[Nimrod]

I am still awaiting hundreds of pictures of the game fair in Ireland and especially those with Chris.

These few show how he was enjoying himself.

Moira Atkinson look away!


Nim


This is Chris and Sue UK at the show

And this Chris with Karen, a friend of mine who helps out at the game fair

And to finish with, Chris indulging himself at the Corporate Hospitality Facility

 

[HarryWilliams]

You can sure see his "bands" including that big gold one. :wink: HPW

 

[ducksoup]

Sure tis Chris and those fine looking colleens!!!!! -- mind you he looks like he enjoyed himself chowing down too -- thanks for sharing the pics

 

[Chris Atkinson]

Here are some I took with my camera:

The Europa in Belfast - one of the most frequently bombed spots back when the IRA was into its terrorism bit.

Ferreting - here's how the ferrets are transported during the hunt

Another couple shots of James carrying the ferrets. Note the shovel handle barely showing out of the gamepouch. Standard equipment for a ferret handler.

James prepares to set the ferret down at the entrance to a rabbit burrow. The box in his other hand is the beeper receiver which helps locate a stuck ferret.

What happens if the ferret gets stuck down underground? This is a little transmitter collar that sends a signal to the box in James' hand. If the ferret gets stuck, he can home in on her with the beeper. He carries a small shovel in his gamepouch and starts digging to rescue the ferret!

After the ferret goes to work, the guns look along either side of the entry hole to take a snapshot as the rabbits explode out of exit holes.

Myself and James with the ferrets and a couple rabbits.

My training partners who gave me and Drake a crash course. I had to learn UK dog language and Drake had to learn to listen to a Yankee saying "Drake" without rolling the Rrrrrrr.

From left Nigel Carville, James Toole, Lawrence and Sam Jarret. Nigel credits Sam as a mentor back when he got started decades ago. Sam is getting on in age and is a bit forgetful today. Sam and his wife hosted myself and Nigel one evening. Sam has mementos of his retriever career spanning 50 years all around his home. The most memorable to me was a 1992 photo of Sam shaking hands with Queen Elizabeth at Sherburne Castle after winning the equivalent of the US National Open.

A pair of handlers competing at the qualifying stake on Sunday. I never met these two guys but wanted to get their picture.

Neil Beckett's lab Sam with Rick, Bill's spaniel.

Nimrod's little diversion critters. They like to chase the dogs when the dogs are sent for a retrieve!

Nimrod with his dogs at his place. The older spaniel is Rick with the up and coming pup.... UK Spaniels are awesome!

Nimrod with his Garth Brooks headset (or is it a Madonna headset?) working the crowd at the Gamefair during a working dog demo.

Village of Moira in the city of Lisburn, where the Gamefair was held.

A true, historic Belfast Irish pup:

 

[mjh345]

Nice pics Chris thanks for sharing. I did a year of law school in Britian and the last picture reminds me of my favorite study aid.

 

[Gun_Dog2002]

Thank you Chris. I know have a mental picture of Nim to go with the great PM's i've had with him. I neve knew ferrets actually had a purpose...

/Paul

 

[Howard N]

Hey Chris, I liked the pic of the two guys with their labs. You can see they are working dogs. Look at the standing dog's hips and hams.

But wearing a tie with knee boots while out training??? Doubt it'll catch on hereabouts. :roll: :wink:

 

[Chris Atkinson]

Hey Chris, I liked the pic of the two guys with their labs. You can see they are working dogs. Look at the standing dog's hips and hams.

But wearing a tie with knee boots while out training??? Doubt it'll catch on hereabouts. :roll: :wink:

It's tradition Howard! About half of the handlers at the event wore traditional shooting clothes. The other half dressed the way we would in the states for a day's training (minus the white coats).

Just like wearing a kilt for the Scots, I bet the majority of us, after spending a week around it, would begin to get used to it and start to see it in a different light. It is quite cool in Ireland this time of year.

I will try to get a few more uploaded today.

Chris

 

[TimMTP]

Hey Chris. I see you have rubber boots on in one of the photos. Are those regular rubber boots or those nice leather lined French jobs? I've often wondered if those things were worth the money they ask for them...

 

[Chris Atkinson]

Hey Chris. I see you have rubber boots on in one of the photos. Are those regular rubber boots or those nice leather lined French jobs? I've often wondered if those things were worth the money they ask for them...

The boots I'm wearing were made in China and were purchased for $20.00 US at the Rural King in Decatur, IL! "Proline" is the brand.

Nigel let me borrow a pair of his boots during a training session and what a difference they made! I can't remember the brand name, but I looked for them at the gamefair and there were none. LeChameau is the brand you're probably thinking of. Hunter is another nice one.

I used to think they weren't worth the money, but if I could have gotten a pair like Nigel's for a decent price, I'd have left some clothes in Ireland to make room and packed them back!

 

[ducksoup]

Great pics Chris -- thanks for sharing

 

[Marty N.]

Chris
Looks like you had an outstanding trip, looking at the photo's of ferriting bring's back alot of memories. Can't tell you how cool I thought it was to watch them do this, when the rabbits came out of the hedge and exploded like a covey of quail it was just way to much fun.

The folks in Ireland are first class and really go out of thier way to make you feel at home. Looks like your trip was as memorable as mine was. I hope to make the trip to the Game Fair again and renew old friendships.

I have pictures of Nigel, Sam and myself training on the grounds near Sam's house. He and his wife were vary gracious to me as I am sure he was to you.

Bill's crew goes beyond the call of duty and I would recomend a trip to the Game Fair to anyone that gets the opportunity. You will come home with memories that will last a life time.

Glad your trip was success
Marty

 

[Chris Atkinson]

Chris
Looks like you had an outstanding trip, looking at the photo's of ferriting bring's back alot of memories. Can't tell you how cool I thought it was to watch them do this, when the rabbits came out of the hedge and exploded like a covey of quail it was just way to much fun.

The folks in Ireland are first class and really go out of thier way to make you feel at home. Looks like your trip was as memorable as mine was. I hope to make the trip to the Game Fair again and renew old friendships.

I have pictures of Nigel, Sam and myself training on the grounds near Sam's house. He and his wife were vary gracious to me as I am sure he was to you.

Bill's crew goes beyond the call of duty and I would recomend a trip to the Game Fair to anyone that gets the opportunity. You will come home with memories that will last a life time.

Glad your trip was success
Marty

Marty,

I've had it on my mental checklist to get in touch with you. You were fondly spoken of both by my hosts, as well as by competitors in the International Competition. Sue Brundrett and I had lots of fun talking about her comments that she made to the English team when you ran your dog in 2004. She knew instantly that unlike the rest, yours was out of American FT stock. If the looks of the dog didn't tell the tale, the handling style and the whistle pretty much gave it away.

Nigel chose to leave the labs in the van on the rabbit hunt, for fear that it would somehow mess up the dogs for the competiton. He told me though, that you, Mike and the rest of the team went ahead and hunted rabbits right before the competition....and WON!

Chris

 

[TimMTP]

LeChameau is the brand you're probably thinking of.

Yep, those are the ones. I would like to find a pair to try on but boy for the moeny, they better be nice...

I guess I'll have to put that on my "to do" list on my next trip over.

 

[DH]

Tim,

Look around, my wife got a pair of the LeChameau for $80 from an online site. The pair she got is normally $300. I personally like the neoprene lined ones better than the leather. They are great boots.

DH

 

[TimMTP]

Every site I've found wants the same price - $389 - for the leather lined ones. :shock:

 

[DH]

I'll ask her where she got them, it was someplace overseas that had overstocks and such.

DH

 

[brian breuer]

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Le...c=PaidPlacement-_-Google-_-WGOG7-_-le_chameau

$100 for the neoprene. You just need to convert to European sizes.

Now back to the ferrets.

 

[Nimrod]

More Pictures

Some pictures of Chris at the gundog event:

 

[duckheads]

ah, i need a guinness after reading this. spent 10 days in ireland on a rugby tour back in '93. what a great place and people! hope to get back there some day with the family.

guinness for strength regards
greg