D,Yes, i'd be shocked if anyone who attended the racing and the showing didn't have fun. It was two great days of racing and showing in fantastic surroundings and the weather was kind. Looking at many of the photos there's a lot of smiles on peoples faces and the banter was great. People are making points and highlighting areas were it can be improved to make it better for the future.Bloody hell....who let the kids out !!!!
grow up you lot, isnt it meant to be fun ....FFS !!!
There's not too many people like Albert who come on to a public forum looking for ways to improve lurcher showing and racing. In fact if he hadn't have been at the Master McGrath Challenge i think it may have been a disaster. He took the advice from lurcher people and made sure that the lure and van was moved back a further 30-40 yards so that the dogs were still driving at the line, something that others had refused to do. Also i feel that there may not have been a re-run for the final if he hadn't have been there. I'm not an Albert kiss ass, i'll speak my mind, but he's willing to listen and take on board the suggestions being made.
I definitely think that its time to have an under 21" racing class for the smaller lurchers/non peds. Just a suggestion:-
1. Ped Whippets
2. Whippets
3. Under 21"
4. Under 23"
5. Over 23"
Good to meet you briefly at Shanes - unfortunately I don't get too long to chat at Shanes as I am usually due somewhere else. In fact due to the re-run of the Master Mc Grath I missed a lot of the golden work at the Castle but at least the Ulster Golden Retriever team won for the first time - actually the first time they have run without me! Says it all!
I am always willing to listen to suggestions on how to improve any aspect of the fair - I speak my mind and I respect anyone else who does but I don't feel I need to be abusive to anyone to do this and I don't expect others to be abusve to my colleagues. I personally don't mind someone being slightly abusive to me if they don't hide behind an alias.
Thank you for line judging - you were extremely professional about it and a great help with positive suggestions on the day. I too have some suggestions for improving all facets of the events.
Good idea on the racing classes where like can compete with like - because it removes a lot of the potential bitterness. As you say they were a lot of happy faces at all the events over the weekend and a large virtually trouble free crowd.
Traders too were happy in spite of the recession. We feel we have done our bit here by actually putting more money into all the events while at the same time offering admission to two fairs for the price of one.
Look forward to working with you again,
Albert