Irish Extra August 2019
I almost had to look twice at the month I was writing in! August 2019 and it seems little time since I was saluting the end of the season. In 12 days time the Glorious 12th will once again arrive and although it is another while until the pheasant shooting opens, the 12th almost signifies the coming of the new season. There is no Glorious 12th here in Ireland as the Grouse season runs from the 1st September to 30th September and driven Grouse shooting does not exist. There are areas and shooters who may shoot occasional Grouse in higher populated areas by means of walked up shooting but it is few and far between. Grouse numbers in Ireland are from that in the UK although there are many ongoing conservation projects aiming to increase numbers. The Irish Red Grouse Conservation Trust is one such organisation and they are working on an ongoing project with the National Parks and Wildlife Services in the Slieve Bloom National Park. It is one of the best breeding grounds for Red Grouse in Ireland and the objective of the joint project is to grow the breeding grouse populations there to a sustainable level and to a position whereby surplus grouse can be relocated to other grouse moors where populations are under threat. I very much hope the Trust have success in their sterling work going forward as the increase in Grouse numbers would be magnificent.
New arrivals with Longnetter
Graham Fyffe, a Northern Ireland based rabbiter and extreme ferret wrangler some years ago gifted me an extremely good looking and well cared for ferret kit. That ferret kit went on to be one of the best workers I ever owned and she has worked for many seasons in many types of ground and never ever failed me. The only failure ever came was when I tried to breed her to a good working Hob and year after year she either failed to have kits or failed to rear them. The summer of ’19 was probably close to her last chance and I had suspected around early June she might be in kit, so I placed her alone in a cub of her own. After much checking by myself and my wife around the weekend of the Irish Game Fair, we returned home on Monday to find she had given birth to 2 kits, after 6 years of trying! I was very pleased, but not as much as my daughter Isla who has named both and goes out nightly before bed to check if they are doing well and need tucked into their straw before bedtime.
The second arrival hasn’t actually arrived yet but is currently growing feathers in a Mews about 2 hours from where I live. “Sealgaire” is a Harris Hawk and will be my new addition in 2019. I have for many years wanted to fly a bird of prey and now is the right time. My home area is abound with Rooks and we have three Rookeries within a mile as well as many rabbits and areas full of ducks which cannot be shot, but a Hawk can be flown so it fits well. It will be a very steep, but very enjoyable learning curve.
Angling Champion
Ireland has a new European shore angling champion. Stephen Glynn from Dublin won the prestigious title at this year’s European Shore Angling Championship (Efsa) in Akureyri, Northern Iceland. The Raheny ace also became the first Irish angler to win the event.
Seven countries participated – Iceland, Germany, Netherlands, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland with 55 competitors making up 11 teams. (Each country is allowed two teams).
Travel arrangements leading up to the competition required adjustments, which resulted in practice days reduced from three to one full day and an afternoon.
Fishing during practice was quite good with some fine cod, coalfish, dab, long rough dab, starry ray, whiting, scorpion fish and wolf fish captured, notably a fine 6kg wolf fish for Stephen Glynn. Dabs were also prolific averaging about 45cm.
The individual result gave great cause for celebration when Stephen Glynn was announced as the European Shore Angling Champion for 2019 taking the gold medal and pin.
Runner-up was Bjorn Hansen with Nils Grunwald in bronze position, both from Germany. The team event was won by Netherlands A, followed by England B with Germany A, in 3rd place.
At the conclusion of the presentation, the championship flag was passed to Efsa Ireland chairman, George McCullough to signal next year’s event in Ireland on the south east beaches of Wexford and Wicklow from 28th to 30th of October, 2020.
Field Sports for Charity
Randalstown & District Game Conservation Society, would like to extend a massive thanks to all the shooters who braved the weather and turned up on Friday 14th June for their charity shoot, in aid of the Northern Ireland Childrens Hospice.
Results:
30 bird sporting
1st Liam McDonnell 27/30
2nd Tim Neill 27/30
3rd Scott Simpson 26/30
Pool trap was won by Kevin Sweeney
The club would also like to thank all the local businesses and their own members for donating raffle prizes and time to help make the event run so smooth. Lyall Plant said “It is great to see the club showing shooting in such a positive light within the local community and I commend the club for their efforts in running a very successful event”.
Pre Season Checks
Running into August I always think of my old friend and Irish Extra Predecessor Philip Lawton. Philip said August was a time to check the guns, the dog and your insurance and wasn’t he right! I always have my guns given a once over before the new season as there is nothing worse than finding out on the 1st day you have a broken firing pin or such like. The dogs are usually ok but the insurance is one to think of. I am by my own admission a Countryside Alliance Supporter. The Countryside Alliance Ireland not only provide great insurance, but they work hard campaigning and lobbying to protect our sporting future for the large membership they hold. Many organisations will provide insurance, but that is where it ends, there is no work, no lobbying and you must take this into consideration – Insurance will protect you now, but it wont protect your sport for the future, I prefer and you should consider and organisation which works for you and the future of country sports.
Irish Shots
Vincent McDonnell, the heaviest fish of the season caught on the Moy, weighing in at 19lbs exactly. Well done Vincent!
Second we have Tom Grant and his pointer Archie who won 3rd place overall in the German Breed show at the Irish Game Fair. Tom told me he takes Archie shooting and he has a lot of pheasants to release this year that he and his dad David reared. Well done Tom and Archie!