East Galway puppy show \ Noel Mullins

East Galway host puppy show

UNDER the watchful eye of huntsman Eoghan McCabe, the East Galway kennels looked a picture all freshly painted with a large marquee for music and entertainment and hanging baskets of flowers everywhere making a wonderful atmosphere to host the members, followers and the farming community at their annual Puppy Show.

And they turned up in large numbers to see the new entry put through their paces for judges John Henry, former huntsman of the Meath Foxhounds, and Paul Scallon, huntsman of the Island Foxhounds.

The huntsman was ably assisted by whippers-in Anne Hanniffy and event rider Jason Doerflinger, with the owner of Milchem Equestrian Centre and event horse producer Ralph Conroy as ring steward.

Readers of The Irish Field will have noticed that two other young East Galway followers were competing at the European Young Riders Championship in Poland - Godfrey and Katie Gibbons. Godfrey, who whips in to the East Galway, won a European team silver medal.

Hounds looked in superb condition and, in the end, it came down to the Champion Doghound Driver and the Champion Bitch Drizzle, both litter brother and sister by Ballymacad Baker out of Fitzwilliam Dreamy for the Championship.

And the nod went to the blue and brown mottle with a black saddle Drizzle who was always on her toes for the attention of the judges.

Joint master Alan Briscoe accepted the Tom Fahy Memorial Cup from Sheila Fahy on behalf of Kayleigh Star who walked the champion.

With the Puppy Show over, it was all hands on deck to get their two Burghley Young Event Horse qualifiers ready to travel to the UK - Ralph Conroy’s Milchem Giovanni and Eoghan McCabe and Ralph Conroy’s Milchem Gemstone, as well as their supporters.