Chairman of the Irish Kennel Club Sean Delmer presenting Pat Reape with the Championship trophies.
attracted a very large entry with many reserves not getting a run and Corkman George Forbes was the winner with FTCh Knocksmall Toru while Hugh Brady’s Irish setter FTCh Malstabodarna Idun was second. The circuit moved to Scotstown, home of perennial Monaghan county football champions and the stunning mountain over Bragan that has a long tradition in the sport. Game was very plentiful, and it was an excellent trial. The winner was Des Linton with his red and white setter Int. FTCh Craigrua Eoghan while Joan McGillycuddys’ FTCh Gaelforce was in second and Michael Houston’s pointer Koram Kendall in third. The red & white setter stakes returned to the Dublin mountains and in action -packed trial, Joan McGillycuddy’s Int FTCh Starjet of the Kingdom was first with Aidan Dunne’s red setter Maodhog Feoghadan was second.
judged by Aidan Dunne (Maodhog), Billy Grace (Capparoe) and Hugh Brady (Ballydavid). The stake was won by Pat Reape’s FTCh Ballinahemmy Mike who was also successful the previous year. Kieran Walsh was second with his English setter Blackmoor Cochise while Jim Sheridan’s red & white setter FTCh Craigrua Devin was third. The red & white setter confined stake was won by Ray Monroe’s Granaghburn Nebraska with his own FTCh Rosie Jim in second. The following weekend it
was back to the beautiful village of Kinnity where Kieran Walsh was the winner with his English setter Blackmoor Cochise. Cill Dara field trials resumed the following weekend with two English setter pups in the winner’s enclosure with Billy Grace’s Capparoe Evita winning and Kieran Walsh’s Blackmoor Tyrell in second. The Wicklow and Wexford trials brought September to a close and Hugh Brady’s FTCh Malstabodarna Idun was the winner. Traditionally October brought the circuit to arable lands for the pheasants but with the ending of sugar beet a number of years ago, most clubs have substituted to bogs or mountain trials. However, the English setter club went to Carlow for their tillage stakes on pheasant. Kieran Walsh’s Blackmoor Cochise was the winner in the English setter breed stake making Cochise a FTCh. The open stake went to Maeve Water’s Irish setter Blackstairs Tess with runner up going to Brain MacDiarmada’s Oileannoir Tinne and Jim Crotty’s pointer Brackbawn Thunder in third. The red setter breed stake returned to Kilchreest in Galway where the end of storm Calum deluged the day. Fr. Seamus O’Neill was victorious with Malstabodarna Balder with Hugh
The Irish Championship Stake The highlight of every year is the Irish Championship stake on grouse which was held this year in the Dublin mountains. The event was organised expertly and all formalities including the Championship stake dinner were held in Roundwood. The stake was
Sean Hogan’s Concomrue Corona Countrysports and Country Life Winter 2018
111