ireland The Tally Ho Working Dog Show Saturday 16th August 2025

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The Tally Ho Working Dog Show Saturday 16^th August 2025

As I looked out the window early Saturday morning the sun was just breaking through the trees, with a small welcoming breeze filtering over the dog pens. Barking out at us was the usual Whippet chorus signalling the day had arrived for the Tally Ho Working Dog Show and Raceday at Nutts Corner. And what a show that was.

I firmly believe nature plays a big part in telling our faithful Canine friends the end of the showing season is on the horizon, and their weekly excursions to the show ring and race track is coming to an end. 

We arrived in the field around 10.00am and were greeted by the show organiser Peter Morgan who had reserved a parking place for us right beside the whippet ring. What a thoughtful man with a heart full of kindness.

By noon time the field was filling up with dogs and families all out for a good days racing and showing. The venue was superb, with rings were well spaced out and the racetrack in immaculate condition, and all put up and hammered in by Peter Morgan himself. Four toilets were well situated around the site and plenty of ringside parking was provided. 

Paul Boyd as was Marty Black there with all the hunting gear,collars etc you could wish for the coming season.A great variety for our Country Sports fraternity. A burger van was in full swing with some delicious burgers and chips and was not long to the smell of good hot food was wafting its appetizing smells all over the place.

I can honestly say it was a childrens paradise at the Tally Ho Show on Saturday. The laughter and enjoyment coming from the bouncy castle was unreal. When it came to the childrens handling class, there were 43 children in the ring. The winners got a beautiful trophy and rosette and each child in the ring got a medal and a big bag of goodies.

Very soon it was Raffle time and boy was there some variety of prizes on that table. I never have seen such an array of prizes in a raffle at any show this year.  The raffle generated so much excitement and fun around the field as it progressed. Many happy punters went home with some lovely prizes.

Time waits for no one and very soon it was Racing and Showing time. Here are the Results.

Racing Results

Lurcher Pup

Aiden Dunne with Lass

Whippet Pup 

Clodagh Gentle with Dash

Whippet Dog 

James Mullen with Junior

Whippet Bitch 

Clodagh Gentle with Suzie

Under 21 

Bridget Carthy with Speedy

Under 23 

Kirby – Jane Mc Kibben with Sheeba

Under 24 

Colin Tucker with Fletcher

Over 24 

Jake Parke with Storm

Hairy Under 24 

Jed Donagh with Tess

Hairy Over 24 (Mick the Miller) 

Jed Donagh with Tess 

Bull X Heavy 

Joyce Scott with Mabel

Bull X Light 

Joyce Scott with Axle

Terrier 

Jed Donagh with Spike

SHOWING RESULTS 

PETS

OVERALL CHAMPION PET

CLODAGH GENTLE WITH DASH   

RESERVE :

NIALL O CLOGHAN JNR WITH BRIA

PUPS

OVERALL CHAMPION PUP

CHARLIE McCAUGHEY WITH DIXIE

RESERVE

CLODAGH GENTLE WITH DASH

LURCHERS

OVERALL CHAMPION LURCHER

 TJ DUGGAN WITH FRANK

RESERVE

LEIGH THOMPSON WITH SCOOBY DOO

TERRIERS

OVERALL CHAMPION TERRIER

PADDY GILMORE WITH HANNS

RESERVE

NIALL O CLOGHAN BUDDY

WHIPPETS

OVERALL CHAMPION WHIPPET

SUSAN McCANN WITH PENNY

RESERVE

SOPHIE LEONARD WITH JUNIOR

STRONG DOGS

WORKING STRONG DOGS

GED DONAGH WITH BROCK

RESERVE

LASZLO PUSZTAI WITH DIAMOND

BULLIES

OVERALL CHAMPION BULLIE

PAULA BEGGS WITH PACO

RESERVE

GAIL ROSS WITH BERT

PAIRS

OVERALL CHAMPION PAIRS

FRED GENTLE WITH SNAKE AND SUSIE

RESERVE

AIDY TOAL WITH THUNDER AND SCAR

***OVERALL CHAMPION AND BEST IN SHOW***

GED DONAGH WITH BROCK

RESERVE

PAULA BEGGS WITH PACO

***TALLY HO NORTHERN  IRELAND CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS***

SUSAN McCANN WITH PENNY

Congratulations to all above winners

And Finally, may I take this opportunity on behalf of the Tally Ho Working Dog Show to thank the judges on the day for a job well done.

Childrens Handling Class  

Margaret Mc Stay

Ladies and Gents Handling Class

Margaret Mc Stay

Pets

Michelle Darby

Whippets 

James Mullen

Lurchers 

Jonathan Kirwan

Terriers  

Sam Kirwan

Strong Dogs

Chontelle Mc Meekin 

Bullies

Carla Mc Donnell

Tally Ho Northern Ireland Champions of Champions

Peter Morgan

Judging is not an easy job, but the judges were all consistent and fair  

A Big thank you to the Racing team Matt Lee/Joanna Relf Lee and Matthew Lee for running the racing on the day so efficiently. Your experience and input is invaluable and of this we are extremely grateful. 

There were 3 very willing young people helping Peter out on Saturday. Conor Creagh/Callum Jones and Kerry Ann Hughes you all done a great job and everything ran like clockwork. 

As usual it was evident a lot of hard work and sleepless nights was put into organising this top show and all Peters shows in the past to make them so successful, and all along the way Peter has done this single handed.

And Finally, Finally it is with a heavy heart I am writing this and hoping it will not come to fruition.  Peter has said to me this is the last show he will run. But  with hope in my heart I am hoping he might change his mind. 

Peter you have given 20K plus to charity over the years, encouraged our young country men and women to carry on the tradition in the ring and in the field, and given Country Sports a great window through your shows over the years. I have known you now through country sports for over 20-25 years and probably longer, and all through that time you have never faltered away from the Canine world. 

The prizes, the cups, the childrens handling class and bouncy castles at your shows are second to none. The time and money you put into your shows for our enjoyment is a credit to you.

I will conclude for now Peter hoping at some time down the road, maybe you will change your mind and have another show in 2026. It was nice to be your friend through the ups and downs in the Country Sports world. 

God Bless to we meet again.

 Margaret Mc Stay

 

Edited August 19 by appleblossom