LBKs DOG SHOW AND RACEDAY SUNDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 24

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LBKs DOG SHOW AND RACEDAY SUNDAY 1^stSEPTEMBER 24

Scrabo Tower is one of Northern Irelands most iconic landmarks and stands majestically on the hill 540 feet above sea level. Beneath the pathway to Scrabo Tower lies the famous family run farm Scrabo Cottage Farm with its beautiful landscapes, scenic views, and a birds eye view right across Belfast. This was the venue for the LBKs Dog Show and Race day Sunday 1^stSeptember 24.

As venues go for shows, this was up there among the best. I can honestly say I have never seen such a display of Plaques, Trophys and first class Rosettes on display, and all up for grabs on the day. Dogs and Bitches in every category were split up and each allocated their own Championship and reserve and at the end of the day an Overall Champion and Reserve.

Everything was planned meticulously, and all of the day went without a hitch. The rings were well spaced out, toilet, Burger stand, Country Sports stand, brilliant racetrack, and a bouncy castle for the wee people.

The views from this venue were to die for. With the shadow of Scrabo looking down on us, we had a clear view right across Belfast and beyond. This venue being cited on a hill, there was a cool breeze all day with small specks of rain in between.

It was nice to meet up with so many like minded people in the country sports fraternity. I had the pleasure of been introduced too renowned and international terrier judge Mr Robert Booth. What a gentleman he was. We had a nice conversation and he told me he loved Ireland and that he lived in County Tipperary for some time and knew the country quite well. Robert also presented Harry John Digging with a lovely Trophy set on a wooden stand for reaching out his friendship to him and to commemorate his time in Northern Ireland. What a lovely gesture. 

It was a day of good will and presentations when Harry John Digging presented Peter Morgan with a lovely plaque for respect for running his shows. What better man with a lifetime of experience.

Niall O Cloghan and his sons were on site with their now very popular Terrier Maze. As the work in the field will begin shortly, It was great to see the excitement of the working terrier men when their prized terriers negotiated the Terrier Maze with speed and come out the other side to win the fastest time championship. This accolade went to Jed Donagh with PiP and Reserve to Lee Spiers with Buddy. Well done team O Cloghan.

Time passes so quickly,very soon it was Race time.

Here are the Results from the Pen of Biddy Mc Grath

Whippet Dog

James Mullen with Toby

Fred Gentle with Snake

Whippet Bitch

Clodagh Gentle with Susie

Pups

Tierna Owens with Flow

Jamie O Connor with Penny

Under 21s

Rose Mc Coy with Arlo

Patsy Mc Coy with Dallas

Under 22s

Kirsty Harpur with Dash

Rose Mc Coy with Gucci

Under 23s Race Breed

Errol Gardiner with Ranger

Jack Mc Grath with Missy

Bull Light

Joyce Scott with Axel

John Williams with Lightening

Bull Heavy

Joyce Scott with Mabel

Stephen Mc Cook with Champ

Over Hairy

Errol Gardiner with Milo

Stephen Mc Cook with Champ

Under Hairy

Ged Donagh with Tess

Tom with Rose

Under 24s

Colin Tucker with Fletcher

Kirsty Harpur with Chucky

Big Dogs

Cliona Owens with King

Speed Jump

Cameron Rogan with Ghost

Kirby Mc Kibbin with Queen

**Some  Showing  Championships taken from photographs on Facebook. Some of the dogs names I do not have. Hope I got them right as there were to many to get all of them

Overall Show Champion Handler

Lorcan Mc Keever with Arlo

Reserve

Clodagh Gentle with Clive

Champion Working Terrier

Richard O Callaghan with Hunter

Reserve

Niall O Cloghan with Rua

Champion Terrier Maze with fastest time

Ged Donagh with PiP

Reserve

Lee Spiers with Buddy

Reserve Champion Working Bitch

Niall O Cloghan with Rua

Overall Champion Pairs

Fred Gentle with Snake and Susie

Reserve  

Rua and Max

Reserve Champion Field Dog

Niall O Cloghan Junior

Puppy Champion

Creggan Swifts

Champion Working Strong Dog

Stephen Mc Cook with Thor

Champion Dog Terrier

Richard O Callaghan with Hunter

Champion Strong Dog

Mark Gorman with Jax

Champion Strong Bitch

Christine and Lazlo Pusztai with Black Diamond

Reserve

Oliver Dunne with Ruby

Overall Champion Bitch

Christine and Lazlo Pusztai with Black Diamond

Ladies Handler

Cliona Owens with Kobi

Reserve

Ann Duffy

Gents Handler

Ged Donagh

Reserve

Jamie O Connor

Champion Whippet Dog Final

Vanessa Lynn with Louis

Reserve

James Mullan with Max

XL Bully Winner

Jon Jonny with Hugo

Derry Man who never wins anything

Creggan Swifts

Four Bitch Final

Anthony Taggart with Fern

Reserve

Niall O Cloghan

Champion Bitch Terrier

Anthony Taggart with Fern

Best Wheaton

Ged Donagh

Overall Best Working Dog

Richard O Callaghan with Hunter

Jamie O Connor 

Overall Best in Show

Vanessa Lynn with Louis

Reserve

Mark Gorman with Jax

And Finally, a big shout out 

to the Judges on the day for doing a great job.

Childrens Handling Class

Gail Ross/Barley Banger

Ladies Handling Class

Gail Ross/Barley Banger

Gents Handling Class

Barley Banger

Whippets

Stephanie O Connor

Lurchers

Maurice Mc Dowell

Terriers

Robert Booth

Strong Dogs

John Ryder

Working Dogs

Jason Morrissey

The McGrath Racing team Biddy, Michael, Jack, and Anthony, you are tops. You set the place a light with your professionalism and experience and run the racing so effective and efficiently on the day. There is a lot of hard work goes into running racing and all credit goes to team Mc Grath.  

And Finally, Finally, Harry John Digging you were definitely the King of Scrabo on Sunday and in a league of your own. Along with your back up angel Gail Ross, who pulled out all the stops to make everything run so smoothly, and Sam Ross the photographer who took some lovely photographs, you brought town and country North and South of the border together for another great sporting day out.

You are a shinning light in our Country Sport traditions and for a first time show and venue, it was excellent and without contradiction.  Harry John Digging you should be proud of the work you done on Sunday. Thank you for a day full of joy and excitement and roll on 2025 for more of the same.

 

Margaret Mc Stay

 

Edited September 4 by appleblossom