THE 40THANNIVERSARY IRISH GAME FAIR AT SHANES CASTLE 23rdand 24thJUNE 2018.

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THE 40^THANNIVERSARY  IRISH GAME FAIR AT SHANES CASTLE  23^rdand 24^thJUNE 2018.

THE LONG TALKED ABOUT  40^TH  ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRISH  GAME FAIR AT SHANES CASTLE CO ANTRIM FINALLY ARRIVED ON SATURDAY 23^RDAND SUNDAY 24^TH  JUNE, AND WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED. FROM EARLY MORNING FAMILIES, CARS, BARKING DOGS, TRAILERS AND THE LAUGHTER OF LITTLE CHILDREN COULD BE HEARD FOR MILES AROUND. THE SUN BEAMED DOWN ON BOTH DAYS, AND IT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY I AM SUFFERING THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

SHANES CASTLE DEMENSE IS SET ALONGSIDE THE SHORES OF LOUGH NEAGH AND COVERS 2,600 ACRES OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES, WITH ITS GARDENS AND CASTLE FAMOUS FOR ITS HISTORY AND SCENERY. THIS WAS THE VENUE FOR THE LARGEST EVER 40^thANNIVERSARY GAME FAIR TO BE HELD IN IRELAND NORTH OR SOUTH OF THE BORDER.          

 

WE ARRIVED ON BOTH DAYS AT AROUND 9.00AM, TO GIVE TIME FOR BREAKFAST AND SOME RETAIL THERAPY .  THERE WERE AROUND 200 STANDS TO VISIT ON SITE, WITH EVERYTHING RELATED TO COUNTRY SPORTS AND FINE FOOD ON OFFER.

 

IT WAS NICE TO MEET UP WITH SOME PEOPLE I WOULD ONLY SEE ONCE A YEAR AT THE GAME FAIR. I SPOKE TO DAVID CREGAN, A REAL GENTLEMAN OUT FOR A GOOD DAYS RACING AND ENJOYING THE SUMMER SUN SHINE  AT THE GAME FAIR.  PADDY AND TRACY Mc GRATH HAD TRAVELLED ALL THE WAY FROM CARLOW TO JOIN IN ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR.  BILLY CRAIG WAS THERE TO CHEER ON THE CUCKOO AND STAGLAND SUE IN THE RACING, AS WAS MY GOOD FRIEND HELEN HUNTER AND HER FAMILY.

THE  FERRETS  ARE ALWAYS AT THE TOP OF MY LIST TO START MY DAY OFF AT THE GAME FAIR. SO IT WAS OFF TO THE FERRETT RING TO JOIN DARREN MOORE AND GRAHAM FYFFE WHO ALWAYS PRODUCE A GREAT FERRET SHOW  BOTH IN RACING AND SHOWING. IN THIS RING YOU ARE GUARANTEED FIRST CLASS  ENTERTAINMENT, PLENTY OF CRAIC AND GREAT SPORTSMANSHIP, AND WE WERE SURE NOT DISAPPOINTED. STEPHEN MC GONIGLE KEPT EVERYBODY INFORMED OF THE WINNING CLASSES AND MALACHY MC FALL DONE THE IMPORTANT PART, THE JUDGING. DARREN AND GRAHAM MANY THANKS FOR ANOTHER VERY ENTERTAINING AND PROFESSIONALLY RUN EVENT.

THE EXCITEMENT WAS BUZZING AROUND THE RACE TRACK, AS ALBERT TITTERINGTON DIRECTOR OF THE GREAT GAME FAIRS OF IRELAND ARRIVED AT THE RING SIDE TO DO THE DRAW FOR THE MASTER MC GRATH. THIS SIGNALLED IT WAS  TIME TO START THIS PRESTIGEOUS EVENT.

 

NICKY SMYTHS TOP RACING DOG SCOOBY TOOK THE HONOURS AGAIN THIS YEAR, AND AGAIN THIS YEAR THE SMYTH FAMILY DONATED THEIR MONETARY WINNINGS TO A CHILDRENS CANCER CHARITY. THESE PEOPLE HAVE HEARTS OF GOLD AND WERE OVERWHELMED WITH JOY WITH THEIR WINNINGS.

 MASTER MC GRATH WINNERS WERE:

 NICKY SMYTH WITH SCOOBIE

RESERVE

MICHAEL MC GRATH WITH TUCKER

 

THERE WAS MORE EXCITEMENT ON THE WAY WITH THE MICK THE MILLER RACE TO FOLLOW:  NED KANE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AS HIS WINNING DOG FONK ROMPED HOME FIRST OVER THE FINISHING LINE.

 MICK THE MILLER WINNERS WERE :

 NED KANE WITH FONK

RESERVE 

JED DONAGH WITH CHUNK

SOME RACING RESULTS ( I HAVENT GOT THEM ALL)

UNDER 21 ELITE

GARY FARMER WITH STAGLAND SUE

UNDER 23 ELITE

GERIANT WOOLCOCK WITH CUCKOO

 

LURCHER PUPS

DAVID NOLAN WITH CELTIC WARRIOR

 

OVER 23 TRADITIONAL LURCHER

DAVID NOLAN WITH JULIE.

 

ALL IRELAND  OVER 23

SHEAMUS MOORE WITH SPEEDY

 

ALL IRELAND UNDER 23

STEPHEN MC GRATH  WITH MEG

 All IRELAND BULL CROSS 

TOMMY CULLEN WITH BRONCO

 WHIPPET RACING

CHARLENE RAFFERTY WITH ZIO

HEAVY BULL CROSS

CHARLENE RAFFERTY WITH RED

 

SHOWING RESULTS 

GERMAN BREED

JAMES RICHARDSON WITH BRU

RESERVE

MYRTLE ALLEN

RUBY

OVERALL CHAMPION TERRIER

DRITA MANSON WITH TROY

RESERVE

DESSIE MACKIN WITH BOUNTY

OVERALL CHAMPION LURCHER

MICKEY QUINN WITH HAUS

RESERVE

ROSE MC COY WITH LACEY

OVERALL CHAMPION WHIPPET

MAIREAD FEARON WITH JILL

RESERVE

BARRY CHAMBERS WITH ALFIE

DARREN MACKIN BULL CROSS  MEMORIAL PERPUTAL CUP

MICKEY QUINN WITH HAUS

RESERVE

FREDDIE HALLISSEY WITH LENNOX

5 NATIONS TERRIER CHAMPIONSHIP

SHEAMUS DONNELLY WITH PEPSI

RESERVE

MARK HANLON WITH BRADY

5 NATIONS LURCHER CHAMPIONSHIP

MAURICE MC DOWELL WITH POACHER

RESERVE

JED DONAGH WITH FINN

5 NATIONS WHIPPET CHAMPIONSHIP

JANET DUKE WITH LEVI

RESERVE

MAIREAD FEARON WITH JILL 

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO ABOVE WINNERS AND WELL DONE.

AND FINALLY, WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT OUR JUDGES. ALL WELL VERSED IN THEIR BREEDS AND ALL DONE A FIRST CLASS JOB ON THE DAY, AND OF THAT WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL. SOME TIRED MEN GOING HOME ON THE BOAT ON SUNDAY NIGHT. I AM SURE THAT IS RIGHT GARY FARMER AND GERAINT WOOLCOCK. I KNOW HOW I FELT. I AM STILL NOT OVER IT YET. A SPECIAL MENTION TO TOM AND LEANNE BARRY WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY AT THE RACING AND SHOWING RINGS AND ALL WENT WITHOUT A HITCH.

AND FINALLY, FINALLY, I ALWAYS LEAVE THE BEST TO LAST. THIS ACCOLADE I RESERVED FOR ALBERTj TITTERINGTON AND HIS LOVELY WIFE IRENE AND THEIR CO DIRECTORS FOR A GREAT AND MEMORABLE  40^THANNIVERSARY WEEKEND  AT SHANES CASTLE. ALBERT WITHOUT YOUR ORGANISATIONAL ABILITIES AND THAT OF YOU BACK UP TEAM, THIS SUPERB AND SUCCESSFUL 40TH GAME FAIR WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.

ALBERT AND IRENE YOU WILL ALWAYS BE KING AND QUEEN OF THE CASTLE TO ALL THE GOOD CANINE FOLK NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE BORDER AND FURTHER AFIELD.

ALBERT YOU DO SO MUCH FOR COUNTRY SPORTS AND CHARITIES UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY THAT IS NEVER DOCUMENTED, AND WORK SO HARD BEHIND THE SCENES FIGHTING OUR CORNER TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN. I CANNOT PUT WORDS IN PLACE TO PRAISE YOU ENOUGH. THANK YOU AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR ALL THE HAPPY MEMORIES AND LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OF THE SAME IN 2019.

 

MARGARET MC STAY

 

 

Edited June 28, 2018 by appleblossom