TomW42

New prize structure for Birr Terriers & Lurchers Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine is putting up €50 for the top terrier and lurcher at Birr and an additional €100 for the top dog overall thus giving the overall champion €150 cash. Plus Albert will give a magazine subscription worth €20 to each class winner. He has taken the various comments on the forum on board and says if the entry justifies it the prizes will go up again next year and he will seek additional sponsorship to try to bring the prize structure up to the level of the other sports. Shamie, M

Madra, Our club has about a couple of dozen members. And one man does not get all the money . After running a show such as the All Ireland there is not a lot left. This year it cost over £400 to bring the judges over and there was over £400 given in cash prizes plus class trophies & rosettes etc, Add in insurance, advertisingand other expenses and you can see running shows is not a real money making venture for anyone. I got two lunch tickets for two days work! Anyway on to Birr and Albert tells me to direct people to www.irishgameandcountryfair.com and you will see he has take

Madra, Not ducking question but I can't give you full details as I do not organise the show or even the T&L event but simply help with the T&L shows and racing including promoting them. I know that our club ( Mid Antrim ) receives all the money from T&L entries and that goes towards Trophies & Rosettes , prize money, expenses, insurance and if any left over to club funds. I understand that is the same for all the competitions. I presume the gate money goes towards covering the overall costs in good and bad years, and supporting the overall prize fund - the organiser

What about the £400 Barbour coat for top dog and the prize money on offer for racing and show - people who entered the ALL IRELAND TERRIER & LURCHER CHAMPIONSHIPS had the opportunity to win these prizes - where else can you get prizes like that in Ireland? Are you saying all Irish shows are a joke? As for Shanes getting worse - the many thousands who filled three large car parks , traders and virtually all the competitors would disagree. Plus where else in Ireland this year could you see such a range of sporting stands including a 150 foot long Gunmakers Row! As for 200 stands -

I see you TC aare still doing a promotion job for Bill & Derek - What prizes are there for this great line up of Terrier & Lurchers? There doesn't appear to be much information up about that!

The show was similar to previous years, certainly nothing record breaking about it - average in fact, unless I was at a different show in Shanes?? I don't really see anything new each year at Shanes but Moira always manage to pull new ideas out of the hat. Don't know about the 200 trade stands, certainly didn't look like it to me. Wife and kids wanted to leave early. What new ideas have Moira ever had other than a couple of planes that frighten dogs? Everything else including the medievalfest which didn't happen this year is mainly a copy of Shanes. Record crowds at Shanes both day

Yes Great to see two Lurchers in the top prizes in Pup Idol in the Sunday Life competition. And after great days at Shanes Castle where we were in the Main Arena and televised for www.countrychannel.tv right in the centre of the Fair. Lurchers and Terriers are now getting their rightful position in the countrysports world. Thanks to Shamie and Matt and the team from the Great Game Fairs of Ireland. Roll on Birr Castle 22/23 August for the next big show.

What a FAIR! Bill Beckett and Derek Lutton eat your heart out. There really did appear to be over 200 stands and the best Gunmakers's Row I've seen in years. The Terriers & Lurchers in the main ring and central location in the show, fab prizes, English judges . Well done Shamie and Matt . Great range of stands with everything for dogs and two lurchers in the Pup Idol final ! Speaking to Albert Titterington with straw hat & TV crew - what an organiser. No tight aislres here to make it look like a crowd - he says Moira only have these to make it look busy - he believes in lea

Racing Saturday 1.00 Show Sunday 1.00 See Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine or web site www.irishgamefair.com for details or I hear there is a big supplement in the Belfast Tele on Tuesday before the show. Albert Titterington is offering us terrier & lurcher men ( ane women) two day admission for the price of one. Offer ends Wednesday this week. Call him on 028 ( 048 from South) 44839167

No classes for Bull breed crosses.

Well done to you. It would appear the Moira guys have got the message. Still a long way to go before they catch up on Shanes Castle but at least they are moving in the right direction! Sorry didn't get back to you re your query about All ireland - my email has been playing up - As usual its open to all -you do not have to pre qualify.

27th & 28th June 1.00 start each day

Shamie has asked me to put these prizes and classes up : The 21st All Ireland Terrier & Lurcher Championships Family Dog Show Any Variety shown by a child under 12 years of age Any Variety shown by a Lady Any Variety shown by a Gent Champion Handling Class from the above classes All Ireland Terrier Championship Show 1. Terrier Pups under1 year 2. Working Terrier Class 3. Terrier under 12†4. Best Pair of Terriers 5. Jack Russell Type Dog or Bitch over 1 year old 6. Lakeland Type Dog or Bitch over 1 year old 7. Fell or Patterdale Dog or Bitch over 1 year old

The Irish Game and Country Fair, Birr Castle, Co Offaly has the best Southern show for Terriers & Lurchers. Run by the same team that run the Shanes Castle event - these guys put Terriers & Lurchers right at the heart of the show not hidden away, they provide good prizes, a good race track and give us two days admission for the price of one. AND both their shows Shanes Castle on the 27th/28th June and Birr on the 22nd/23rd August are qualifiers for the Championships at the Midland. see www.irishgamefair.com and www.irishgameandcountryfair.com

Speaking to Shamie and Matt at Florencecourt and they have agreed to put on proper whippet classes. Now Whippets will be part of the All Ireland Terrier & Lurcher Championship. Classes : 1. Whippet Pups 2. Whippet Dog or Bich over 1 year old. 3. Whippet Pairs 4. Hunting Whippet Top whippet competes for the overall champion title and the £400 Barbour coat. And Whippet Racing over c 300 yards of good ground! Look out Rose for my secret weapon from England! And remember guys unlike Moira the Terriers & Lurchers ;