Ireland Tommy Cullens Dog Show/raceday In Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, Sunday April 3Rd 2016

[appleblossom 691]

Tommy Cullens Dog Show and Race Day, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow Sunday 3^rd April 16.

 

Woke up at 5am Sunday morning April 3^RD 16, with the joys of spring in my heart, and the work in the field finished. Suddenly the seasons were telling me it was that time of the year again to get our Canine friends in the show ring and on the race track for the start of the summer 16 Dog show and Race Days season.

 

Some of us may have had joyous occasions in our families since the last showing season, and some may have had great sadness, as fate can throw all sorts of problems in the pathway of life. Sunday was a day to leave all our cares of yesterday behind just for one day, and head to Baltinglass and Tommy Cullens 3^rd annual dog show, for a days enjoyment with the family and our loyal Canine friends.

 

Yes Sunday the 3^rd of April had finally arrived and our first road trip of 2016. With the rain pouring down in buckets and the dog chorus singing in our ears, we were on the M50, trailer in tow, enroute to Baltinglass.

 

As we approached the field, we could see very clearly there was very little parking space left. Each year this show grows bigger and better. By midday the field was full to capacity, and despite the terrible weather, there was a massive crowd in attendance. In the show ring there were 20 to 25 dogs in each class at a time. This year I noticed a great mix of top quality dogs in all categories.

 

As I moved around the rings, I met up with some old friends and some new ones too. Billy Craig was there with his winning top dogs , the Cuckoo, 007 and Carlow at the end of the lead. Billy has a great knowledge of dogs both in the showing and racing scene, and can back this up with his many winnings over the years and indeed again on Sunday in Baltinglass .

 

Shadine Henegan, Michael Kerry, and family had travelled from Laois to show their beautiful dogs in the ring on Sunday. A lovely family out for a days enjoyment. Along the way I chatted to Stephen Clarke from Cork and Daniel Maloney from Roscrea who travelled miles to be part of this now famous Canine show day.

 

Time waits for nobody, and so the moment had arrived after the long cold winter, to get our Canine friends out of the field and into the show ring. Here are most of the Results. ( Tommy Cullen has told me because of the lashing rain, some results were washed away of the sheets)

 

Terriers

 

Terrier Pups

Billy Kerry with Captain

 

Smooth Coated Russell type Dog

Stephen Mc Gregor with Lucky

 

Rough Coated Russell type Dog

Gary O Hagan

 

Rough Coated Russell Type Bitch

Robin Duggan with Lucky

 

Patterdale Dog

Shane Gilmartin Twister

 

Patterdale Bitch

Shane Gilmartin

 

Lakeland Fell Dog

Martin Moloney with Boo

 

Lakeland Fell Bitch

John Keane with Sally

 

Border Dog

John Dunphy with Bruce

 

Judges Choice

Conor Quinn with Bob

 

Any Breed or Cross

Sean White with Marlon

 

Pairs

Shane Gilmartin

Veteran

Declan Owens with Moscow.

 

***Gain Irish Open Overall Show Champion Terrier

Shane Gilmartin with Twister

Reserve Champion Terrier

Shane Gilmartin with Treacle

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Lurchers

 

Lurcher Bitch Pup

Peter Jones with Maggie

 

Lurcher Dog Pup

James Woods with Son

 

Smooth Dog Over 23

Peter Jones

 

Smooth Bitch Over 23

Charlie Lowery

 

Rough Coated Dog Over 23

Peter Cummins with Harry

 

Rough Coated Bitch over 23

April Dickenson with Cush

 

Rough Smooth bitch under 23

Ruth Lee with Woobly

 

Bull Cross Dog

Breandan Fitzgerald with Judge

 

Bull Cross Bitch

Sean Hays with Sandy

 

Hare Lurcher

Neil Byrne

 

***Gain Irish Open Overall Show Champion Lurcher

April Dickenson with Cush

Reserve Champion Lurcher

Sean Hayes with Sandy

 

( Some classes missing due to result sheets getting wet )

 

 

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Whippets

 

Whippets Pups under 1 Year

Conor Reynolds with Pepsie

 

Working Whippet Dog

Charlene Rafferty with Timber

 

Working Whippet Bitch

John Mc Stay with Patch

 

Whippet Dog

Janet Duke with Oscar

 

Whippet Bitch

Tracy Gill with Scarlett.

 

Whippet Pairs

Christina Maguire

 

Vetern Whippet

Tracy Gill with Lola.

 

***Gain Irish Open Overall Show Champion Whippet

Tracy Gill with Scarlett

Reserve Champion Whippet

Janet Duke with Oscar

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***Childrens Handling Class

This class was won by Chloe Woods with her beautiful Lurcher Rusty . Well done Chloe and also the 2 children who got 2^nd and 3^rd, ( I have no names ) and all the other children who took part.

 

****Gain Irish Open Supreme and Overall Show Champion ****

April Dickenson with Cush

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Gain Irish Open Racing

 

 

GI Under 21 Elite

1.Billy Craig with 007

2.Josh O Connor with Jess

3. Michelle Rafferty with Fly.

 

GI Open Hairy Dog

1. Jamie Howe with Buster

2.Peter Cummins with Harry

3.Darren Kenny with Coors Light

 

GI Open Under 23 Working Lurcher

1.Stephen Mc Grath with Meg

2. Peter Cummins with Conor

3.Charlene Rafferty Gip

 

GI Open Under 23 Elite

1. Billy Craig with Cuckoo

2.Peter Cummins with Lexy

3. Fran Kenny with Mouse

 

GI Open Bull Cross

1.Shane Duffy with Belle

2.Brian Grady with Jackson

3.Alan Murnane with Roco

 

GI Open Over 23 Working Lurcher

1.Sean Moore with Speedy

2, David Caine with Buster

3. Brian Mullenney with Bonnie

 

Gain Irish Open 2016 Racing Champion

1. Nicky Smith with Prince

2. Nicky Smith with Scooby

3. Michael Mc Grath with Chad

 

Gain Irish Open Open 2016 Whippet Racing

1.Susan Mc Cann with Bella

2.Josh Murphy with Molly

 

Congratulations to all

 

And Finally, may I take this opportunity on behalf of Tommy Cullen to thank the judges on the day. Lurchers/Tom Barry and Mickey Quinn. Terriers/Dessie Mackin. Whippets/ Gary Smith. Childrens Handling Class/ Margaret Mc Stay.

 

Judging is not an easy task, but you carried out your duties with fairness and effiency. Many thanks for that.

 

I have been asked by the good men and women of the Canine world to thank Sean the tractor driver for towing everybody out safely, after the heavy rain all day destroyed the pathway out of the field. Many thanks Sean, you are a forever friend.

 

I took some photographs at the show and they are on my timeline at the moment.

 

 

And Finally, Finally, I always leave the best to last. I must not forget the man at the helm of this brilliant show day. Tommy Cullen, you and your family made everybody so welcome with your hospitality, excellent show, your brilliant band of helpers, and your friendship on the day. Your show brightened up our lives, and brought us away from the trials and tribulations of life, if only for a day.

 

Tommy, you must have the best mother and father in this world. Billy and Noreen Cullen worked tirelessly all day, along side your brother Billy, Katie, Fiona and Ann Marie, resulting in your 3^rd show being a continual roaring success again in 2016. I am already looking forward to more of the same, minus the rain in 2017.

 

Margaret Mc Stay

 

 

 

Edited April 6, 2016 by appleblossom

[lurchers ireland 367]

Thanks very much to everyone that travelled I really appreciate it and thanks very much Margaret for all your help as always

[stop.end 4,082]

Good write up margaret.... heard it was a wash out of a day for yous.

[lurchers ireland 367]

Thanks Again for everyone that made it a great day with a massive turnout despite the bad weather see you all again in 2017 when our new road network in the field should make getting in and out even easier here is the youtube video https://youtu.be/qgHtc77LgEc