Ireland Birr Castle Game Fair Saturday 23Rd August, And Sunday 24Th August 14.

appleblossom · August 28, 2014

Birr Castle Game Fair Saturday 23^rd August, and Sunday 24^th August 14.

In the Heart of Ireland, amidst a green jewel of world renown, lies the unique and simply gorgeous Birr Castle, Birr Co Offaly, with its beautiful gardens, rivers and ponds. The demesne itself is noted worldwide for its parks, gardens and arboretum designed around the castle, the lake and the confluence of the rivers Camcor and Little Brosna.

This venue was the perfect venue, and provided a magical back drop for Birr Castle Game Fair, Saturday 23^rd August and Sunday 24^th August 14.

Now coming into its seventh year, Birr Castle Game Fair has grown rapidly and is now recognised as the Republic of Irelands national Game Fair. For weeks in advance of this great occasion, the words on every country sportsman and womans lips were “ are you going to Birr” and the topic of all conversations at every dog show up and down the country.

Sunday morning arrived at 3.30am in our house, with the dog chorus sounding loudly from our dog pens, reminding the head of the household it was time to get on the road to Birr Castle and the Game Fair we had looked forward to all year.

With Sat Nav Set for Birr and the road ahead, daylight just breaking, we started on our journey, and joined up with the rest of the Birr Canine convoy, and headed down to the deep South of Ireland. After a few missed turns, and rest room breaks, we eventually arrived at Birr Castle at 10.00am.

After getting the dogs out to stretch their legs from the long journey down, fed, watered and safely locked up in the trailer, we headed up into the show and joined in the atmosphere and all the fun of the Game Fair. We were not disappointed.

I met up with some regulars along the way. Jenny O Meara and family from Tipperary was there with their beautiful Irish Wolfe Hound Yates. Jenny informed me, she is getting another Irish Wolfe hound in November. What a lovely friendly lady, with a lovely family, and a genuine canine friendly person.

As I moved along through the show, another very nice canine acquaintance crossed my path. Sandra Kelly and her husband from Dublin, were having a look around the stands, and was loving their day out at Birr Castle. In general conversation Sandra mentioned she would love a copy of our Magazine “Irish Country Sports and Country Life” because she had heard good reports about it, and could not find a copy. I have promised Sandra she will receive a copy of the next issue from me.

I also chatted and waved to old friends and regular show goers, Karl Roche and partner, Tracy and Hunter Crosby, Martin Tucker and Denis Couch, David Dickinson from the Rathnew Club and many more people too numerous to mention. All these people out for a great days craic and banter with like minded people.

We had a browse around the many stands, including Stephen Smiths “Barbour Stand” and Richard Cadells “Out Door Expierence,” Portadown, all part of this brilliant Game Fair, and picked up some bargains along the way. This year I took some time out to visit the gun dog arena. What a display of fine working dogs. Although I did not understand all the commands they were shouting, it certainly was a good learning curve, a wealth of knowledge and a very pleasant expierence.

Glen Doherty sponsored ferrets boxes for the ferrett racing on Saturday. This talented man produces some top quality dog boxes and trailers as well, and is a keen sportsman. This was a nice jesture and much appreciated.

As time flies when you are enjoying yourself, we soon realised, it was time to be heading back towards the Canine arena, and the start of the digging competition.

Kieran Young was there with his stop watch, and the digging competition was under way. Tee shirts were thrown off, muscles and tattoos exposed, as the women folk and families cheered their loved ones on. Very soon the digging competition ended with Tangos dulced tones ringing out to stop. After measuring completed, Kieran Young announced the winners,

** Shane Gilmartin and Keith Breen, two overjoyed young men, were well deserved winners, and congratulations to both men.**

On completion of the Digging Competition, it was time for the showing to commence. Here are some results of the Racing on Saturday, and showing on Sunday. (Many thanks to Shane Lee for sending them to me)

Racing Results

Master Mc Grath Qualifer Over 23

Gary Smith with Bono

Master Mc Grath Qualifer Under 23

Rose Mc Coy with Diego

Master Mc Grath Qualifer Under 21

Nigel Greer with Kildrum

1/Rough Coated

John Shaw with Boris

2/Bull Cross/Terrier

Dillion O Shea with Chance

3/ Long Dog

Chontelle Mc Meekin with Flash

***Overall Champion from 1/2/3/ ***

Chontelle Mc Meekan with Flash

Lurcher Race

Jed Donagh with Flick

Whippets

Ryan Wright with Bolt

Terriers

Brian Crothers with Molly

A big congratulations to all the worthy winners

*Showing Results *

Lurchers

1/ Puppy

Colin Mc Kay with Ben

2/ Whippet Cross

Jed Donagh with Chief

3/ Best Pair of Lurchers

Pat Leahy with Spike /Maggo

4/ Lamping Lurcher Dog

Adam Curran with Taugh

5/ Lamping Lurcher Bitch

Laura Phibbis with Sandy

6/ Smooth Over Dog

Mark O Neill with Mussle

7/ Smooth Bitch

Mickey Quinn with Lady

8/ Rough Lamping Dog under 23

Tracy Crosbie with Flynn Junior

9/ Rough Lamping Bitch over 23

Graham Brennan with Gypsy

10/ Rough /Smooth dog under 23

Peter Cummins with Sires

11/ Rough/Smooth Bitch under23

Mark Mc Callion with Rosie

12/ Collie Lurcher

Adam Curran with Taugh

13/ Terrier Breed

Jed Donagh with Shadow

14/ Bull Breed

Colin Mc Kay with Flick

15/ Vetern

Mark O Neill with Butch

***Overall Champion Lurcher

Adam Curran with Taugh

Reserve

Colin Mc Kay with Flick

3rd

Jed Donagh with Shadow

Whippet Pups

1/Whippet Dog Pup under 1 year old

Janet Duke with Oscar

2/ Whippet Bitch Pup under one year old

Michael Quinn with Tara

Whippets

3/ Whippet Dog

John Mc Stay with Darcy

4/ Whippet Bitch

Tracy Gill with Ash

5/ Working Whippet Dog

Steve Herridge with Stan

6/ Working Whippet Bitch

Tom Quinn with Cass

7/ Whippet Pairs

Ger Walsh with Jill and Rose

8/ Vetern Whippet

Mark O Neill with Misty

9/ Racing Whippet

John Shaw with Mango

***Overall Champion Whippet

Steve Herridge with Stan

Reserve Champion

Tracy Gill with Ash

Terriers ( Some of Results

sheets went missing , so here is what I have been Given )

Terrier Pups

Shane Gilmartin with Twister

Terriers

Russell Bitch

Jed Donagh with OBE

Russell Dog

Damien Kelly with Borris

Border Bitch

Kate Fogarty

Lakeland Dog

Peter Morgan with Tim

Patterdales

Peter Morgan With Blade

Vetern Terrier

Graham Brennan with Max

***Overall Champion Terrier

Damien Kelly with Borris

Reserve Champion Terrier

Peter Morgan with Blade

***Overall Show Champion and Best In Show

Damien Kelly with Borris

Reserve Show Champion and Best in Show

Steve Herridge with Stan

3^rd

Adam Curran with Taugh

***Overall Puppy Champion and Best in Show

Janet Duke with Oscar

Reserve Show Champion and best in show

Shane Gilmartin with Twister

3^rd

Colin Mc Kay with Ben

**A big Congratulations to all the winners.

*** And now the Results from the 5 Nations ***

Overall 5 Nations Champion Lurcher

Jed Donagh with Flick

Reserve 5 Nations Champion Lurcher

Mark O Neill with

**This accolade could not of went to, two of the nicest people on the Country Sports Circuit, and both men a credit to the sport. Many Congratulations**

***Overall 5 Nations Champion Terrier

John Hendricks with Rocky

Reserve Overall 5 Nations Champion

John Hendricks with Todd

**Again John, a well deserved win with good working Terriers, amd another good Country Sportsman. Congratulations John, with not only 1 Champion Dog, but 2 wee crackers.**

Birr Castle Game Fair was full of fun and enjoyment, but in the midst of all of this, memories from Shows gone by can float through our minds. Carrying on through our beautiful memories, it was a glowing tribute from Kieran Young, to put up a Memorial Cup this year in memory of his partner of many years Colette Gannon. This memorial will be for Sports Persons / Personality of the year and will be carried on yearly at Birr Castle Game Fair.

Aj Titterington paid a lovely tribute in his speech to Colette, an avid Sports woman in her own right. I have no doubt in my mind, Colettes spirit in Country Sports will live on in its rightful place, through this beautiful wood hand carved Memorial Cup, and among her many friends.

It was then time to announce the winner/winners of this beautiful Memorial Cup for Sports Personality of the Year. Aj Titterington done the honours, and this award went to Mickey Quinn and Michael, from Lurgan Co Armagh. Mickey and Michael, father and son, are too of the nicest, honest, genuine Country Sports people around. The Colette Gannon Memorial Cup was presented by Colettes daughter Joanne, and I can honestly say there was not a dry eye around the ring. A big congratulations to Mickey and Michael, too very well deserved winners. Too very happy men going home to Lurgan on Sunday night.

And Finally, on behalf of the Game Fair Digging competition organiser and director Kieran Young, I would like to thank the following Sponsors:

*Country Sports and Country Life Magazine/ Bulldog Tools/ Belman & Flint/ Marwalsh/ Wilderbeast. *

You made our digging competitors very happy with your generous sponsorship, and many thanks for that. Also many thanks to Kieran Young himself and his lovely daughter Joanne, for all the hard work and sleepless nights, put into making this competition a success. It was a credit to you both, and long may this competition continue being part of our future Game Fairs.

Yana Scupakova and Bluebell were there with their cameras, recording our every moment of glory. Hopefully it will not be too long to we see some nice photographs up on the sites.

I must not forget our excellent judges on the day.

Terriers : Paddy Curtayne/ Lurchers : Breandan Coleman/ Whippets : Tom Barry.

Five Nations: Terriers : Robert Black/Tom Barry/ Breandan Coleman.

Lurchers : Shane Lee/Patsy Mc Coy/ Gary Smith

Judging is not an easy job at any time, but you all carried out your remits with dignity and integrity. A job well done by all.

Stephen Mc Gonigle as usual gave an excellent commentary of happenings during the 5 Nations Championships and other events in the Game Fair. Very clear spoken and well informed, a very busy man on the day, and a man of many talents.

The Roscrea team certainly have the knack of making things run smooth and efficiently. A big thank you for a great weekend of sportsmanship and results.

And Finally Finally, the huge success of Birr Castle Game Fair was plain to see with a very large crowd in attendance. The Game Fair has demonstrated, that the way forward for a successful Irish Game Fair is the organisation and delivering of events with wider family appeal for those who are fervent Country Sports people, and who live, work, hunt or play in the Irish countryside.

None of this would be possible without the King of the Castle himself, Albertj Titterington, his wife Irene, Co Directors and their brilliant band of helpers. Albert and Irene, you are a dedicated team, working together for the better of Country Sports, enjoying the moment, and your generosity knows no bounds.

Many thanks for a great weekend of Country Sports at Birr Castle, and I look forward to meeting up with you both again at the 3^rd and final Game Fair of 2014 at beautiful Montalto Estate, Ballynahinch, on Saturday 27^th September, and Sunday 28^th September 14.

See you all there.

Margaret Mc Stay

Edited March 20, 2015 by appleblossom