Ireland Director's Challenge for Novice Lurchers Shanes Castle

[AlbertJ 569]

Please note the Director's NOVICE RACING Challenge - heats and Final at the Irish Game Fair on Saturday 7th July is ONLY OPEN to lurchers which HAVE NOT WON a race.

 

We have been asked does this rule out winners of puppy races and we have ruled that for 2012 it does. The one exception to this is Kirsty Harpur's dog which won the first novice qualifying race at Birr before we changed the rules on qualifying. It will get a bye into the second round in its class BUT only after having to do a solo spin.

 

The good news is that my fellow Director, Philip Lawton, on whose behalf I volunteered the €300 first prize has suggested that since it is our 50th Fair - I should match him in putting up other prizes, so the winners of the three heats: Rough Coated/Terrier-Cross/ and Smooth Coated Lurcher-long dog will win €50 plus other prizes and the runner up in the final will receive €100.

 

 

Please note that racing will start on Saturday at 12.00 noon sharp with the Master Mc Grath Challenge ; followed by the Novice heats and Final , followed by the All Ireland Championship races. And the show will start on Sunday again at 12.00 noon sharp.

[Wetnoseman 26]

whhhhooooooops here come all the failed nonped dogs from england isnt tat right limbo ? lololol

Edited May 23, 2012 by Wetnoseman

[Wetnoseman 26]

what does the winner of the MM get and how much does the All ireland winner get ?

[Guest ladyjane]

Wetnoseman (or woman) do you ever have anything positive to say about anything??? Just wondering?

[AlbertJ 569]

what does the winner of the MM get and how much does the All ireland winner get ?

 

WNM,

 

We are currently finalising our prize funds for all our competitions at Shanes Castle and they will be announced next week when our 2012 web site goes live with all of the details of our very special 50th Irish game or country fair.

 

However we have had quite a few enquiries, including when I was at the Mourne Show, about whether the winners of puppy races are eligible for the new Novice Racing Challenge and I wanted to make it clear that we have decided that the concept of this challenge was that winners of any races are NOT eligible. So regrettably winners of puppy races are NOT eligible this year.

 

Regarding prize funds what you can be sure about is that, as befits Ireland's premier countrysports events, the prize funds in 2012 for our shooting, fishing, gundog and terrier.lurcher & whippet events at both Shanes Castle and Birr Castle are at least equivalent to the very best in the Uk and unrivalled in Ireland.

 

AND for all those who have greyhounds i.e retired, pet, unregistered, or ones that are used for breeding - we are considering having a race for them at least at one of the fairs. Views on this?

 

Albertj

[Chid 6,645]

Wouldn't bother having a separate race Albert , sure all the greyhounds race in the overs any way lol

[AlbertJ 569]

Wouldn't bother having a separate race Albert , sure all the greyhounds race in the overs any way lol

 

Thanks for commenting albeit a bit 'tongue in cheek'.

 

Seriously it is easy to allege, difficult to prove either way - especially with 7/8 or 15/16 greyhound crosses.

 

But I think its funny how few people object to dogs that look like greyhounds but that don't win!

 

A new race might help reduce cheating, if it does exist, help stop wilder allegations and give more opportunities for people to compete and have a bit of fun with their dogs.

[AlbertJ 569]

Thanks to all of the people who pmed me/emailed me making a case for puppy race winners to be eligible to race in the NOVICE CHALLENGE. There was the argument put that they had just wanted to try the pup out and it 'happened' to win. However if the pup was good enough to win it has probably been good enough to progress and so we don't feel it is in the spirit of what we envisaged for this race i.e taking the 'elite' dogs out of this particular series of races to encourage more people to 'have a go'. so sorry our ruling on this stands.

 

As it stands winners of any race are ineligible to compete in the this challenge.

[tulsa 1]

whhhhooooooops here come all the failed nonped dogs from england isnt tat right limbo ? lololol

wetnoseman after carful consideration of your posts i have come to the conclusion who you are as sherlock homles would say elementary my dear watson.you give yourself away with your choice of words and your vocabulary,the fact that you know so much about me i thought there was somthing funny because you have rang me and everybody else inquiring about me and what i have in my yard.i am really surprised that an upstanding gentleman like you could be compared to jekel and hyde.for instance when you contact me you are mister nice guy,then when you get into your pc den you become a back stabbing s.o.a bitch.why dont you wise up son and practice what you PREACH.and leave the likes of margaret mcstay in peace she is a lady.wetnoseman i think you should change your name to nosey parker.

yours in sport billy craig.(limbo)

[smudge jaylow 19]

sorry now lads but wher is it on is it shanes castle and wher is that ......................

[flash3241 32]

Shanes castle is in antrim/randlestown its between both an the racing is on the saturday 7th of july

[shaneg 2,578]

how many dogs are qualified for the master mcgrath

[AlbertJ 569]

how many dogs are qualified for the master mcgrath

 

 

There were a number of qualifying races throughout Ireland , England, Wales and Scotland - I am making a final call for owners to return their form to register for their run and our contribution towards their expenses.