Ireland Meeting Like Minded People At Fairs

[AlbertJ 569]

One of my objectives in running fairs was to provide a meeting place for like minded people - in short a similar objective to this forum. I am all for free speech but as the moderators have said on here there should be much more that unites us rather than divides us. I regret to say that any animal rights person 'listening in' would be delighted by the friction generated whereas arranging through the forum to meet up and discuss could be a better way to resolve differences of opinions. 'Hands up' - I too have posted more heated comments than I should have! In the past when people and I have met up from the forum we do find that the problems we had disappear because we are both passionate country sports people. As I have said elsewhere Tullyeyed and I clashed a bit but when we met up at Moira's Countryside Festival ( of all places - sorry Ian!) we had the best of craic.

 

However I was genuinely touched at the weekend to receive an apology from a guy with whom the debates had got very heated - I told him while it was appreciated it was not necessary as I had been at fault too. We shook hands on it and I look forward to working with him in the future.

 

In writing I would also say it was a delight to see the IWTF stand amongst all of the other organisational stands in the 'Woodcock and Salmon' Pavilion . It was a very smart display and I look forward to a similarly excellent PR effort in Birr. Well done guys.

[oman 23]

Well said Albert, I was up on the Saturday and really enjoyed the Gundog display by Mr Ian Openshaw, I hope this is something that is set to continue. I am a spaniel man and never had working terriers but had a great conversation with the guy on the IWTF stand about terrier work. It's about time terrier men had an organisation and it would be great if more people joined this organisation as its good to have strength in numbers. I also really enjoyed the lurcher racing but for me none of the finalist in the master mc grath looked like lurchers, in my opinion they looked like greyhounds. Maybe someone could clarify how the dogs are classed. And in the last heat there was a big crash of dogs at the end surely this could have been avoided by having a sack, cover or a couple of bales of stray to hide the lure. Overall it was a great show. Well done Albert and team

[AlbertJ 569]

Well said Albert, I was up on the Saturday and really enjoyed the Gundog display by Mr Ian Openshaw, I hope this is something that is set to continue. I am a spaniel man and never had working terriers but had a great conversation with the guy on the IWTF stand about terrier work. It's about time terrier men had an organisation and it would be great if more people joined this organisation as its good to have strength in numbers. I also really enjoyed the lurcher racing but for me none of the finalist in the master mc grath looked like lurchers, in my opinion they looked like greyhounds. Maybe someone could clarify how the dogs are classed. And in the last heat there was a big crash of dogs at the end surely this could have been avoided by having a sack, cover or a couple of bales of stray to hide the lure. Overall it was a great show. Well done Albert and team

 

Oman,

 

Great to see Ian across and also the English Spaniel team and the Welsh Retriever one - hoping to extend all of this in 2014. Agree about straw bales or even bales of shavings - will have them in place next year but accident caused by dog on its return - didn't appear to be looking where it was going. Michelle's big dog took the knock and saved the small bitch . We got it away quickly to the local vet who we had arranged to be on call - thankfully it appears to be ok. Master mc grath are 'elite' lurchers -we have tried to bring in other races for differently bred dogs.

[oman 23]

That's great. Have to say Ian was the highlight of all the gamefairs I have been at over the years. Good to see that a vet was on hand and all was ok. They all seemed elite dogs and it was great to watch and well run. Keep up the good work.