Ireland Minerock Harrier Hunt Club ( Matt Slevins ) Dog Show Sunday 1St June14

[appleblossom 703]

Minerock Harriers Hunt Club ( Matt Slevins Dog Show ) Sunday 1st June 14

 

 

The strawberry alarm clock jingled at our bedside at 4.30 am, signalling it was time for us to rise and shine, hitch up the dog trailer and head for Matt Slevins show, in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. We arrived in Ennscorthy at 11.00am , and the field was nearing full to capacity .

 

 

This show was well supported by good Canine folk from North and South of the border, who came out in force to support this great Working Dog Show. The weather was very kind to us, Although it was cloudy all day, there was just a little drizzle of rain at the end of the day.

 

You could smell the lovely country air of Slaney Valley, the minute we stepped out of the car and unto the dewey green grass of the show ground. For a moment I thought I was at a show back home, there were so many familar faces looking back at me. John Shaw was there with his new Camper Van, cooking breakfast for Paul Reynolds, Chrissy Loughran and Jason Dunwoody. God help us, whats the world coming to. I am told they are still alive and not poisoned. I also met up with Mickey and Michael Quinn from Lurgan, Barry Holland and Joe Boggs from Strabane, Denis Couch from Cork, and too many more to mention.

 

There was Flapper Racing, followed by the Digging competition, and that was when the fun began. Matt Slevin gave the starting orders, and soon the puffs and pants were clear to be heard of hard digging men, all with one goal in mind to qualify for Birr Castle in August.

 

As the dig progressed the shirts and shovels were flying in the air, with wives, partners and girlfriends all cheering on their favourites. Very soon Matt blew the whistle and the dig was over. And the winners were declared.

 

The diggers were :

 

Team 1/ Trevor Moody/John O Toole

Team 2/ Shane Gilmartin/Keith Breen

Team 3/ PJ O Brien/Keith Brennan

 

And the winners were :

 

Team 1/ Trevor Moody/John O Toole

 

Congratulations to both men and to all the Diggers. In my eyes you are all winners.

 

Straight after the Digging, the Showing began.

 

Here are the Results of the showing :

 

 

Terriers

 

All Terrier Dog Pups was Johnathon Swaine.

All Terrier Bitch Pups was John Norman

 

*Champion Terrier Pup was Johnathon Swaine *

 

Jack Russell Smooth Dog was James Heffernan

Jack Russell Smooth Bitch was Jim O'Meara

Jack Russell Rough Dog was Jim O'Meara

Jack Russell Rough Bitch was Shane Gilmartin

Border Terrier Dog was John Norman

Border Terrier Bitch was Tom Power

Lakeland Fell Dog was Gavin Maguire

Lakeland Fell Bitch was Bryan O'Neill

Patterdale Dog was Kevin Maguire

Patterdale Bitch was Keith Murphy

Crossbred Terrier Dog & Bitch was Jim O'Meara

Best Entered Terrier was Dean Dunphy

Veteran Terriers was Jade Dunphy

Best Pair of Terriers was Jim O'Meara

 

*Champion Terrier was Kevin Maguire *

 

 

Lurchers

 

All Lurcher Dog Pups was Michael Leacy

All Lurcher Bitch Pups was Denny Flynn

 

*Champion Lurcher Pup was Michael Leacy *

 

Under 24 Smooth Dog was Jed Donagh

Under 24 Smooth Bitch was Tommy Cullen

Under 24 Rough Bitch was David Dickenson

Terrier Cross Lurcher was John Sheehan

Over 24 Smooth Dog was Garry Smith

Over 24 Smooth Bitch was Michael Quinn

Over 24 Rough Dog was John Shaw

Over 24 Rough Bitch was David Dickenson

Bull Cross Lurcher was Joseph Murray

Veteran Lurcher was Tracy Crosbie

Best Pair of Lurchers was Ned Kane

 

*Champion Lurcher was John Sheehan*

 

Whippets

 

Whippet Dog Pups was J. Fitzpatrick

Whippet Bitch Pups was Michael Quinn

 

*Champion Whippet Pup was Michael Quinn *

 

Whippet Dog was John McStay

Whippet Bitch was T. Quinn

Working Whippet Dog was Mark O'Neill

Working Whippet Bitch was was T. Quinn

Veteran Whippet was T. Quinn

Best Pair of Whippets was John McStay

 

*Champion Whippet was Mark O'Neill *

 

Hounds

 

Unentered Harrier Dog was The Castletownkennigh Harriers

Unentered Harrier Bitch was The Rockview Harriers

Unentered Beagle Dog & Bitch was Liam McGuire

Unentered Foxhound Dog was The Kilkenny Foxhounds

Unentered Foxhound Bitch was The West Wexford Harriers

Champion Hound Pup was The Kilkenny Foxhounds

Entered Harrier Dog was Ger Mc Carthy

Entered Harrier Bitch was The Rockview Harriers

Entered Beagle Dog was Jim O'Meara

Entered Beagle Bitch was Mickey Croke

Entered Foxhound Dog was The Kilkenny Foxhounds

Entered Foxhound Bitch was The Kilkenny Foxhounds

Best Couple of Hounds was The Castletownkennigh Harriers

 

*Champion Hound was The Kilkenny Foxhounds *

 

Pets

All Pups was Jenny O'Meara

Small Dog was Marie O'Hanlon

Child Handling was Bronagh Murphy

Medium Dog was Anne Brophy

Gundog was Stacy Scallon

Lady Handling was Margaret McStay

Large Dog was Barry Flynn

Friendliest Dog was Marie O'Hanlon

Pet the judge wants to take home was Haley Murphy

 

*Best Overall Pet of Show was Marie O'Hanlon

Reserve was Margaret Mc Stay *

 

And Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank the judges for a job well done. Judging is not an easy job at any time, but you carried out your duties with efficiency and respect, and of that we are truly thankful. There were a couple of photographers there on the day clicking away, recording our every moment of glory.Looking forward to seeing all the photographs up shortly on the forums.

 

There was a very sad moment during the show, when a one minute of silence was held for the late father of David Dickinson, an avid show organiser and show goer. Davids father died suddenly the Sunday previous. May he rest in peace.

 

And Finally, Finally, what words can I say, that would speak highly enough about these two wonderful people. Yes Matt and Catherine Slevin you made us all so welcome to your show. I know Catherine told me she and Matt had spent the last three months organising this show for us all to enjoy, and enjoy we did. Minerock Harrier Hunt Club Dog Show will be etched in my memory for many months to come, as one of the best shows of the year . Thank you from the bottom of my heart for a lovely day, and will certainly be back next year for more of the same.

 

Margaret Mc Stay

Edited June 4, 2014 by appleblossom