The Northern Ireland Cavalier Club show held in Ballyclare, County Antrim in May is a must pilgrimage for many Cavalier show folk who make the annual trip, arduous in some cases, with their Cavaliers. They go by car and ferry leaving at non friendly times of the night because this is one of the friendliest enjoyable shows on the calendar. This year was no exception and the atmosphere was charged with elation as the Club was celebrating their 30th anniversary.
I left home with Ellen Renaud and Bill Moffat late on Friday night to drive the three and a half hours to Cairnryan in Scotland to catch the 4am ferry to Larne in Northern Ireland. Crossing the Irish Sea takes 2 hours. On board we met up with John and Eileen Gaskell from Midlothian in Scotland and John and Louise Hubbard from Essex. Whilst the men managed to fall asleep at the drop of a hat, us women stayed awake chatting. It was a beautiful morning arriving in Larne at 6am and the drive to the Six Mile Leisure Centre was a short one. During the crossing, the dogs have to remain in the cars on the cardeck but are neither perturbed nor anxious by the adventure. At the venue we met other UK Cavalier travellers who had come over on the overnight ferry from Liverpool to Belfast. Sue Brooks, Chris Knight, Lesley Kilcoyne, Marisa Colavecchia Fish, Cherill Deans, , Virginia and John Barwell, Philip Lovel, Sarah Rees and Lorraine and the Loranka Crew. Inside the Sports hall, tea, coffee and home made scones welcomed our arrival and were available all day. Kay Finlay, the Secretary had slaved away in the kitchen the previous day to provide this lovely touch and it was much appreciated. The committee work hard to make the show a success and they succeed admirably. The judge this year was Dr Annuka Paloheimo (Anncourt Cavaliers) who had come over from Finland. The Deputy Mayor of nearby Newtownabbey ceremoniously opened the show and he spent a short while walking round chatting to the people and petting the dogs. Then it was a case of "LET THE GAMES BEGIN".
Ellen Renaud having a cuppa at the port of Cairnryan before boarding Ferry...time 3am
Louise Hubbard - time 5am
John and Eileen Gaskill - time 5am
Norma - 5.30am
Bill Moffat and Ellen Renaud....ready to disembark - 6am
Sailing into dock at Larne
Irish smiles....
Anne Fitzpatrick, Barbara Hilditch, Janet Patrick, Heather Lamont
Rob Sansom and Sue Brooks
Annette Owen, Miyuki Kotani, Kitty Conlon
Linda Morelli and Michael O'Shaughnessy
Trystan "Loranka" Hughes
Geoffrey Porter and Norma
Roberta Cooke and Cath Deddis and the Rescue Stall
Cherill Deans
Bogumila Dolinska and Magda Szczygiel and friends
The things they make me do! Linda is contagious
?? ?? John Barwell
Kenny Stephenson and ??
Judge Annuka and Secretary Kay
piece of cake!
Annette and Eamonn Owens
Louise Hubbard
Cherill Deans, Chris Knight, Marissa Colavecchia Fish
Cavalier therapy for the Deputy Mayor
John and Virginia Barwell
Elizabeth and her well known Northern Ireland Assistance Dog, Barnaby
Barbara Hilditch won the P and O Ferry special prize of a 5 day return crossing.
Lydia found a Leprechaun friend
Judge with her Bitch CC and Best in Show and breeder/owner Rob Sansom
Dog CC and Best Opposite Sex and breeder/owner Robert Lamont
Best Puppy in Show
Bitch RCC and Reserve Best in Show
Reserve Dog CC celebrating in Irish style
The lovely Lisa aka Ringcreevy Rosapenna who won for her owner/breeder Geoffrey Porter, the accolade of being oldest Cavalier exhibited. She looked amazing. Born 10th June 1999 by Ringcreevy Royston and out of Ringcreevy Ring A Roses. At almost 14 she skipped around the ring with ease and deservedly went home with the special prize of £20 donated by Elspeth Glen on behalf of the Cavalier Chat Forum. She won this prize last year and doesn't look a day older. Such a great ambassador for our Breed. See you next year, Lisa....
It was a great show with plenty of Irish "craic" (Irish word for good conversation). The return journey home seemed loooong but the good humour and high spirits that was carried away from the show, kept us going. Roll on 2014.
6th May 2013