The Irish National Sheepdog Trials were held in Larne, Co. Antrim recently, with James McLaughlin from Co. Donegal with his sheepdog Dan crowned champions.
James McCloskey, also from Co. Donegal, came in second overall with his sheepdog Sweep. Meanwhile in the brace competition Ned O’Keefe reclaimed the top prize for a second year in a row with his dogs Dunedin Tina and Jess.
Frankie McCullough and his dogs Spot and Jake took second place in the brace competition.
The three-day event saw the top 150 dogs in the country take part in the competition, with the added incentive of the national final being a qualifier for the 2017 World trials, which will be held in the Netherlands in July 2017, with 29 countries taking part.
Chairman of the event, Eamon McAuley, who qualified for the Irish 2016 team for the International events said the weather did have an affect on the event.
“The bad weather spoilt it a bit on the the Thursday and Friday, but there was a good crowd there on the Saturday,” McAuley said.
- Irish National champion, James McLaughlin, Dan (Ben), 176, run-off (out of 200) 158;
- James McCloskey, Sweep, 178, run-off 146;
- Martin Feeney, Jack, 181, run-off 130;
- John Maginn, Mozz, 178;
- Con McGarry, Cora, 175;
- Louise Amos, Corriedhu Kohl, 164;
- John Cremin, Sally, 178;
- Frankie McCullough, Spot, 172;
- Dean McAuley, Jan, 156;
- James McLaughlin, Lyn, 167;
- Sean Corrigan, Tex, 163;
- Stephen O’Connell, Snip, 156;
- Michael Hastings, Meg, 165;
- Eamon McAuley, Roy, 162;
- Michael Gallagher, Flo, 155;
Reserve, Ned O’Keeffe, Dunedin Tina, 150
The judges for this year’s National were Seamus Gallagher from Newtowncrommelin and Brian Casey from Tipperary judging the singles, while Pat Byrne (jnr) from Kildare and Robert Goligher from Campsie judged the Brace competition.