Ireland Birr Castle Game Fair -Terriers, Whippets, Lurchers & Ferrets

[Mixedgrill 704]

Can someone tell me what Janet Duke knows about working dogs and I'm not being disrespectful towards a woman

[stop.end 4,082]

Men, birr classes itself as a country fair, nowhere in the terrier or lurcher line up does it mention WORKING.... it is a country fair with a terrier and lurcher show from all other qualifiers from north and south throughout the summer promoting the folk who keep terriers and lurchers and are interested in country fairs as a day out and a dander about! I personally think Albert does a hell of a job still doing this even with the stick from not only hunting folk but from other ANTI folk aswell..... I don't know the lady who judged the terriers but I do know 1 of the judges in the final 5 nations final very well, and believe me he knows a working terrier of the highest standard. I wasn't there myself too see any of the terriers who won there classes on the day but surely someone can only judge whats standing in front of them that has already been put through to the final?

[Mixedgrill 704]

Stopend 90% of the terriers in the ring that day were showing signs of work at some point someone has judged the dogs for what they are or who was handling them no one mentioned any other judges or Albert??? You said it yourself you weren't there

[ranger777 13]

Again paddy I never questioned weather the dog was marked or not I seen him, but like mixedgrill said there were other dogs in the ring wit marks also, and showed themselves better on the day.....

[shaneg 2,578]

it goes on a point system. All 3 judges could have picked different dogs to win and none of there's might win. I could give one dog a 10 and the next person could give the same dog a 5. But a dog that got say 8 off all judges could win because of the point system. But if u asked all 3 judges what there first choice was it mightn't be any of them dogs.

[fat man 4,741]

End of the day its only a show,who cares what dog wins,just a day out for like minded folk,if people want to parade a worker or complete fanny licker its there choice and as said a judge can only pick what he see's in front of him-her,its in the field out hunting that counts,thats where you sort the wheat from the chaff.

[delboy_187 904]

Some frcker put a bitch in heat in the terrier race half the dogs jack knifed bad carry on

[AlbertJ 569]

As StopEnd said - it is a Terrier & Lurcher Show and lots of people keep terrier and lurchers for different purposes - it is not and cannot be a test of working ability. The Five Nations Championships bring together finalists who can qualify at a number of different shows throughout Ireland and the UK. As I say these dogs qualify at different types of shows under different types of judges but all have won a best terrier or lurcher award somewhere and have earned their place in the final. There are three judges for the Five Nations Championships - the IWTF nominates one, the organising club nominates one and if the previous winner is going to show - I nominate one who I think will 'balance' the panel. In this case there were two very much working type judges and Janet who I know keeps good terriers and whippets and is a very competent judge. The judges mark each dog out of 10 for four criteria - this is done independently so no judge can influence another judge in his or her opinion. The criteria are conformation, condition, movement and 'Fit for purpose'. The latter is a judgement on size etc as working ability cannot obviously be judged by looking at a dog! Judges can give as many points to a dog for a criterion as they like eg they could give two or indeed all dogs 10 out of 10 for condition. as they are giving an opinion of each dog . Unlike the normal judging system this means that each dog is very fully scrutinised by three different judges. Whatever terrier owners think of the eventual result no one can argue that it is not a system that is fair to all the dogs which have qualified. I have persuaded my colleagues to take up the challenge to put a lot of money and effort into these FN championships and the Master McGrath race to give terrier, lurcher and whippet owners competitions equivalent to our top gundog and clay pigeon competitions. We are always willing to listen to constructive criticism but at a time when hunting with dogs is threatened in NI surely it is a time for the terrier, lurcher and whippet owners to stop the bitching and arguments and come together to support events such as these which are a public showcase for the breeds and which demonstrate to the public that those who hunt with dogs are responsible people and not as Bill Odie is reported to have said 'dangerous people'. You will note the difference in the amount and type of public comment after the clay shooting and gundog tests at the fairs - no arguments or bitching!

 

Edited September 16, 2015 by AlbertJ

[ferretface1 1]

al in all a great day i showed in over all lurchers didin win but had a great day