All-age cups remain in Clare

The South Clare coursing meeting at Cooraclare turned out to be a rewarding one for the Clare connections of Windfarm Eiscir and Atlantic Ashmore, who won the all-age cups and collected more valuable wins in their quest for Clonmel glory.
While the Pat Curtin-trained Windfarm Eiscir (Bexhill Eoin-Windfarm Lady) owned in Ennis by Clare Eustace, was a decisive winner of the South Clare Cup for 16 all-age dogs, there was huge controversy surrounding the final of the all-age bitch final when the judge waived the flag in favour of the Paddy Marrinan, Miltown Malbay, owned and trained Atlantic Ashmore (Ardmore View-Atlantic Beauty) against a very unlucky Summerfield Bex, owned by Jean Carr, Claregalway.
Already a cup winner at the East Donegal fixture and beaten in the Doon final, Windfarm Eiscir rubber-stamped his Clonmel qualification with his victory at the South Clare meeting, which was held on Thursday and Friday last after being postponed on St Stephen’s Day because of the frost.
Gerry Meehan’s Oilean Fantasy was a non-runner in the cup and was replaced in the top half of the card by the Kilkee-owned Fishermans Scoby. All the fancied runners survived the opening round on Thursday, after which Windfarm Eiscir was the even-money favourite to win out followed by Lone Boxer, (2/1), Him Over There (5/2), Milesian Son (3/1), Gifted Hero and Ahanagran Snow (4/1) and Upsetter and Ballycasey (6/1).
The quarter-finals saw the Killimer-Kilrush winner, Milesian Son, being worked hard after beating Upsetter by three lengths; Him Over There in command against Gifted Hero in a straight run; Windfarm Eiscir beating Ballycasey by two lengths in another straight run and Ahanagran Snow, owned by Liam Liddy and John O’Donoghue, just getting the verdict from Lone Boxer, who was beaten in the Killimer-Kilrush final.
For the semi-finals, the impressive Him Over There was quoted at 4/6; Windfarm Eiscir was still even money; Ahanagran Snow was 3/1 and Milesian Son, owned by Paddy Conlon in Cree, was available at 4/1.
In the first of the semi-finals, Him Over There led early on but mid-way he pulled away to beat Milesian Son by five lengths. In the other semi-final, two lengths separated Windfarm Eiscir and Ahanagran Snow.
Windfarm Eiscir was well in control in the final, getting the verdict by five lengths. The winner was nominated by Tom Keane of Cooraclare. Members of the Hey You Sir syndicate from Ennis, owners of the George Gallery-trained Him Over There, were hoping to take the cup away with them with their trial stake winner of last season. While they were disappointed with the final outcome, they nonetheless got a good run for their money. Members of the syndicate are Peter Quinn, Ciaran Browne, Martin Coffey, Shane Flanagan and Michael Vaughan.
Wee Beauty was a non-runner in the all-age bitch stake (16) for which Atlantic Ashmore was all the rage. Winner of the cup at Killimer-Kilrush in her first outing of the season, she disposed of Now Its Princess on day one and was 4/6 favourite on Friday. Summerfield Bex (2/1) and the Cooraclare-owned Missing Hyland (5/1) were first into action in the quarter-finals and the former came through with three lengths to spare. Then it was the turn of the George Gallery-trained Cillowen Icon (3/1) to dispose of the Kieran Nugent-trained Lively Blonde (6/1) by one and a half lengths while Atlantic Ashmore beat Jeru Eile (6/1) by four lengths. Scattery Express had a bye run at this stage.
The first of the semi-finals heats was won by Summerfield Bex (6/4) by three lengths from Cillowen Icon (5/2), while in the second semi-final it was neck and neck between Atlantic Ashmore (2/5) and the Killimer-owned Scattery Express (4/1) at the half-way stage before the favourite got up to score a narrow win.
The favourite was in trouble early on in the final and as they reached halfway Summerfield Bex (Bexhill Eoin-Silent Beauty) still held the advantage. And it was Summerfield Bex who got in for the first turn when a length and a half in front of Atlantic Ashmore (Ashmore View-Atlantic Beauty). The honours looked destined for Claregalway, where Summerfield Bex is owned by Jean Carr but to the surprise of the big crowd, the judge pulled the white flag to signal a win for Atlantic Ashmore.
Atlantic Ashmore is trained by Paddy Marrinan of Miltown Malbay, who also owns the black with Michael Corcoran, Oranmore and Eamon Kiely, Cork. The winning nominator was Pat O’Dea and Paddy Conlon-nominated Summerfield Bex, who is trained by Liam Carr.
Members of the ATM syndicate from Clarecastle (hurling hero Anthony Daly, Michael Daly and Tommie Howard) are back in the hunt for more national honours in Clonmel. This time, they will be represented by the Gerry Holian-trained Murtys Return (Murtys Blaze-Miltown Magic), who won the South Clare Derby trial stake (32).
The last eight on Friday were Murtys Return (4/1), Hobsons Choice (4/7), Disruptive Guest (3/1), Danema Leisure (8/1), Ballyduffpublican (6/1), Venture Out (2/1), Roger Crystal (5/1) and Gold Pine (3/1).
Beaten in the final in Ballyduff, Hobsons Choice was well fancied to do the business in Cooraclare. However, the connections of Murtys Return were also hoping to do better after being beaten in the Loughrea final. When the pair met in the first of the quarter-final heats in Cooraclare, Murtys Return – who survived two very close buckles on the opening day – held a slight advantage all the way and went on to beat the favourite by a length for the first turn.
Disruptive Guest, owned by Pat Moloney, Clarecastle, beat Danema Leisure by two lengths in a straight-up run; Ballduffpublican had a bye run through the withdrawal of Venture Out while Gold Pine just survived a close encounter with Roger Crystal.
After his heroics in putting out the favourite, Murtys Return was now the new market leader at 5/4 for the semi-finals with Gold Pine at even money and Disruptive Guest and Ballyduffpublican at 2/1.
The first of the semi-finals was an all-Clarecastle affair, with Murtys Return continuing his all-conquering run with a three-lengths win over Disruptive Guest. Gold Pine joined him in the final after surviving a stiff test from Ballyduffpublican, winning by half a length.
In the final, Murtys Return held the advantage from slips and while Gold Pine survived to give a good performance, there was no catching the Clarecastle-owned fawn, who got the flag with nearly two lengths to spare. The runner-up is trained by Eddie O’ Connell for Ned Clancy from Kilmallock.
Wizard West was another who caught the eye in Ballyduff and she was sent off the favourite to win the Oaks trial stake (32) at Cooraclare. After two rounds on the opening day she was quoted at even money for the quarter-finals, with Clogher Road (2/1), Woodpark Blaze (5/2), Tromora Darkie, Janey Muckey and Dalcash Sarah (4/1), Glenbrack Lisa (6/1) and Nom Noms (8/1).
In the West Clare battle in the first of the quarter-finals heats, Clogher Road just got in for the vital turn against the Quilty-owned Tromora Darkie; Wizard West established a long lead on Nom Noms; Janey Mucky beat the Gort-owned Glenbrack Lisa while Woodpark Blaze advanced at the expense of Dalcash Sarah.
Wizard West was the money-on favourite at the semi-final stage, with Clogher Road and Woodpark Blaze at 2/1 and Janey Muckey at 4/1.
Wizard West (Judicial West-Shes The West) was first to qualify for the final when beating Clogher Road, owned by Alphonsus Tubridy, Mullagh and Mullagh native and Mullingar-based Dr Paddy Kelly, by two lengths. Woodpark also won a place in the final when seeing off the chances of Janey Muckey (T Kearney, Abbeydorney and P Dillon, Duagh), also by two lengths. It was the Lisselton-owned Wizards West (T Hegarty and L Foley) all the way in the final, winning her rights for Clonmel by beating Woodpark Blaze by three lengths. The runner-up is trained by Gerry Holian for former Newmarket-on-Fergus hurler and Tradaree Coursing Club member Johnny Quinn, Woodpark.
Miltown Malbay Coursing Club secretary Brendan Hehir also came away with a trophy after his Rith Faineach (Mounteden Guest-Rith Gan Gaisce) won the Members Stake for 16 two-course dogs and bitches. A brindled bitch, Rith Faineach beat Tommy Gallagher’s (Cooraclare) dog, Good Slick in the final. The beaten semi-finalists were Burnpark Sadie and Gipsy Madam.
There was a surprise result in the final of the Working Members stake when the winner by three lengths was Now Its Bruno (Droopys Maldini-Dalcash Ciara) owned in Cooraclare by Eimear Lillis. The beaten finalist was Lismadine Jack, owned by Paddy Troy in the West Clare peninsula and Conor McInerney, Clarecastle.
The meeting again proved to be a popular Christmastime fixture and despite the enforced changes of dates, was well supported on both days. After a few hitches early on the first day, the meeting progressed to produce some excellent coursing.

Unlucky losers

The tag of the unluckiest owners of the season must go to Seamus O’Shea and Jane Mulreidy, Sixmilebridge.
Early on in the season their Delightful Mark (Droopys Saunders-Brats Delight) was beaten in the final of the Oaks trial stake at the regional meeting. They then reached the final of the trial stake at Killimer-Kilrush but they had to withdraw the fawn through injury. They were out of luck again at the Corn na Féile fixture at Abbeyfeale last Thursday when Delightful Mark was beaten one length in the final of the Oaks trial stake 32 by the Brosna-owned Coolvanny Rose (Musical Time-Coolvanny Storm). Delightful Mark, who was favourite, was a length in front but was denied when the hare switched infield.
At the same meeting, Highland Hawk (Eoin Rua-Highland Moon), owned by the O’Donovans in Killaloe, was beaten two and a half lengths in the final of the Derby trial stake (32) by Tynwald Stuart Tullamore-Vacume Runaway), trained by Michael O’ Donovan for Terry Corden, Tipperary. The winner also reached the Miltown Malbay final, where he was beaten one length by the Clonlara-owned Aristo Emperor.

Boston death

His many freinds in the coursing circles were saddened to hear of the death in Boston last Friday of North Clare native Tom O’Connor. A colourful and popular character, he was great coursing enthusiast and travelled home each year to attend a number of Clare coursing meetings as well as the national meeting in Clonmel and the Irish Cup. He always looked forward to renewing acquaintances with old friends.