Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank most sincerely Dave Dickinson, his wife and family, and all his loyal band of helpers on the day, for a great family day out at his charity dog show. I promised Lisa Dickinson I would give her a special mention, as she says she was chief helper, and worked very hard all day.

It is also nice to know that Wicklow Cancer Support Group will benefit from all our loyal Canine friends showing their pedigrees off on the day. Definitely a man and womans best friend in every sense of the word. Hopefully the revenue generated at this show on Sunday will help ease the pain and suffering of some individuals in need of help. Dave we all enjoyed ourselves down there in Co Wicklow on Sunday, and look forward to more of the same again next year.

 

Margaret Mc Stay

Edited September 6, 2013 by appleblossom

[rollerman 44]

i would like to congratulate mark o neill and john shaw on winning the 32 counties well done lads

Edited August 27, 2013 by rollerman

[appleblossom 703]

Hope to see you at Birr Rollerman with your winning Whippets