EmeraldNewsletterMay 2011 Volume 11, Issue 2

Your chance to win a place on Belle Isle’s Shoot it - Pluck it - Cook it Day

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A Message from Lyall Plant

I hope this edition of the newsletter finds you all in good form. After the harsh winter endured throughout the country it’s heartening to see the countryside flourish as spring turns in to summer.

The last few months have been particularly busy for the Countryside Alliance Ireland (CAI) Team and there have been many changes taking place which will undoubtedly affect country sports one

way or another.

A new Fine Gael/Labour Coalition in the Dáil has set out a ‘Programme for Government’ and time will tell how committed to the rural way of life the new Government is and if we shall see a repeal of the Ward Union Stag Hunting ban.

We have sent all TDs our Manifesto and have received positive feed back from many who support our vision of a vibrant countryside where farming and sustainable country sports are essential in delivering economic growth for the future.

Also, by the time this newsletter is published the Northern Ireland Assembly elections will have taken place and hopefully a new Assembly and NI Executive will be in place at Stormont; one we hope that will fully understand the importance of field sports and sustainable rural activities and be fully supportive of our rural way of life.

It’s fair to say the level of lobbying we have carried out has been unprecedented; brought about by proposed legislation in both the NI Assembly and the Dáil prior to the elections. In NI we have faced many challenges, especially with regard to The Welfare of Animals and The Wildlife and Natural Environment Acts.

Thanks to the support of our members and fellow country sports enthusiasts we have defeated many proposals by those non supportive MLAs, including an attempt to permanently protect the Irish Hare, a ban on tail docking for working dogs and a complete ban on the use of snares in Northern Ireland.

On the whole we have been delighted with the outcomes but, there has been some disappointment too, especially with the ban on coursing events. However, we will be seeking every opportunity to address this situation.

Many of the Acts passed in Northern Ireland have not yet had commencement orders put in place and in the Republic the Dog Breeding Establishments Act has also been put on hold, awaiting enactment by the Minister.

However, one thing is certain, we will continue to lobby our politicians to ensure they are in no doubt as to the strength of feeling and passion from the country sports community in Ireland.

The NI Justice Act 2010 contains three amendments to the Firearms (NI) Order 2004; clauses 103 (Variation of firearms certificate), 104 (Restrictions on the use of shotguns by young persons) and 105 (Restrictions on possession of air guns by young persons). Countryside Alliance Ireland have long campaigned for fairer firearms legislation for young people and these will assist us to achieve our aims.

However, The Department of Justice has confirmed these clauses will not be commenced upon Royal Assent and will only come into effect once they are commenced by the Minister at some time in the future by means of an Order in the NI Assembly.

Indeed, we are working very closely with the Department of Justice and the PSNI to ensure that correct supervision criteria are in place prior to the commencements of these changes. We will keep you fully updated during the coming months via our eroute and website.

The Irish Red Grouse Association has continued to gain much needed support and is actively driving forward with its conservation initiative to increase the numbers of Red Grouse throughout Ireland.

We also attended a meeting with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency at the end of March to devise a strategy for any future periods of severe weather and periods of temporary suspension of the shooting of wild birds. A procedural format has been agreed and this should be in place prior to the next season.

In April, we attended the all-Ireland National Wild Deer Conference in Athlone. Hosted by The Irish Deer Society, the day saw a varied programme of speakers and topics which reflect the key challenges to and opportunities arising from a unified deer management strategy.

We have added to the CAI Team by employing Jenny Copeland as a Research and Project Assistant for two days per week. Jenny had been volunteering with us since last August and commenced employment in January. Jenny has settled well in to her new role and is already a valuable addition to the CAI Team.

Now that May is upon us, the Game Fair season has commenced. We will be at all five events throughout the summer and this gives the Team the opportunity to meet the members face to face.

Once again, we can offer our members half price tickets for the National Countrysports Fair and Ballinlough Castle when booked through our offices at Courtlough and Larchfield.

As always, may I take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and I look forward to meeting many of you over the coming months.

Yours in Sport

Lyall

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Discounted Tickets for CAI Members

Discounted tickets for CAI members to the National Countrysports Fair, Moira, County Down (27th & 28th May 2011) and Ballinlough Castle Country Fair, County Westmeath (16th & 17th July 2011) Countryside Alliance Ireland is once again delighted to offer our members discounted entry tickets to both the National Countrysports Fair in Moira Demesne on 28th and 29th May 2011 and Ballinlough Castle Country Fair on 16th and 17th July 2011. For both events, CAI is offering two adult tickets for the price of one. Children under 15 are free when accompanied by an adult.

The offer is only available for tickets pre-purchased through our offices.

To take advantage of this exciting offer and book tickets, please contact our Lisburn office on 028 9263 9911 or Courtlough office on 01690 3610. Payment may be made by credit or debit card.

Closing date to pre-purchase tickets:National Countrysports Fair - Monday 23rd May (Two adult tickets for £10)Ballinlough Castle Country Fair - Monday 11th July (Two adult tickets for €15)

This is a superb offer, not to be missed! So why not come along and enjoy these great family days out.

Your chance to win a place on Belle Isle’s Shoot it - Pluck it - Cook it Day

Terms and Conditions Apply

Free Prize Draw

Two fantastic prizes must be won!

Enter our free prize draw to win a fantastic day out at Belle Isle Estate on Saturday 29 October 2011.

The prize includes:Pigeon shooting at Belle Isle (two prizes each for one gun).

The opportunity to cook the day’s bag with Liz Moore from Belle Isle Cookery School who will demonstrate innovative and tasty recipes.

Overnight accommodation for the prize recipients and their guest at Belle Isle.

The competition is open to all, simply enter our draw in person at any of the Game and Country Fairs we are attending over the summer (see www.caireland.org for full list).

(Terms and Conditions apply)

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News Bites

A new dawn for the Assembly and the Dáil

A new coalition government is in power in the Dáil and elections to the NI Assembly are now complete. What does the new Coalition Government in the Daíl and the Northern Ireland Assembly mean for Country Sports?

In the past, Fine Gael and Labour have been up-front in offering support for all field sports and hunting in particular. One can only wait and see if Fine Gael will be as good as their word and the commitment they gave in their manifesto to repeal the ban on stag hunting.

In the ‘Programme for Government’, under the heading of ‘Progress’, the coalition state ‘We will amend and strengthen legislation on animal cruelty and animal welfare’. Countryside Alliance Ireland welcomes and indeed embraces any measure to improve animal welfare legislation and we abhor the cruel treatment of animals.

However, we must learn from lessons learned in Northern Ireland and be vigilant to ensure this may not be used to try to introduce any legislation by the back door, which would negatively impact upon responsible country sports enthusiasts and legitimate countryside activities.

Time will tell how committed to the rural way of life the politicians are. However, one thing is certain, we will continue to lobby to ensure they are in no doubt as to the strength of feeling and passion from the country sports and rural communities.

National Wild Deer Conference 2011

Saturday 2nd April 2011 marked a milestone for Wild Deer in Ireland when the inaugural Wild Deer Conference took place in the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone, County Westmeath.

The conference was organised by the Irish Deer Society to meet the growing need for a unified approach to issues relating to the management of wild deer in Ireland.

The conference was titled ‘Is it possible to Build Consensus on a National Deer Management Strategy?’ and provided a unique platform for discussion on issues that will face the policy makers of the future in working towards a approach to deer management in Ireland.

It was clearly evident that there is need for a Deer Ireland Initative and discussions will continue to find a lead partner to fulfill the role of chair.

The Deer Ireland Initative group will have to draw on representatives from the scientific community, policy makers, land owners, hunter groups and above all have a chair that will be completely independent which will enable the group to compromise and come up with a unified deer managment strategy for Ireland.

Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (NI)

The Alliance party was intent on obtaining full and permanent protection for the Irish hare. This obviously could have led to the demise of the many beagle and harrier packs within Northern Ireland. Our team lobbied hard to defeat this threat and we presented evidence of the great conservation work undertaken by these packs and indeed everyone interested in the management of the species.

With the full support of CAI and the Irish Coursing Club, Francie Molloy MLA tabled an amendment to allow two licensed hare coursing events per year in Northern Ireland.

Unfortunately, this amendment was not passed. This is a hollow victory and one that will not benefit the Irish hare in any way. Indeed the assembled members ignored all the scientific evidence supporting regulated coursing and harked back to the old days of 1977.

This is where rhetoric and biased opinons have in one fell swoop taken away those people who have been actively providing a conservation effort for the Irish hare and its environment.

New guide to “Thinking Rural”

The Agriculture Minister recently launched revised guidance which aims to ensure that government actions have fairer and more equitable outcomes for rural communities throughout the north of Ireland.

The guidance entitled “Thinking Rural - the essential guide to Rural Proofing” will assess the possible impacts of government policies on rural areas and those who live and work there. The Rural Proofing scheme was originally introduced in 2002 and the enhancement of the process was an objective under the programme of government.

Launching the revised guidance Minister Gildernew said: “Put at its simplest, Rural Proofing is the process by which government demonstrates that rural communities have been fully considered when policies are being developed.

This guide will be invaluable to civil servants, helping them identify early on the possible rural impacts of policies and ensure that government actions will have fairer and more equitable outcomes for rural communities who make up around 40% of the population in the north of Ireland.”

Hunter Competence Assessment Programme (HCAP)

The Deer Alliance has recently published a schedule of their HCAP assessment dates for 2011. HCAP is designed to test the knowledge and proficiency of all those who wish to hunt wild deer on both Coillte forest property and on private land.

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News Bites

Assessment is supported by courses in training and education offered on a regional basis by the different participating deer organisations, as well as by the Stalker Training Manual, which is designed to communicate the essentials required for the safe, efficient and humane management of wild deer.

HCAP has now completed five years of operation and to date, over one thousand candidates have been assessed and approximately 850 candidates have been certified. The schedule of dates for Deer Alliance HCAP Multiple Choice Question exams (MCQs) and Range Tests in 2011 are available on the Deer Alliance website: www.deeralliance.ie

For more information on HCAP please contact Liam Nolan on +353 (0) 86 192 7845.

Forest Service and Coillte form closer links

The Forest Service in Northern Ireland and Coillte have announced an increase in co-operation across a range of forestry issues.

Countryside Alliance Ireland was delighted to be invited to the formal launch of their ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ at Castle Archdale Country Park on 22 March at which David Small CEO DARD Forest Service, David Gunning, Coillte Chief Executive and Michelle Gildernew, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development addressed the assembled stakeholders about the new initiative.

Forests in the North and the South make an important contribution to the economic, social and environmental fabric of society. The Memorandum of Understanding captures the shared vision of Forest Service and Coillte that forests can and should maximise the socio-economic benefits to society while protecting the environment and delivering on sustainability at all levels.

Co-operation on many aspects of forestry already exist between both organisations. This Memorandum of Understanding formalises a joint focus on the particular areas where collaborative working and the operating arrangements can ensure the potential for development of the forest sector on an all island basis is maximised.

Welfare of Animals Act (NI)

The Welfare of Animals Act has recently received Royal Assent. The Bill included the controversial Clause 6, regarding the docking of dogs’ tails. After extensive and sustained lobbying, we are pleased to be able to report that the Act now includes an exemption for the prophylactic docking of working dogs’ tails.

All evidence that CAI presented demonstrated that without an exemption, this clause would have had a severely detrimental effect on the welfare of working dogs.

It would have been preposterous that an Act that was designed to improve animal welfare would have had the opposite effect. This news therefore came as a huge relief to all responsible working dog owners and demonstrates that with enough effort legislation can be influenced.

Ulster Angling Federation News update

The Ulster Angling Federation now has a membership of some 60 associations with a total individual membership of some 7,000 anglers. We continue to work closely with our colleagues in CAI for the mutual benefit of all fieldsports and the countryside on which they depend.

The Pricewaterhouse Coopers Report of July 2007 for DCAL on the social and economic value of angling in NI, states that all forms of angling in NI support some 780 full time equivalent jobs, and are worth some £40m p.a. to the NI economy, mostly from game angling. Add to this the value of all the other fieldsports and you can quickly see that this represents a considerable contribution to the NI economy, which is truly sustainable and is wholly dependant on conserving our natural heritage for all to enjoy.

So we have to wonder at the skewed priorities of a minority of our public representatives who, instead of building on the success of these activities, seem to have plenty of time to denigrate or even try to limit our activities.

Under the Water Framework Directive, Local Management Area (LMA) Action Plans for 2010/2011 have been published on the NIEA website. Nine Plans have been produced in accordance with the planned implementation of River Basin Management Plans in the period 2010 to 2015, as follows; North Eastern River Basin - Bush, Lagan, South Down, Strangford. North Western River Basin - Burn Dennet and Foyle, Lower Lough Erne, Owenkillew. Neagh Bann River Basin - Ballinderry, Lough Neagh. NIEA welcome feedback on the Plans. In the first instance please pass any comments on to the Catchment Management Officer in your area or send them through to NIEA at the following e-mail address: riverbasinplanning@doeni.gov.uk.

This is the ideal opportunity to have your input to conserving our rivers and lakes, so use it ! There is also a series of local meetings very soon around NI to discuss these - please see the NIEA website for details.

Jim Haughey

Chairman, UAF

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The National Meeting and Irish Cup

A truly remarkably 86th National Coursing Meeting ended at Powerstown Park, Clonmel with Central City registering a fairytale victory in the Boylesports.com Derby.

Owned and trained by Brendan Duffy from Derry, this track-bred August puppy made his coursing debut on January 1 when he contested the James Magee Memorial All Aged at East Donegal. He surprised everybody present by winning this feature and he carried on the good work when capturing a classic ticket at Tubbercurry two weeks later. Mr Duffy acquired him only after his Tubbercurry success, when he purchased him from Belfast’s Dessie Gilroy.

Central City came to Clonmel surrounded by an aura of mystery because, on breeding, he was not expected to make an impression in the dog classic. However, he again confounded all observers by running powerfully on six occasions up the demanding Powerstown incline and he was crowned the Coursing Derby champion of 2011.

The Greyhound & Pet World Oaks ended in an overdue classic victory for the Glanmire, Co. Cork husband and wife team of Tim and Rose O’Driscoll, when Skellig Babe powered upfield to lead Call Her Now by four lengths in the deciding buckle. Skellig Babe is trained in Skibbereen by Denis O’Driscoll, who sent out her dam Mountain Guest to capture this classic for a prominent punter Harry Findlay in 2006. Mr Findlay also bred Skellig Babe and her comrades.

The Classics Club Champion Stakes ended in a deserved victory for March Is On, which was only fourth favourite in the long odds market. However, he impressed from the moment he was slipped in his first round buckle with High And Mighty. Next he put five lengths of light between himself and Jingles, yet he was the marginal outsider when facing Mucky Eamonn

in the deciding buckle.

March Is On was again out in front and try as Mucky Eamonn did the Macroom challenger simply could not make up the ground. March Is On took the decisive turn by a length and in doing so credited Daniel O’Connor from Scartaglen and Patrick Fitzgerald from Glin with this coveted feature. Mr O’Connor also trains March Is On.

There was a disappointing ending to the Grace Bruton Memorial Champion Bitch Stakes, when Elaine Guiney’s Class Attraction was declared winner because Quality And Dash was withdrawn after a punishing semi-final with Notindispute. Class Attraction opened her bid with a five-length lead over Atlantic Ashmore and she then was responsible for a major shock when leading last years Oaks runner-up, Needham Time by three lengths in her semi-final.

She is owned in Meelin, Co. Cork by Elaine Guiney whose father, Connie, trains this daughter of Judicial Affair and Moonveen Ellen. Class Attraction’s success brought up the first leg of what was to be a famous national double for Meelin as their hurlers won the All-Ireland Junior Club Final in Croke Park on February 13.

The 105th JP McManus Irish Cup was held at Limerick Racecourse on Friday, Saturday, Sunday 25th, 26th, 27th

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February 2011. On a weekend of General Election fever, it was Derby Pines who topped the poll at Limerick Racecourse when he won the €80,000 J P McManus Irish Cup.

Huge crowds were present and it was trainer Brendan Matthews, from Newry, who once again brought a runner into the winners’ enclosure when Derby Pines was declared the winner after the withdrawal of Moot Point from the final. This brings Matthews’ Irish Cup tally to seven.

Derby Pines is owned by Brendan Keogh, a Kildare man resident near Ashford, Kent. His intended opponent, Moot Point was trained by Michael O’Donovan for Newmarket-based Sir Mark Prescott, who bred, owns and nominated this second-season dog. One must go back 40 years, to 1971, to find the last occasion when an Irish Cup was decided in this manner.

Derby Pines, a third-round casualty in the Boylesports Derby, was sent off joint favourite, with Mucky Eamonn, for this classic and would have been a warm order to triumph had a deciding buckle gone upfield. The bookmakers were chalking Moot Point up at 3/1 before the public address informed all present that a veterinary inspection had ruled last season’s Irish Plate winner was too distressed to be asked to again go to slips.

The Select All-Age Bitch Stake, sponsored this season by Patsy Byrne, was won in most independent manner by Tullamoy Queen, a second-season blue owned by Fr Dan Dunne, from Stradbally, Co. Laois and trained by Brendan Farrelly. On a historic note, Fr Dan’s grandfather, also Dan Dunne, owned Drishane, which, in 1927, captured the National Breeders’ Stake at the third National Meeting. Sent off at 14/1, Tullamoy Queen was clearly very fresh after a light campaign and established a succession of decisive leads.

Kilpeacon Ash, a puppy trained by Gerry Holian for the Kilmallock-based D-M-D-H Syndicate, raced to a very-popular victory in the Bill Chawke Irish Plate. The successful syndicate is fronted by Noreen McManus, wife of the Irish Cup sponsor, and Mrs McManus also nominated Kilpeacon Ash.

Homestead Kerry, winner of the Woodlands Hotel Irish Purse, was bred, owned and trained by Dan Lynch, from Clashmealcon, Causeway, Co. Kerry. Dan needs absolutely no introduction to the coursing community so this was another very well-received result.

Pictured Opposite Top Left; John Boyle, Boylesports presenting the trophy to the Duffy Family following the victory of Central City in this season’s Coursing Derby.

Opposite Bottom; Rose O’Driscoll and her husband Tim with Skellig Babe, winner of the 2011 Greyhound and Pet World Oaks.

Top Left: A delighted Elaine Guiney with her bitch Class Attraction, winner of the Grace Bruton Champion Bitch Stake.

Bottom Left; Trainer Brendan Matthews, Sponsor Noreen McManus and owners Simon Senyk and Brendan Keogh with Derby Pines and the 2011 Irish Cup.

Eugene Cooney, Sporting Press

The National Meeting and Irish Cup

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It started with a call from my son Michael inviting me to join him on the last day of the fishing season. I wasn’t really fussed as the weather at the end of October is a bit changeable, to say the least, but I decided to make the effort. Arriving at the dam I was greeted by Tommy who regularly goes, I think, not for the fishing but the craic.

According to him, and some of the boys, there weren’t many fish moving. As I mostly fish the floating fly I was a tad disappointed but tackled up, hoping for maybe a bit of heat and a fish or two moving.

Dandering round with my daughter’s dog Kia, of the Heinz 57 variety, I didn’t see a fish move and decided to put on a few nymphs in case there was a fish or two feeding lower in the water, but with no success.

Making my way round to the Wading Shore, I sat down on the seat waiting to see if there were any rises and enjoying the peace and quiet. We have swans, as well as wildfowl and other species of birds and animals, on the dam and the swans, although not fed, always make their way to where you’re fishing, often well within casting distance.

They don’t seem to affect the fishing as I’ve seen fish rising in their wake, I assume with them stirring up the bottom and disturbing the insect life and the trout taking advantage of it. By this time Michael had joined me and I put on a Black Hopper and Elk Hair Sedge as the very occasional rise occurred.

Just in front of me a fish rose and, casting over it, it rose, quietly, and I missed it, with Michael telling me to cover it again, which I did, and the same thing happened. Whether it wasn’t too enthusiastic or, more probably, I

wasn’t quick enough, is open to debate, but at this stage I decided to call it a day, relax and watch the sun, which cast a beautiful kaleidoscope of shifting colours, go down.

We wandered round to the hut in the twilight, reminiscing, and took a seat, just the two of us, enjoying a cup of coffee with the bats flying about, and I thought how lucky we were to have a place like this. A number of years ago it was proposed to drain the dam and, I assume, make it into a landfill site. Due to the efforts of one man, Sam Mills, this was prevented and, through his endeavours, many have really enjoyed and appreciated what he achieved.

Without his commitment my sons and I, and many others, would have lost out on the opportunity to fish this quite unique place and I sadly reflected on the fact that so many who enjoy country sports are either not aware of the threat and think that things will continue as they are or are not willing to support organisations such as the Countryside Alliance Ireland which are lobbying and watching on a continuous basis that legislation is not brought in that would prevent us from enjoying the freedom to enjoy what we have inherited from previous generations.

The Ballinderry Trust and Six Mile Water Trust, comprising individuals from angling clubs and other groups interested in conservation, are all playing their part. We can’t leave this to other people, we need to support and take time to attend meetings so that following generations inherit the right to participate in field sports as much as we have.

‘Ould Hand’

Dying Embers of the Season

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Nostalgia

My Father, although the owner of one of the biggest tackle and gun shops in Sheffield, Yorkshire, insisted when I left school that whether I liked it or not, I would be subjected to an engineering apprentice ship in one of the city’s major steel works. It was to an extent a little like a five year prison sentence with weekend parole where I

could fish and shoot and then return to the local dungeon at 7am on Monday morning.

Even though, whilst studying my thoughts were ever of Yorkshire’s rivers, fields and streams I did, by some quirk of fate, reasonably well and with the credentials I attained the world became my Oyster so to speak. I applied for a position with the British Government and got it. The problem was I had to go where I was required and my first ‘posting’ was at an establishment in inner London. Fishing tackle packed plus suitcase into my old VW Beetle and I was on my way. My old English side by side locked away in Dad’s gun safe.

It was not long before I met my wife to be who was the radiographer at the local hospital. Her father was the Methodist minister in the sleepy market town of St Neots in Cambridgeshire. Weekends were spent there as often as we could and once again my parole from London’s grime was spent fishing and shooting almost on my in laws doorstep.

My father in law died suddenly of a heart attack and my mother in law, who suffered from acute arthritis, was left needing someone close by who could watch over her. An appeal on compassionate grounds to my lords and masters was met with sympathy and I was soon transferred to an establishment set within the heart of rural England.

We purchased a small cottage within casting distance of the River Ouse and Grafham Water (which was then the UK’s premier trout fishery) could be seen from my office window. The full time bailiffs on the reservoir, Terry Kaye (now not with us) and Mick Bass were great characters and we soon became firm friends. We fished together and in season shot geese and duck which made their homes on and around Grafham Water.

The local gamekeeper, Stan Robbins was a huge man and although not unsociable kept himself much to himself. He managed the shoot on the Lenton Estate, the boundaries of which skirted the reservoir’s northern boundary. We met on occasions in the local pub where I would make a point of passing the time of day. Stan was obviously one of the old time gamekeepers and over a period of time began to warm towards me a little and with his broad country accent, after a pint or two would talk a little about the running of the estate.

My two bailiff mates often made jokes at my expense telling me that there was no way Stan would allow me anywhere near Lenton’s and all the beer in the world would not get me a pass through the gates. One evening however Stan asked the question, ‘What are you doing on Saturday.’ ‘Nothing,’ I replied and to be honest if I had arranged to meet Sophia Loren my answer would not have changed. ‘Meet me at 6.30 am and bring your gun,’ he said. ‘Thank you very much,’ was my reply and did I leave the pub that night a happy man. My two bailiff mates assured me that Stan Robins worked with nobody and the sojourn would be a very brief one. In fact it is a relationship that has lasted over 40 years.

The man who is without doubt the the most complete countryman I have ever met is now 90 years old, retiring in his mid eighties. He told me that he would teach me all the things he would have taught the son he never had and boy was the learning curve a steep one and for that I am eternally grateful. My father who met Stan on many occasions always said he would take a £50 bet Stan would catch rabbits in the middle of Piccadilly Circus. Stan who shot an old Damascus barrelled hammer gun was a first class shot. I talked him into purchasing a modern side by side from my father and he hated it. We trapped mink when all others failed. His pheasants were the best for miles around and it always amazed me how many of the birds from other estates found their way into the Lenton cover. We shot pigeon by the hundreds over winter rape. There were thousands of acres of it but my old mate could always pull them in. They were blissfully happy days. His sense of dry wit held no bounds. No poachers ever encroached on Stan’s territory. As I’ve told you he was a big man and as with the old keepers had a unique way of dealing with folk who steal.

One day we were walking along the abandoned rail line which ran through the estate and lo and behold stumbled across a man with a gun and what appeared to be a very full sack. Stan grabbed the miscreant by the shoulders and asked what he was doing. The man who was Italian replied in broken English that he owned an eatery and wanted to serve Pheasant to his customers. As I began to wonder which hospital the man would end up in I saw Stan peer into the bag.

To my amazement the poacher was told if he promised never to return he could leave in one piece and take the birds with him. The visibly shaken Italian agreed to do so and very quickly disappeared towards the nearest road. ‘I’m amazed you let him go without the usual treatment,’ I said. ‘No need to bloody well be,’ he said. ‘Them pheasants were crows and I hope ‘is posh clients enjoy ‘em.’ I could write a book and probably will about my times and escapades with the great guy.

Perhaps sometime, if our editor permits, I will tell a little more.

Geoff Cooper

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It’s hard to find someone with as much enthusiasm for quality local food as Liz Moore who runs the acclaimed Belle Isle School of Cookery in Co. Fermanagh. Although originally from Co. Monaghan, with a Father from Armagh and a Mother from Dublin, Liz has adopted the Lakeland county as her own and spends much of her time passing on her knowledge and enthusiasm to her students. At 21, Liz moved to Northern Italy having spent the previous two years in Germany.

Without really realizing it, she became immersed into the world of food becoming absorbed by the mantra that “simple was best”. Despite being completely self taught, on her return to Ireland, Liz started a catering company for private dining and game shoots basing herself in Co. Meath just outside Dublin cooking for many prestigious personalities, most notably HRH, The Queen and other members of the

royal family. In 2001, aged 29 Liz was given the opportunity to cook for Michel Roux Senior who took serious note of her talents and invited her to the renowned “Waterside Inn”, Berkshire.

Soon after this the vision of the “Belle Isle School of Cookery”, as part of the “Belle Isle Estate” came to fruition and Liz was asked to manage the school. After much planning, the school was launched by Robbie Millar in 2003 and has gone from strength to strength ever since.

Liz has been proud to represent Northern Ireland many times and was not only asked to cook a show case dinner in Alexandria, Washington with 3 other well known Chefs in 2007 but also gave a speech in the British Embassy in Washington on the strengths of Northern Irish food produce. Liz also took part in the “Smithsonian Folklife Festival”, in which Northern Ireland was honored to be invited, to showcase her heritage in both traditions.

Liz has appeared on many television programmes representing the cookery school, such as “The 7.30 show”, “Lesser Spotted Ulster” and “The Great British Menu”. Liz was also the first ever finalist on “Iron Chef U.K.” earlier this year and competed against Tom Aikins.

In November last year, Liz cooked a show case dinner at the Residence of the British Ambassador to promote Southern investment into Northern Ireland. The cookery school continues to be the number one destination for foodies in Northern Ireland.

For more information about the Belle Isle School of Cookery, please see www.belle-isle.com for available course dates and other activities that are available for you to enjoy in the heart of County Fermanagh.

Liz has been a supporter of Countryside Alliance Ireland for many years and fully supports our Game To Eat campaign. With many of our members out fishing at the moment and with plenty of Wild Irish Game in the freezer Liz has penned a few recipies for you to try over the summer months.

Salmon mousselines with prawn & wasabi creamServes 8

Ingredients275g/10 oz fresh salmon, raw and cut into cubes110g/4 oz prawns, raw2 free range eggs, beatenSalt & pepper¼ tsp. grated nutmeg300ml/10 floz double cream8 large slices of smoked salmon, for the moulds

For the wasabi cream:150ml/5 floz natural yoghurt 2 tbsp. mayonnaise

Spotlight on Liz Moore

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2 tsp. Wasabi paste or to tasteJuice of ½ limeSalt and pepper

MethodBlitz the fresh salmon in a processor with the prawns and some salt, pepper & nutmeg. Add the beaten egg and cream, pulse until well combined. Spoon the mixture into 8 well buttered ramekins or cocotte dishes and chill for an hour or longer.

Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Place the chilled dishes in a roasting tray with enough hot water to come half way up the sides of the dishes. Bake for about 8-10 minutes or until firm to the touch. To make the wasabi cream, mix all the ingredients together to taste.

Turn the mousselines out and allow to cool.

Wash the same ramekins and lightly oil. Place a slice of smoked salmon into each one. Once the mousselines have cooled, gently push them back into the ramekins and smooth over the smoked salmon that is lining each one so that the mousse is completely covered. Turn each one out onto a plate and add a spoonful of wasabi cream. Garnish with fresh baby leaves or pea shoots.

Game CassouletServes 8

Ingredients450g/16oz streaky bacon, cut into thin strips4 tbsp duck or goose fat or olive oil1 kg/2.25 lb haricot beans, soaked in cold water overnight12 cloves of garlic, peeled2 onions, halved and studded with 4 cloves2 bay leavesSprig of fresh thymeGood dash of fruity white wine or dry sherry400g/14oz (1 tin) chopped tomatoes1 litre/1¾pts game or chicken stock900g/2lb pork sausages2 wild ducks, boned and cut into large pieces2 pheasants, boned and cut into large piecesSalt and pepperBreadcrumbs

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

Drain the beans. Heat the fat or olive oil in a large pan and gently sauté the bacon. Add the beans, garlic, onions, bay leaves, thyme, and tomatoes. Pour in the wine and enough stock to cover the mixture, reserving a little extra stock in case the beans dry out. Bring to the boil, then transfer to the oven with a lid to cook slowly for 2 hours.

Pan fry the game pieces and sausages until almost cooked.

After 2 hours, add the sausages and game pieces to the beans. Season with salt and pepper and add stock if necessary. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and place back in the oven uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes.

N.B.: Although this dish is best cooked slowly, if you are in a hurry, substitute tinned chickpeas or butter beans for the haricot beans and heat on the stove for 20 to 25 minutes, adding the meat as above.

To find out more about Belle Isle School of Cookery or other facilities and attractions that are available at Belle Isle Castle visit their website at www.belle-isle.com or send an email to info@belle-isle.com.

Belle Isle is one of Ireland’s hidden Gems

Belle Isle School of Cookery

11

Ballinlough Castle Country Fair

Ballinlough CastleBallinlough Castle

Ballinlough CastleCo. Westmeath16th & 17th July 201116th & 17th July 2011

Country FairCountry FairCountry Fair

Ireland’s Countryside FestivalTwo for One Ticket Deal for CAI Members

www.ballinloughcountryfair.com info@ballinloughcountryfair.com

12

At a time when many country sports clubs are finding it difficult to attract youthful participants, it was very encouraging to see a young and very keen whipper-in in action in County Armagh.

Six year old John Anthony Leigh Livingstone, son of Armagh & Richhill Joint Masters Ken and Lucy, started to whip-in this season, and on St Patrick’s Day was officiating for the first time at a joint meet, when he whipped in to a joint pack of hounds from the Sunnyland and Armagh & Richhill beagles.

As the huntsmen, George Walker of the A & R Beagles and John Shaw Brown of the Sunnyland, have between them a combined total of over 60 years’ experience of hunting hounds, John Anthony could not have been in better company to learn about beagling.

He had a very busy time assisting the huntsmen to keep the pack in order, running several miles across country, before being allowed to lead home the pack at the end of the day.

Pictured;

Above: John Anthony leading the way home

Left: John Anthony chasing the pack.

Whipping in at Six

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The Great Game Fairs of Ireland

GREAT GAMEFAIRS of IRELAND

25th and 26th June 2011Ireland’s largest Game Fair…..

The Irish Game Fair, Shanes Castle,Co Antrim

27th and 28th August 2011The ROI’s premier Game or Country Fair….The Irish Game and Country Fair, Birr

Castle, Birr, Co. Offaly

For Further details of the Fairs :T: 028 (from ROI 048) 44839167/44615416

Read all about the Game Fairs and all Irish hunting,shooting and fishing in the Irish Countrysports and Country

Life magazine available in your newsagents or online atwww.countrysportsandcountrylife.com

In 2010 the Great Game Fairs ofIreland further consolidated theirposition as indisputably Ireland’s

premier country sports events andin 2011 they will be even better!

See the 2010 Great Game Fairs of Ireland onwww.fieldsportschannel.tv

Victorian Style and elegance at Ballywalter

14

Spring Field Trials for pointers and setters have been held in Ireland since 1964 and the first such Trial was held on partridge in the Carlow area. The partridge, they found, lay well and the trial was quite successful.

Ipso facto, if partridge lay well, then why not grouse and why not pheasant? Thus the long period from the end of the trialling season in October to the first Grouse Trials in mid July was ended and Spring Trials are held during the months of February and March. The many Clubs try to run at least one event during this period and every week-end date is pre-booked.

Pheasant Trials have more or less disappeared now with the reclamation of most of the good holding grounds such as Erry Bog at Cashel, Co. Tipperary, Annagh Bog near Churchtown, Co. Cork and Doon, Co. Limerick. This latter location had been particularly successful and I can recall one 30-dog Stake that was completed by 3pm in mid-March with wild pheasant available for every brace.

The serious problem, of course, is weather which can be unpredictable at best. Many Spring Trials have been cancelled over the years because of frost, snow, gales and the eternal hazard of fog.

The shortness of the days necessitates smart and efficient running of dogs and any time must not be wasted in between braces. With the almost guaranteed cool weather, there can be some great dog-work and these trials can be either enjoyed or endured according to nature’s whim. One mystery that remains is scent and scenting conditions.

With an easterly wind or breeze, known good dogs do not seem to be able to take scent of game off the air as easily or accurately as they would, given that they would from another direction. Ultimately, I suppose we never will discover what goes on between a dog’s nose and the game he or she seeks and that, in itself, must be a good thing.

I must admit that my Spring trialling career this year was brief. I entered my young pointer in the first Novice on the Dublin Mountains. He did not go well at all and I picked up after a minute. He had been to the Vet and it took a few more visits to sort him out.

I ran him in Kilchreest and he had an excellent find on a pair of grouse, but subsequently ran out of petrol and did not qualify and this was quite correct. I missed some more trials through ‘flu (This sounds like I’m making excuses) and then a jaunt to Co. Durham to do some training and counting saw out the short season.

Here is a short critque of some of the trials (mostly hearsay)

Cill Dara Gundog Association – Open 17/2/11 The weather was good on the day with no rain. There was a very high standard of running, but poor scenting conditions.

Connaught Field Trials Open 19/2/11 The quality of this Stake was less than the norm for Moycullen with few grouse and some snipe available.

Munster Pointer & Setter Association – Novice 27/2/11 Kilchreest With 19 dogs on the card, 18 ran. Of the nine brace, 8 brace had finds on game including two on grouse. This trial was of a very high standard throughout with eleven grouse met.

Having run two rounds, the judges called for three dogs which had run very well, but without game. One had gone home so the remaining pair were given a long but blank run. Very satisfactory

Cork Field Trials Association – Open 5/3/11 This was the trial of the Spring. Run at Clear Lake which is the normal Championship ground, there were 71 birds met and there were 10 finds going into the second round.

No dogs were asked to run in ‘the bad bits’ and one competitor whose dog had flushed was heard to say that he was totally happy with the ground he got and the chance of game he was given. Sporting.

Cork Field Trials Association – Novice 6/3/11. There were with 18 entrants. This Stake was run at Glendine and 18 grouse were encountered with three finds and one find on snipe. No finds were added in the second round, but this was a very high class Novice with excellent running and quartering.

Pointer Club of Ireland – Open 19/3/11. Great trial with some 40 grouse met and many snipe also with several chances of grouse & snipe. Two dogs got a further run after second round. One found, but the other went in and had both were lost. This win makes Ballydavid Aodh a Field Trial Champion.

Wicklow/Wexford Gundog Association – Open scenting conditions very poor on the day with several chances on grouse wasted. As previously mentioned, the east wind did not seem to carry scent well. Some excellent dogs.

Irish Red Setter Club – Novice 26/3/11 Entry of nine dogs. Plenty of grouse signs, but only four met. Two dogs handled game and one was lost in the second round. Dogs had several chances of snipe, though.

Irish Field Trial Association – Open 27/3/11 – Kinnitty Very Good ( Grouse)

To find out more about Field Trials visit the Irish Kennel Club website and locate your nearest Field Trial Club.

Tom Dunne

Spring Trials for Pointer & Setters

Two for One Ticket Deal for CAI Memberswww.gamefairireland.com gamefairireland@btinternet.com

NationalNationalCountrysports FairCountrysports FairMoira DemesneCo. Down28 & 29 May 2011