Ireland Nilrc Dog Show And Race Day Sunday 8Th Sept 13, At Field Of Dreams Schooling Track

[appleblossom 703]

Field of Dreams Schooling Track Maghera, NILRC Dog Show and Race Day held Sunday the 8^th Sept 13

The Field Of Dreams Schooling Track is an up to date, well designed, and well established family business, run and owned by the Hurley family. Set in the leafy, picturesque Maghera countryside, this Schooling Track has progressed from strength to strength over the past few years. The Hurley family pride themselves on the health and well-being of all dogs, by providing a healthy balanced diet from puppy stage, right through to they hit the race track. This track has schooled and raced Classic Winners, Track Record Breakers, Derby Trial Stake Winners, Open Class Runners, and English Derby Runners. By kind permission of Joe Hurley and Karen Woolsner, this was the venue for the NILRC Dog Show and Race Day, and the Thomas Mc Cormick Memorial Shield presentation.

 

Sundays show was to be a very special day for everyone concerned, as the family of the late Thomas Mc Cormick, a dear departed young, huntsman and show goer, were in attendance. And a very special day and show that was too. Although tinged with a little sadness, the show was an overwhelming success. I am sure Thomas was looking down on us all, and had an input in keeping us right on the day.

 

From early morning, cars and trailers arrived from North and South of the border, with families and dogs in tow. There was a Burger Bar, Hospitality Tent with tea and sandwiches for all, Doggie and CDs stand, and toilet facilities on site.

 

As the show progressed, so did the banter and the craic. It was nice to meet up with so many regular show goers, all out to support the Mc Cormick family on the day. And that they did whole heartedly. I also made some new friends. No matter how many shows I have went to over the years, and there have been many, I still meet and make new friends. What a lovely job this is.

 

The weather was not great, with heavy showers at regular intervals. This did not dampen the spirits of the show goers, and the show started at approx 1.00pm with racing first.

Here are the Racing and Showing results.

Racing Results

NILRC Champion of all Ireland Terrier
Liam Toner – Vixen
NILRC Champion of all Ireland Whippet
Gavin Wright – Bolt
NILRC Champion of all Ireland Rough Hair Lurcher
Paddy McCarthy – Gypsy
NILRC Champion of all Ireland Bull Cross
James Wood – Rusty
NILRC Champion of all Ireland Lurcher under 21”
Deirdre McCoy – Paris
NILRC Champion of all Ireland Lurcher under 23”
Lewis Wilson – Jacky
NILRC Champion of all Ireland Lurcher over 23”
Charlene Rafferty – Fizz
NILRC Champion of all Ireland Elite under 23”
John Humphries – China
NILRC Champion of all Ireland Elite over 23”
Michelle Rafferty - Zeus

Showing Results

NILRC champion of all Ireland

Ladies Handling class: Georgina McCormack with Roman

NILRC champion of all Ireland

Gentlemans Handling Class: Paddy McCarthy with Pip

NILRC champion of all Ireland Young Handlers class :

Dean Kearney with Bailey

NILRC champion of all Ireland Fancy Dress class :

Gerald Maybins son Joseph with Lucky

Lurcher Classes

Puppy class Kirsty Harpur – Lola

Pairs Gerard Lynch – Storm & Sky

Smooth under 23” Gerard Lynch – Sky

Rough Under 23” Chloe Woods – Blade

Smooth over 23” Micky Quinn – Lady

Rough over 23” Glen Doherty – Diesel

Any Rabbit Lurcher Lisa Dumigan - Boris

Any Hare Lurcher Gavin Wright – Boris

Any Fox Lurcher James Woods – Rusty

Collie Cross Jed Donagh – Flick

Whippet Cross Barry Holland – Candy

Bull Cross Brendan Coleman – Lucky

Any Racing Lurcher - Paddy McCarthy – Pip

NILRC Champion of all Ireland Lurcher : James Woods with Rusty

Reserve Micky Quinn with Lady

Runner-up Gavin Wright with Boris

 

Terrier Classes

 

Puppy Class Barry Holland – Trigger

Russell Type Peter Morgan - Chief

Lakeland/fell Peter Morgan – Chip

Patterdale Peter Morgan – Blacky

Working Terrier Shay McDonald – Spot

NILRC champion of all Ireland Terrier : Peter Morgan with Chief

Reserve Shay McDonald with Spot

Runner-up Peter Morgan with Chip

 

Whippet Classes

 

Puppy Class Leah Gray - Moley

Pairs Rochelle Duffy – Lily & Tighe

Whippet Bitch John Shaw - Tara

Whippet Dog Davy Best - Harley

Working Whippet ?

Any Racing Whippet John Shaw - ?

NILRC Champion of all Ireland Whippet : Davy Best with Harley

 

Overall in Show Results.

 

NILRC Champion of all Ireland Pup Kirsty Harpur with Lola

NILRC Champion of all Ireland Pairs : Rochelle Duffy with Lily & Tighe

NILRC Champion of all Ireland Veteran : Gavin Wright with Rusty

NILRC Show Champion of all Ireland : James Woods with Rusty

Reserve : David Best with Harley

Runner-up : Peter Morgan with Chief

The NILRC Members Perpetual Cup (Sponsored by Denis Couch )

Glen Doherty with Diesel

 

And Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank the Judges on the day. Judging is not an easy job, but you all carried out your duties to perfection. Childrens Handling Class : Rita Wright / 12-17 year olds : Leanne Hawthorne/Ladies Handling Class : Gerard Maybin /Gents Handling Class: Ian Greer/Whippets: Stephen Mc Hale/Lurchers :John Lip Rooney/Terriers : Danny Mc Intyre/ Champion Classes/ Jed Donagh. A job well done by all and thank you for that .

 

Bluebell and Billy Harpur were there to take the photographs. I see Bluebell has some cracking photographs up on the Hunting Life and Facebook at the moment. Many thanks Deirdre for all the bother you go to getting our moment of glory on the screen. Paris is very lucky dog to have an owner like you. To a lady who works tirelessly at our shows,yes Arlene Greer. Thank you so much Arlene for all the hard work you do, getting me all the show results. A job well done Arlene.

 

The hospitality tent on the day was superb. Helen Hunter was up all night making sandwiches to keep everyone fed at the show. Helen is the perfect host, and always has a welcoming smile for everybody. Helen, you are really appreciated, and a very nice lady and a true friend.

 

And Finally Finally, I always save the best to last. A big thank you to the hosts of the show, the NILRC, Chairman, and their brilliant Committe members and band of helpers, who pulled out all the stops on the day. You all worked as a team, and every part of the show went like clockwork. Well done, and a credit to all involved.

 

And now I come to the saddest part of all of the day. It is very hard to write on paper, how I feel in my heart. It was so lovely to see Tommy and Georgina Mc Cormick and their family there so soon after the death of their dear son Thomas.

 

It was great to see Georgina and Tommy smile for one moment in the day, when they presented the Thomas Mc Cormick Shield, sponsored by the NILRC, to the Overall Best in Show James Woods and his winning Lurcher Rusty.

 

Instantly, one could see a mothers grief and love come together at that moment. I can honestly say there was not a dry eye in the field at that point. What an honour to a Hunting hero of wonderful parents and family. In the middle of your grief, thank you on behalf of the Canine community North and South of the border, from the bottom of our hearts for coming up North to present this beautiful Shield. Do not forget to come again in happier times.

 

At the close of the show, Nigel Greer, Chairman of the NILRC presented Mrs Mc Cormick with a beautiful bouquet of flowers on behalf of the club. To we meet again God bless you all, and may you find happiness and peace of mind on the road ahead .

 

Albert Titterington Director of “The Great Game Fairs of Ireland” has asked me to compose an Obituary/Epitah in honour of Thomas. By kind permission, and with input from the Mc Cormick family, this I have done, and it will appear in the next issue of the Irish Country Sports and Country Life Magazine, due out in a few weeks time. Many thanks for that Albert.

 

“Perhaps my time seemed all to brief

Do not lengthen it now with untold grief

Lift up your hearts my Canine friends

God wanted me now, he set me free”

 

 

Margaret Mc Stay

Edited September 10, 2013 by appleblossom

[bluebell 418]

A lovely write up as always Margaret, it was a very enjoyable day and we had some good laughs, I just want to say thank you to Helen and Arlene for there lovely spread, your always sure of a cupa when Helen is around and i can still taste Arlene's Buns & Cakes yummy yum yum...

 

A few pics i took of the day...

 

[bluebell 418]

There was plenty of frogs about...Poor Margaret lol

 

 

 

 

[Bri 81]

A lovely looking pup.

[Bri 81]

Kermit made an appearance as well then. lol

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[bluebell 418]

[Bri 81]

Gene Kelly ???

[bluebandit 63]

Steven looks so innocent lol

[bluebell 418]

 

 

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[tailchaser 10]

Steven looks so innocent lol

Looks can be deceiving :-)

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small one are always the noiseiest from start to finish great to see the terriers there great crack wasnt much in the finish in that one jed donagh second to liam toner on the line well done lads.

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the dog that won the hairy class this day was a cracker love to know the breeding behind it and would the owner sell

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jed looked focused on the day concentration is serious