AlbertJ 569 Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 had good dayover al we had 7 hrs round trip .went for the raceing we arived their at 10 o clock and it 6 before the raceing starte.it took second place to the showing in my opinion .iam sure it takes a lot of organising and fair play to ye al but wasent what it was hyped up to be. Tom, We always like feedback AND try to portray what is on accurately. What bit did you think was 'hyped up'. To put Ballywalter into perspective - when BASC cancelled their Fair here in late January/early February last year we had a little over two months to organise a one day Fair which went well. This year we moved it up to 2 days and increased all facets of it including competitions, attractions, stand nos etc. However it is difficult to grow a fair in just over a year and that is why we gave a FREE ticket to Shanes Castle, Ireland's Largest Game Fair and in effect gave visitors Ballywalter FREE of CHARGE. Certainly I can think of few fairs that have better Terrier & Lurcher facilities. Our organising club had difficulties this year as most of the normal organising team were either ill or unavailable but overall they did a magnificent job in putting on a first class event with first class prizes. I have been pushing for an early start to a one day T&L event but the Chairman of the Mid Antrim always wanted a 1.00pm start and as that had been advertised we couldn't change it and of course the sheer volume of dogs caused delays - though a bonus for me was as the racing started after the fair was officially open I was able to see it! If we run it as a one day t&L event next year there will be an earlier start and finish! Ideas please on what time people would like to start. Albertj Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomq 30 Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 had good dayover al we had 7 hrs round trip .went for the raceing we arived their at 10 o clock and it 6 before the raceing starte.it took second place to the showing in my opinion .iam sure it takes a lot of organising and fair play to ye al but wasent what it was hyped up to be. Tom, We always like feedback AND try to portray what is on accurately. What bit did you think was 'hyped up'. To put Ballywalter into perspective - when BASC cancelled their Fair here in late January/early February last year we had a little over two months to organise a one day Fair which went well. This year we moved it up to 2 days and increased all facets of it including competitions, attractions, stand nos etc. However it is difficult to grow a fair in just over a year and that is why we gave a FREE ticket to Shanes Castle, Ireland's Largest Game Fair and in effect gave visitors Ballywalter FREE of CHARGE. Certainly I can think of few fairs that have better Terrier & Lurcher facilities. Our organising club had difficulties this year as most of the normal organising team were either ill or unavailable but overall they did a magnificent job in putting on a first class event with first class prizes. I have been pushing for an early start to a one day T&L event but the Chairman of the Mid Antrim always wanted a 1.00pm start and as that had been advertised we couldn't change it and of course the sheer volume of dogs caused delays - though a bonus for me was as the racing started after the fair was officially open I was able to see it! If we run it as a one day t&L event next year there will be an earlier start and finish! Ideas please on what time people would like to start. Albertj tought the qualifiers of the lurcher raceing was hyped it was rushed we were nearly driveing out gate when it was happening.but i understand where ur comeing from a lot of organising in a short space of time Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlbertJ 569 Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 had good dayover al we had 7 hrs round trip .went for the raceing we arived their at 10 o clock and it 6 before the raceing starte.it took second place to the showing in my opinion .iam sure it takes a lot of organising and fair play to ye al but wasent what it was hyped up to be. Tom, We always like feedback AND try to portray what is on accurately. What bit did you think was 'hyped up'. To put Ballywalter into perspective - when BASC cancelled their Fair here in late January/early February last year we had a little over two months to organise a one day Fair which went well. This year we moved it up to 2 days and increased all facets of it including competitions, attractions, stand nos etc. However it is difficult to grow a fair in just over a year and that is why we gave a FREE ticket to Shanes Castle, Ireland's Largest Game Fair and in effect gave visitors Ballywalter FREE of CHARGE. Certainly I can think of few fairs that have better Terrier & Lurcher facilities. Our organising club had difficulties this year as most of the normal organising team were either ill or unavailable but overall they did a magnificent job in putting on a first class event with first class prizes. I have been pushing for an early start to a one day T&L event but the Chairman of the Mid Antrim always wanted a 1.00pm start and as that had been advertised we couldn't change it and of course the sheer volume of dogs caused delays - though a bonus for me was as the racing started after the fair was officially open I was able to see it! If we run it as a one day t&L event next year there will be an earlier start and finish! Ideas please on what time people would like to start. Albertj tought the qualifiers of the lurcher raceing was hyped it was rushed we were nearly driveing out gate when it was happening.but i understand where ur comeing from a lot of organising in a short space of time Tom, Thanks for your feedback. It was the first qualifier and as you would have seen the club organising the event had some difficulties. However there are other opportunities to qualify over the next few weeks and I would be happy to give another club in the ROI a qualifier if they contact me so that people don't have to travel too far to get a chance. Any suggestions. The big final and it won't be rushed will be at Shanes Castle on the 25th June. Although the winner yesterday took away a few very nice prizes including the limited edition cap ( both qualifiers got these); £100 ; a tankard , a trophy, a Master McGrath qualiers scroll and dog food. Any suggestions/offers of a qualifying heat in the ROI between now and Shanes give me a call on irishgamefair@btinternet.com albertj Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twiggy 12 Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 hello albert thought you were looking to meet up i was at the terrier an lurcher rings from 12.30 to 5 o clock. never seen you . i done well got a 2nd and 3rd with one lurcher and a 3rd with the other. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hessy1 10 Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 you could maybe have the racing start say 10 or 11 o"clock before the showing commences. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pigsy 34 Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 you could maybe have the racing start say 10 or 11 o"clock before the showing commences. sounds good to me hessy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest jackpot Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 All in all was a very good day, but just one point, the dog that won the whippet racing isn't a whippet! A blind man could see te difference in speed, the organisors need to get this sorted! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pigsy 34 Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 All in all was a very good day, but just one point, the dog that won the whippet racing isn't a whippet! A blind man could see te difference in speed, the organisors need to get this sorted! looked as close if not closer to a whippet as some of the others I would go as far to say there is quite a few crosses passing as whippets if one person is asked to prove the breeding then everyone should prove the breeding of their whippets Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest jackpot Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 Thing is Pigsy, if you know anything at all about whippets you will know that they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, what makes the difference is the speed, and it's there for all to see, when two of the best whippets ( apparently raced consistently as whippets) are well beaten by another dog, questions have to be asked! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlbertJ 569 Posted May 3, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 hello albert thought you were looking to meet up i was at the terrier an lurcher rings from 12.30 to 5 o clock. never seen you . i done well got a 2nd and 3rd with one lurcher and a 3rd with the other. Twiggy, I only got across twice to the rings during the day to help out with minor problems. Unfortunately or really fortunately with three sets of TV cameras there and loads of press plus all the little problems you have to sort out in a show this size I was kept on the go throughout the two days. Will be at Mourne in much slower time. I did get to watch most of the racing as it happened after the show. Any one day shows that I am involved in in future will start earlier. Will be at Mourne in much slower time.Hope to meet up with all my 'sparring partners' from the forum then! Albertj Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pigsy 34 Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 Thing is Pigsy, if you know anything at all about whippets you will know that they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, what makes the difference is the speed, and it's there for all to see, when two of the best whippets ( apparently raced consistently as whippets) are well beaten by another dog, questions have to be asked! So what you are saying it is ok to race as long as it does not beat the two other dogs there was a black bitch run Sunday caught the lure it run very well Is her breeding in question So how would you ask Matt to get around this ? If a dog runs too fast disqualify it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ladyjane Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 If you're going to start debating what's a whippet and what isn't the way to go is dogs with reg papers only, it's up to the organisers what races in what class, it was a fantastic turnout of whippets, with some very good fast races. I enjoyed it, the only thing I would say is that show organisers start to take into account the number of whippets being raced and shown, I reckon there were as many, if not more, whippets than terriers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomq 30 Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 would height restriction work eg under 20 under 22 that type of thing .would not take long set up small profile so dogs could be stood under.or weight hang scales some big whippets their alright definitley not stanard for whippets .we raced in two races got second in both was wel pleased pity their wasn't something for second or third .was their anything in the shows for second or third. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bri 81 Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 (edited) Well it was my first time at Ballywalter and enjoyed the day, even though the show ring was running behind.Give a thought for the two guys in the ring. I know there heads were turned with the amount of dogs in some of the classes.I came away happy with my little bitch a 2nd and a 3rd, only put her in for two classes for the craic and was well chuffed. Couldn't stay for the races. My only gripe about the day was there was no directions to the fair for the first time visitors. There is usually information boards and direction arrows to let you know where to go. The only board I seen was the one outside Millisle.! Bri Edited May 3, 2011 by Bri Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pigsy 34 Posted May 3, 2011 Report Share Posted May 3, 2011 (edited) I agree Lady Jane it was great to see such a turn out of these wee dogs all well cared for working and pets a like well done the winners and who all took part Edited May 3, 2011 by pigsy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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