Ireland Gilford Working Lurcher And Terrier Club Dog Show And Race Day Saturday 16Th August 14 At Ballykelly, Limavady.

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Gilford Working Lurcher and Terrier Club Dog show and Race day, at the

 

Countryside Festival, at Shackleton Park, Ballykelly, LImavady.

 

Saturday the 16^th August arrived bright and early, and was the day for the North West Countryside Festival and Dog Show at Ballykelly , Limavady. Situated on the towering landscape of the North West Coast of Ireland. Ballykelly enjoys a great location, and takes in some of the most spectacular views enroute, including the famous Glenshane Pass and North West coast line. This beautiful part of the country is a real haven for nature and country life at its best.

 

 

The venue for the Festival and Dog show was on the site of the former Shackleton Barracks, at Ballykelly, and what a venue that was. The site provided stunning views, a good long race track and show rings with loads of space. All this was handled most efficiently on the day by the Gilford Lurcher and Terrier Club.

 

The Show organisation was impeccable. Showing and racing went without a hitch, despite the terrible weather conditions. There was a nice crowd in attendance, both of Lurchers, Terriers, and Whippets. All rings were full most of the time. As this was a festival as well as a dog show, there were many families there all enjoying a great family day out at the Countryside Festival as well as the dog show. The children had a ball there, as part of the festival, there were Bouncy Castles, swinging boats, hobby horses, helicopter rides, and games for all to enjoy.

 

When we arrived and got the dogs walked and settled we took a walk up around the festival. It was soon very evident a lot of hard work and organization went into this festival. The North West Countryside Festival at Ballykelly is family driven, educational and entertaining and provided a range of have-a-go activities for everyone interested in countryside activities and the Irish rural way of life.

 

In addition to traditional country sports events; such as clay pigeon shooting, archery, air rifle shooting, fishing, falconry, gundogs, equestrian and Terrier, lurcher, and Whippet events, there was a food fair featuring local, artisan food producers and crafts with crafters from the region attending. Along the way we picked up some great bargains at the stands and also popped into the Barbour Stand and had a quick word with our Mr Smith. What a lovely man and always so welcoming.

 

The craic was good along the way. Families all just out to enjoy the dog show and festival, and enjoy it they did. Time rolled on very quickly, and it was time to leave all the fun of the fair behind and head back down to the Dog Show.

 

The showing started at approximately 12.30.

 

Here are some results. Its always impossible to get all of the results, but we do our best to get most of them.

 

Lurchers Results

 

LurchersPups

Robbie Kerrigan with Rocky

 

Lurchers

 

Under23” Smooth

Charlene Rafferty with Buffy

 

Under 23” Rough

Ben Bacon with Bella

 

Over 23” Smooth

Davy Downey with Patch

 

Over23” Rough

Glen Doherty with Diesel

 

Terrier Cross

Ian Greer with Tyson

 

Collie Cross

Eamon Creggan with Sandy

 

Bull Cross

Roy Nixon with Chip

 

Lamping Class

Billy Harpur with Blade

 

Hare Lurcher

Donna English with Finn

 

Fox Lurcher

Paul Nash with Spit

 

Lurcher Pairs

Ian Greer

 

***Overall Champion Lurcher ***

Roy Nixon with Chip

 

***Reserve Champion ***

Davy Downey with Patch

 

Whippet Pups

Davy Best with Buddy

 

Whippets

 

Whippet Dog

Davy Best with Harley

 

Whippet Bitch

Ann Forsyth with Jet

 

Working Whippet

Brian Welsh with Spotty

 

Whippet Pairs

Brian Welsh

 

***Overall Champion Whippet ***

Davy Best with Harley

 

***Reserve Champion ***

Brian Welsh with Spotty

 

Terrier Pups

Peter Morgan with Tarzan

 

Terriers

 

Patterdale

Peter Morgan with Blade

Lakeland Fell

Peter Morgan with Chip

2/ Peter Morgan with Tim

 

Jack Russells

Mark Brown with Riley

 

Crossbreed

Rodney Gibson with Punch

2/ Liam Black with JB

 

Working Terrier

Robbie Kerrigan with Tiny

 

***Overall Champion Terrier ***

Mark Brown with Riley

 

***Reserve Champion ***

Peter Morgan with Blade

 

 

***Overall Champion Puppy and Best in Show went to: ***

 

Robbie Kerrigan with his beautiful pup Rocky

 

***Reserve Puppy Champion ***

Peter Morgan with the lovely Tarzan.

 

****Overall Champion and Best in Show went to: ****

Mark Brown with his winning Terrier Riley.

 

A Big congratulation to all the worthy winners, and well done to all who took part.

 

 

And Finally, again the judges done a great job on the day. Many thanks to Conor Gamble Lurchers/ Steven Smith Terriers/ Justin Hill Whippets. Not always any easy task, but you carried out your duties with integrity and fairness. Also thanks to the Gilford Lurcher and Terrier club and committe for a first class show on Saturday.

 

 

You carried the show off to a very high standard, despite the bad weather conditions, and made the day so successful and enjoyable, for everybody young and old.

 

And Finally Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank Ian Davidson/ Ben Davison, Justin Hill and committee, for another great Terrier, Lurcher and Whippet show. I must not forget the Festival committee and directors, and especially Derek Lutton and his wife Gillian for another very successful Festival and a good days enjoyment for all at Ballykelly. Many thanks to all involved.

 

Margaret Mc Stay

 

 

 

Edited August 20, 2014 by appleblossom

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Many thanks for your assistance again Margaret.