Coursing the winner at weather-beaten Killimer-Kilrush meeting

Coursing

The fact that the Killimer-Kilrush coursing meeting survived the treacherous weather conditions last weekend was a credit to the great club members. A prolonged thunderstorm interrupted proceedings on Saturday and heavy showers, accompanied by strong winds, were the order of the day on Sunday but, overall, coursing was the winner on both days when the meeting lived up to expectations despite the unkindest of weather.

The strong-running hares made for excellent coursing over the two days and the fact that there was only one local winner from the major stakes did not take from the overall success of the fixture at the testing Aylevarroo stretch overlooking the Shannon Estuary.
The Madigan brothers from Clooneylissane, Killimer, were the big local winners as they came out on top with the Maurice McCarthy (Gort) trained Clune Hyland (Matt Hyland-Scattery Mac), in the reserve derby trial stake (24). The winning owners were Pat, Martie, who is a Doonbeg publican, and Michael who lives in the US. Clune Hyland was the pre-coursing favourite at 2-1 and he never put a foot wrong to reach the final, in which he was pushed all the way by Navins For Sure, owned by members of the Navins Bar syndicate from Clarecastle.
The all-age stakes took the expected routes, with the Newmarket, County Cork-owned Duarigle Allstar taking the dog event and the Pat Curtin-trained Ashtown Amy coming through in the all-age bitch event.
Runner-up at Kilflynn and a winner more recently at Miltown Malbay, the Dan Joe Guiney-trained Duarigle Allstar (Janey Mac Aroo-Gooleen Jessie), bred by Eilis O’Sullivan, Labasheeda, extended his good form to Killimer-Kilrush, where he was the pre-coursing even-money favourite to win the Gilligan McMahon Memorial Cup for all-age dogs (16). Drawn in the bottom half, he came from behind to beat Duke of Inagh by one length in the opening course and survived for the second day when having four lengths to spare in his buckle against Lurga Gold. He qualified for the final by seeing off Gurraun Smokey in the second semi-final.
In the top half, Wake Up Rascal, available at 10-1 before coursing, went into slips after the thunder and lightning storm but the delay had no adverse effect on him when beating the Kilmihil-owned trial stake winner of last season, Trial Balance, by three lenghs. He then proceeded to eliminate Vacume Legacy by five lengths in a straight run to earn his place for the second day.
However, he had a harder path to the final, as he and the West Clare-owned Stop and Stare were sent back to slips after the hare shifted away. In the rerun, Wake Up Rascal had enough to do after beating Stop and Stare by three lengths to the turn.
Duarigle Allstar beat Wake Up Rascal by five lengths in the final to win the second cup of the season for twins Sinéad and Eimear Guiney. This win should almost guarantee him a place in the line up for the Champion Stakes. Well-known Killimer-Kilrush Coursing Cub officer JJ O’Dea nominated the winner and Wake Up Rascal, owned by Pat McKenna, Kilflynn, was nominated by bookmaker, Denny Gould, Cree.
A winner of the Consolation Oaks, Ashtown Amy (Droopys Caesar-Ballymac Kanu) has got her all-age career off to a promising start. Trained by Pat Curtin for members of the Dingle-based Barony syndicate, she reached the final in Edenderry and went one better by winning the Aylevarroo all-age bitch stake in Killimer-Kilrush. Drawn in the bottom half, she and Whitesone River were installed as the joint 2-1 favourites before coursing. When they clashed in the opening round, Ashtown Amy was always in control to qualify for a second round buckle against Ougham Miss, who had a first-round bye through the withdrawal of Tromora Ocean. Ashtown Amy, now the 4-6 favourite, won her second round outing by five lengths and above her Banner Blonde, trained by Pat McMahon, Deerpark, Newmarket-on-Fergus, for Stacy O’Gorman, Cratloe, also survived for the second day when accounting for Squid of Inagh, the Miltown Malbay Cup winner, by five lengths and then beating Woodpark Dancer by two lengths.
In the top half, the Kilkee-owned Fishermans Blond saw off Lischane Lass and Scattery Express, the locally owned Oaks qualifier, while Black Donail, the Miltown Malbay runner-up owned by Kieran Nugent and Aaron Nugent, Ballyea, had a first-round bye through the absence of Swanky Jean and beat Glouner Sandy by half a length in round two.
In the first of the semi-finals, it was a very close call between Fishermans Blond, the winner, and Black Donail, while the second semi-final also produced a thriller with Ashtown Amy just getting the flag from Banner Blonde. The final was also a tight affair, with the Kelly and Burke-nominated Ashtown Amy getting a just up verdict from Fishermans Blond, nominated by Jimmy Normoyle, Doonbeg and owned by Barry Harte, Kilkee.
The success of Clune Hyland in the reserve Derby trial stake (24) was well received locally but the enthusiastic supporters of the Dan Brassil-trained Navins For Sure had plenty cheer about. Less than a length separated the pair as they headed towards the steep part of the climb and there was less between them as they drew nearer the escape where the judge, Tony Reddan, waved the flag in favour of Clune Hyland. Survivors from the two rounds on Saturday were Daruje, Joshs Jewel, Kiribati, Navins for Sure, Him Over There and Clune Hyland and the ones who made it to the semi-finals were Daruje, Navins For Sure and Clune Hyland.
Navins for Sure was challenged most of the way by Daruje before winning by a length while Clune Hyland had a bye to the decider, where he just deprived Navins For Sure in a thriller.
Not for the first time, the ferry journey across the Shannon from Tarbert proved to be a rewarding one for the O’Connor family. On this occasion, they won the Oaks Trial Stake (32) with Razor Scotch (Tullamore-Razor lady), whose mother and grandmother also won trial stakes at this fixture.
On the boards at 4-1 before coursing and drawn in the top half, Razor Scotch saw off Comogue Candy in the opening round before having a three-length winning margin over Simbas Princess to earn the right to run on Sunday. The Liscannor-owned Gold Charlie, Take Your Mack (Abbeyfeale) and Rascal Jenny (Abbeydorney) also survived in this half for the second day.
In the bottom half Skellig Wave, the 2-1 pre-coursing favourite, also made it safely through to the second day, as did the reserve Scholars Dilemma, Lively Blonde and Cillowen Stunner.
The quarter-finals saw Razor Scotch having three lengths on Gold Charlie; Rascal Jenny getting the better of Take Your Mack; Scholars Dilemma surviving a close call from Lively Blonde and Skellig Wave turned the hare three lengths in front of George Gallery’s Cillowen Stunnner.
Razor Scotch was first to qualify for the final when beating Rascal Jenny by six lengths and Skellig Wave joined her after accounting for Scholars Dilemma by three lengths.
The scene was set for a great final but this was not to be. Skellig Wave held a slight advantage as they reached the steep part of the climb but then the picture changed when the hare veered left. Razor Scotch was alone in spotting her game and she followed up for the vital turn. Razor Scotch is owned by James and Joe O’Connor, while the unlucky runner-up is represented by Rosarie O’Driscoll, Glanmire, County Cork and trainer Tim O’Driscoll.
Back The Mack (Hilltown-Gonon The Mac) was an impressive winner of the Hare Catchers Stake for two-course duffers (16). The brindled bitch is owned by Joe Kelly and members of the Kelly syndicate from Killimer. The winner was in flying form in the final when beating Fishermans Jono, a black dog owned by Joe Harte, Kilkee, by five lengths. The beaten semi-finalists were Windfarm Buddy and Wood Royal.
Well-known Jimmy Normoyle from Doonbeg also brought home some silverware as a result of his Doonbeg Black (Hondo Black-Bodyshop Nikita) winning the Members Stake for 16 greyhounds. In a straight run, he won the final by four lengths from Abby Jeff, owned by Joe Keane of Kilkee and Carrigaholt.
John Lahiff, Kilrush and Denis Clohessy, Killimer were also rewarded when presented with the Seán Crowley and John Lahiff Cup after their black bitch Me Fein (Brett Lee-Inagh Spice) emerged victorious from the Surplus Members Stake (14 dogs). In the final, she had five lengths on Babasonicos, a white and black bitch owned by Michael Fitzgerald, Kilrush and Michael Mulqueen, Ballykett. It was also a proud occasion for young Eoin Lahiff, who braved the elements to collect the winner after each course and walk him back to the owners. The beaten semi-finalists in this stake were Fernpark Star and Tullabrack Mona.
Apart from the ferocious thunder storm on Saturday, weather conditions were not too unfavourable for spectators. However, the frequent showers accompanied by strong winds made it a venue for the brave only on Sunday. Therefore, it’s hats off to those at the Killimer-Kilrush venue, who defied all the odds to stage a very successful meeting.