Downpatrick Man Fair Game For Rural Oscars

IN the world of country sports and country life one local name stands out from the crowd... local Downpatrick businessman and rural champion, Albert Titterington.

Albert’s unfaltering allegiance to all countryside matters has recently received its due recognition and he has been short-listed for the prestigious Countryside Alliance Ireland Awards. Nicknamed the 'Rural Oscars', the awards celebrate the characters, skills, traditions and enterprise of the countryside through the people who work so hard to sustain these values.

Albert Titterington has been
nominated for the rural oscars.

Albert is now a strong contender for the sought after title of Ireland’s ‘Rural Hero’,  a category which pays tribute to those who have gone beyond the call of duty and who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in the role of supporting, protecting , sustaining and promoting the countryside.

A stalwart and highly-respected figure in community, business and government circles, Albert’s unrivalled and lifelong passion for the countryside has brought immense benefits, not just to the landscape and its flora and fauna, but also to the people who work, live and play there.

It was Albert Titterington who introduced the Game Fair concept to Ireland by staging the first Irish Game Fair at Clandeboye Estate, outside Bangor. Since then he has been responsible for organising an unbroken series of annual Irish Game Fairs in Ireland making him the longest serving Game Fair Director in the world. 

This year’s Game Fairs will be held at Ballywalter, CountyDown, Shane’s Castle, Antrim and Birr Castle, CountyOffaly. In fact Albert will stage his 50th Game Fair at Shane’s Castle this year – a remarkable achievement in itself.

The Ballywalter Game Fair is a popular annual event drawing huge crowds. 

Commenting on his nomination, Albert said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been short-listed for this coveted award and it comes a very appropriate time as I look forward to my 50th Game Fair at Shane’s Castle in July. The countryside is in my blood and, for over 40 years,

"I have made it my personal mission to demonstrate in real and practical ways that country sports, farming, conservation and environmental concern should and must work together for the preservation of the countryside, country sports and the rural way of life. 

"The Great Game Fairs of Ireland are the culmination of that passion and, in conjunction with my magazine and website platforms, I will continue to strive to help keep the rural spirit alive and well.  It is essential to protect our landscapes, heritage and communities for future generations and of course the economic and environmental benefits of doing so are multi-fold and far reaching. I am hoping that this nomination will highlight these issues further for the betterment of the countryside and all its communities.”

Albert is also at the forefront of Irish country sports and rural lifestyle journalism with his Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine and web portal www.countrysportsandcountrylife.com. He also was one of the first academic researchers in the UK into the effects of environmentalism on consumers with over 20 internationally acclaimed published articles under his belt.

Albert is famed for practicing what he preaches; Albert Titterington’s Great Game Fairs of Ireland brand was acknowledged this year at Stormont receiving praise from Government Ministers and other Irish bodies for its huge cross border economic and tourism impact.

He also has made considerable personal financial input into rural matters with sponsorship of a wide range of clubs, organisations and activities. He is also the founder of the Country Sports Lifetime Commitment Awards which is a key annual event.

Equally generous with his personal time, Albert continues to fly the banner for field sports, and the environment in which they operate. He also actively and regularly lobbies and advises politicians at the highest level on matters of rural interest.

Countryside AllianceIreland Chief Executive, Lyall Plant, said: "Those short-listed for the awards represent the very best of rural enterprise and community spirit and I congratulate them on reaching the final. CAI is very proud to celebrate their valued contributions to our rural economy and communities."
Judging has now commenced and the winners will be announced at the end of this month. These winners will then go forward to the overall finals, being held in London on 7th March 2012.