Clarecastle’s Gearóid O’Loughlin had an afternoon to savour at last Sunday’s North Kerry Harriers’ point-to-point meeting at Ballybunion when registering his first win as a trainer with 10/1 shot Hello Mr Kelly in the second division of the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden. O’Loughlin, whose uncle Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin is currently Clare senior hurling manager, has ridden many winners over the past few seasons but he reached another milestone here when this first-time out son of Wizard King was successful at the sun-kissed Kingdom track. Always prominent, Hello Mr Kelly, who races in the colours of well-known Kildysart hunting enthusiast Aiden Kelly, moved to the front on the run to the final fence and, once safely over, ran on strongly to beat runner-up, Pretty Floyd, by four lengths. “It is fantastic to have trained my first winner,” O’Loughlin said. “This is a very nice horse and he has been working well at home over the past few weeks. Aidan Kelly …

A VERY impressive win for the Ennis-owned Peggy in an open 575 at Shelbourne Park, the Newmarket-on-Fergus-owned Nurse Jackie qualifying for the third round of the Red Mills Produce stakes in Clonmel  and the win for that great Ennistymon stalwart, Michael Marrinan, in Limerick last Saturday night were among the weekend highlights in greyhound racing from the Clare point to of view.Ennis owners, Martin Cronin and Jack Markham as well as Billy Murphy from O’Briensbridge and Colman O’Loughlin from Inagh added to the excitement with their Cragbrien Hondo, Coolready Shaun and Pal Duke winning the feature races over the three nights’ racing in Galway. Owned in Ennis by Frankie Sheehan and trained by Sixmilebridge man, Stephen Murray, Peggy was again in flying form in Shelbourne Park last Saturday in an 575 race for which Colourful Fox was sent off the warm 4/5 favourite from trap two. However, the favourite was very slow off the mark and in contrast, Peggy in …

The annual Ennis Junior Badminton Club Championships were completed over the weekend. The club’s two courts were in constant use throughout the weekend as the club’s emerging talent battled for junior titles. The tournament was co-ordinated and scheduled by junior badminton captain Hilary O’Sullivan and the committee.The results are listed below.U-11 Girls’ Singles: winner, Katie Browne; runner-up, Emer Murray.Boys’ Singles: winner, Aaron Moloney;  runner-up, Ronan Foley.Boys’ Doubles: winners, Aaron Moloney and Ronan Foley; runners up, Darragh Daly and Patrick Bugler.U-17 Division 1Girls’ Singles: winner, Sinéad Flynn; runner-up, Kate Bredin.U-13 Division 1Girls’ Singles: winner, Róisín Dwyer; runner-up, Karen MacNamara.Boys’ Singles: winner, Maurice Molloy; runner-up, Cathal Ruane. Girls’ Doubles: winners, Áine Ryan and Róisín Dwyer; runners-up, Karen MacNamara and Sally Molloy.Mixed Doubles: winners, Cathal Ruane and Karen MacNamara; runners-up, Maurice Molloy and Sally Molloy.U-13 Division 2Girls’ Singles: winner, Róisín Devane; runner-up, Siun Moran.Boys’ Singles: winner, DJ Keehan; runner-up, Daniel Jakab.Mixed Doubles: winner, DJ Keehan and Róisín Devane; runners-up, Oran Killeen and Siun …

IT was a quiet weekend for Clare Community Games with no county competitions taking place. The next competitions will be on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1. All areas are reminded that they should now be holding their area athletic finals to select competitors for the county athletic finals which will be staged on Sunday, June 26 at Lees Road.  The closing date for entries for the athletics finals is Friday, May 20 and all entries must go to Mary Lenihan, 8 Clonmoney Grove, Crusheen. As this is the 40th anniversary of Clare Community Games, all areas are asked to make a special effort to make this a special occasion.The following closing dates apply:Friday, April 15 for skittles, judo and cycling; Friday, April 22, for hurling;Friday, April 29 for Gaelic football, camogie, volleyball, rounders;Friday, May 6 for variety, swimming and outdoor soccer; Friday, May 20 for pitch and putt; Friday, May 27 for gymnastics, athletics.The following competition dates apply: …

TWENTY years ago American, Anita Hayes founded the Scariff-based Irish Seed Savers Association, which exists as living testimony to the richness and wealth of the agricultural legacy of our ancestors.

ENNIS’ town manager Ger Dollard has opposed calls to enclose the newly opened Tim Smythe Park playground behind a 6ft tall fence, saying he does not want to create a “prison-type environment”.

OVER €4,000 has been raised through a charity fashion show that was organised by teenagers from Gort No Name Club and brought over 300 people out. The event was held at The Centre on Friday, March 25 and brought people from the local community and surrounding regions together to raise money for Croí.

CONTRACTS have been signed for the construction of a new playground in Cratloe Woods, costing in the region of €180,000.