Ireland Birr Castle Game Fair Saturday 27Th And Sunday 28Th August 16

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Birr Castle Game Fair 2016

 

Birr Castle is a large Castle in the town of Birr, Co Offaly, and situated amid the rich pastures of the deep South of Ireland. This beautiful Castle is one of Ireland’s “Green Jewels “ and houses award-winning gardens, Great Telescope, and Ireland’s largest Treehouse. Presentally the Castle is the seat of the seventh Earl of Rosse . The family still lives in the castle to this day. This was the venue last weekend for the annual Irish Game & Country Fair.

 

 

We had an early start on Sunday morning, with the alarm clock going off at 4.30am. After scurrying around the house, loading up the car and getting on the road, we arrived at Birr Castle three and a half hours later. It was not long before we joined up with all the rest of the good northern people who had already travelled down the day before for the racing. This was to be the start of a beautiful and most memorable day for us at Birr Castle Game Fair.

 

I can honestly say this year was the biggest and best Game Fair ever at Birr Castle , and exceeded all our expectations. Every year this Game Fair goes from strength to strength. The weather was beautiful, the atmosphere was electric, and plenty of bargains to be had along the way. What an added bonus.

 

We had a good walk around the game fair and visited the many stands and other attractions on the way. Charlie Keenan and Richard Cadell stands were busy decking out our sports men and women for the season that lies ahead. Stephen Smyth of Barbour was there with his welcoming hand, and Emmet Mc Court was hard at his work dishing out his prize winning recipes and tasty food.

 

The sunshine and brilliant weather brought out all the good country sporting men and women for a sporting few days out, before the summer showing and racing season comes to an end. I love Birr, because it gives me a chance to meet up with so many of the sporting fraternity that I would probably only speak to on Facebook.

 

Jenny and Willie OMeara was there with their two beautiful dogs. For a lady of small stature, Jenny can handle her two very large canine friends with great ease. My dear friends from Sligo, Ritchie and Patricia Verden and Gene Gallagher stopped off for a chat. What lovely people.

 

Time passes so quickly when you are enjoying yourself, and all too soon it was time to head back to the show ring. As I was given the honor this year to judge the Whippets at Birr, it was an extra special day for myself. In all three rings the standard and breeds this year was of top quality in the Canine world.

 

 

I have no Racing Results, but here are the Showing Results:

 

Jennifer Gately started the showing going, by doing a wonderful job judging the children's/ladies and gents handling classes. It takes a good woman to do a mans job and Jennifer you certainly came out in flying colours.

 

**Lurchers

 

ANY VARIETY LURCHER PUP UNDER 1 YEAR OLD

Jed Donagh with Chunk

 

 

LURCHER DOG OR BITCH OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Karen Cummins with Conor

 

BEST PAIR OF LURCHERS

Eoin Barnes with Poacher and Typsy

 

ANY VARIETY LAMPING LURCHER DOG

Mikie Lyons with Blue

 

ANY VARIETY LAMPING LURCHER BITCH

Alan Crosbie with Fly

 

SMOOTH LURCHER DOG OVER 23” OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Paddy O Brien with Ben

 

SMOOTH LURCHER BITCH OVER 23” OVER 1 YEAR OLD

John Moriarty with Molly

 

ROUGH LURCHER DOG OVER23” OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Ned Kane with Fon

 

ROUGH LURCHER BITCH OVER23” OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Eoin Barnes with Tipsy

 

ROUGH OR SMOOTH LURCHER DOG UNDER 23” OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Jenifer Gately with Taz

 

ROUGH OR SMOOTH LURCHER BITCH UNDER 23” OVER 1 YEAR OLD

BEAUTY

 

COLLIE LURCHER OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Alan Crosbie with Fly

 

TERRIER BRED LURCHER OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Graham Brennan with Gypsy

 

BULL BRED LURCHER OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Eoin Barnes with Pig

 

VETERN LURCHER

Fiona Devlin with Maverick

 

**Overall Champion Lurcher **

 

Rob Hicks with Pig

 

Reserve Champion Lurcher

 

Eoin Barnes with Tipsy

 

 

**Terriers

 

 

TERRIER PUPS UNDER 1 YEAR OLD

John Keane with Tan

 

TERRIER UNDER 12”

John Keane with Ted

 

BEST PAIR OF TERRIERS

John Keane with Ted and Tan

 

WORKING TERRIERS

John Hendrix with Rocky

 

JACK RUSSELL TYPE DOG OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Terence Keane with Butcher

 

JACK RUSSELL TYPE BITCH OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Daniel Brown with Meg

 

LAKELAND TYPE DOG OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Gerry Maxwell with Boo

 

LAKELAND TYPE BITCH OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Jessie Carey with Lady

 

FELL OR PATTERDALE DOG/BITCH OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Carl Magee with Trigger

 

BORDER BITCH OVER 1 YEAR OLD

Breandan Lynch

 

PLUMMER DOG OR BITCH

Michael Slyne with Archey

 

VETERN TERRIER

Michael Styne with Archey

 

 

**Overall Champion Terrier **

Terence Keane with Butcher

 

Reserve Champion Terrier

Daniel Brown with Meg

 

** Whippets **

 

WHIPPET PUPPY DOG UNDER 1 YEAR OLD

Sean Burke with Joe

 

WHIPPET PUPPY BITCH UNDER 1 YEAR OLD

1/Sophie Harpur with Sky

2/ Tom Quinn with Stripe

 

WHIPPET DOG OVER 1 YEAR OLD

1/ Janet Duke with Oscar

2/ Barry Chambers with Joey

 

WHIPPET BITCH OVER 1 YEAR OLD

1/ Karen Cummins with Maisie

2/ Tracy Gill with Scarlet

 

WORKING WHIPPET DOG

1/ Michael Quinn with Finn

2/ Lisa Dumigan with Frankie

 

WORKING WHIPPET BITCH

1/ Tracy Gill with Ash

2/ Barry Chambers with Ruby

 

WHIPPET PAIRS

Gerard Leonard and Sophie Harpur with Duke and Tucker

 

VETERN WHIPPET

Tracy Gill with Lola

 

**OVERALL CHAMPION WHIPPET**

Karen Cummins with Maisie

 

RESERVE CHAMPION WHIPPET

Michael Quinn with Finn

 

Champion Pup and Best in Show

Jed Donagh with Chunk

 

Reserve Champion Pup and best in show

Sean Burke with Joe

 

 

***Overall Show Champion and Best in Show***

Terence Keane with Butcher

 

Reserve Show Champion and Best in Show

Karen Cummins with Maisie.

 

Congratulations to all above Champions and well done.

 

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****5 Nations Champion of Champions Results****

 

**5 Nations lurcher Champion of Champions

Peter Cummins with Harry

 

Reserve 5 Nations lurcher Champion of Champions

Kirsty Harpur with Skylar

 

**5 Nations Terriers Champion of Champions

Shane Gilmartin with Twister

 

Reserve 5 Nations Champion of Champions

John Hendrix with his winning Terrier.

 

A Big Congratulations to all above winners.

 

 

And Finally, I would like to thank the Judges on the day for a first class job carried out. To Shane Lee and the Roscrea Team, as ever a very efficent crew of people who carried out their duties in a very professional manner. Your organisation was meticulous and you proved it on the day. Stephen Mc Gonigle was excellent in the main arena with his very interesting displays and performances and gave poor Edwin Dash a hard time. I couldent believe Edwin could run so fast.

 

Bluebell and Billy Harpur were there capturing our moments of glory. As I was judging this year, I did not get taking as many photographs as I would like. All photographs are up on the various sites at the moment.

 

And Finally, finally, I always leave the best to last. This accolade goes out to Albertj Titterington and his lovely wife Irene, and their Co Directors for a great weekend at Birr Castle. Albertj without you and your brilliant team of helpers this top class Game Fair would not be possible or so successful. So many of our Canine folk look forward to your 3 Great Game Fairs of the year, Shanes Castle, and Birr Castle, and now Montalto to follow on Saturday 24^th and Sunday the 25^th Sept 16.

 

Through the dark cold days and nights of winter and when the snow hits the window, we will gather round the fire, and reminnis about our moments of glory at your Game Fairs, and all the other Dog shows, and organisers up and down the country who also gave us so much joy and entertainment during the year.

 

Albert, May you and Irene have good health and happiness and continue to run your top Game Fairs for many years to come. Albert you do so much for Country sports, and Charities never documented, and work so hard behind the scenes to make things happen, from the bottom of my heart I truly thank you. I cannot put words in place to praise you enough. Thank you again this year for all the lovely memories of Birr Castle 2016 , and look forward to seeing you again at Montalto, Ballyinahinch Game Fair, Co Down on Saturday 24^th and Sunday 25^th September 16 for the Final Game Fair of 2016.

 

Margaret Mc Stay

Edited August 30, 2016 by appleblossom