Tag Archives: greyhounds

THE Clare contingent will travel with a fair degree of confidence to the National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel this week-end, with some worthy representatives in the classics. Pride of place goes to Kilmihil, with three runners representing the parish at Powerstown Park. A lot of attention will also be focused on Mullagh native, Dr Paddy O’Kelly, whose unbeaten and Gerry Holian-trained Reikers Iskand (Adios Alonso – Blades of Glory) is second favourite for the Boylesports Derby. He won a good trial stake at Westmeath United and his prospects have been given a huge boost since then by winning the Corn na Féile puppy stake at Abbeyfeale, an event regarded as a good barometer for Clonmel. The favourite is his litter brother, Blades of Fire (6/1), also trained by Gerry Holian. He is owned by Mary Guiney (Rathkeale). The draws were made in the Horse and Jockey Hotel, the sponsor of the Oaks, on Friday night last. Out of the hat …

WITH the county’s biggest number of qualifiers in recent years, Clare’s chances of taking one of the classics at the National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel on Saturday, Sunday and Monday next have been enhanced. With five interests in the Boylesports.com Derby, a total of nine in the Greyhound and Pet World Oaks and one in the Kevin Smith Champion Stakes, the Clare contingent will have plenty to shout about. However, the Oaks draw in Clonmel Park Hotel on Sunday night was not too kind to Clare owners, as five of them were drawn close to each other in the third quarter. Two of them, the Clarecastle qualifier, Miss Buttons, owned by Patrick (Jack) Moloney, Lissane and his grandson, Daragh and the Loughrea qualifier, Aveia, owned by the syndicate of Martin Keane, Kilmihil; Albert Long, Ballyea and Clifden and Dara Heenan, Limerick, go to slips together. Windfarm Ivy, trained by Pat Curtin and owned by him, Michael Eustace and Noel Hehir, …

WHAT happens to greyhounds after their track or coursing career has ended? It’s been a difficult question to address in the past but more and more the breed is becoming popular as a pet. Rover Rescue, based at Shanaway Road in Ennis, has been involved in taking pound dogs since 2008 but until recently, greyhounds weren’t readily available for adoption as pets. Now, thanks to the co-operation of Frankie Coote and Ennis Pound, Deirdre Ryan has co-founded a group with Eileen Twomey called Clare Greyhound Project. “We aim to build alliances with rescue groups all over Europe who will get on board in helping us find these loving pets caring homes. Rover Rescue has already secured supports from greyhound rescues in the UK, as well as Italy and Sweden. Due to the recent implementation of the Pet Passport Scheme between the UK and Ireland, it can now cost up to €400 to get a dog to the UK. This is …

THIS weekend’s National Coursing meeting at Clonmel is expected to attract a big Clare contingent. Noticeable for the 2014 meeting is the amount of qualifiers that have changed hands, among them being Blueview Barney, a Derby runner and Turbo Julie in the Oaks, both now trained by Clareman Pat Curtin. The Derby runner is now known as Roquefort Barney (Murtys Gang-Foxhall Rio) and is owned by the Windfarm syndicate of Pat Curtin, Michael Eustace, Ennis, and Galway men Gerry Hughes and Jonathan Newell. Bred by Damian McHugh, the Kilcreevin-Ballymoate qualifier is drawn in the third quarter and comes up against the Borrisoleigh qualifier, Cuban Ando, in the first round. The name of Wheres Cranny (Murtys Blaze- Rock Music) went into the Derby draw in Clonmel on Sunday night and he came out of the hat in the second quarter against the Edenderry qualifier Central Investor, owned by Brendan Duffy, Derry. However, because of a toe injury a big doubt hangs over …