Sensational Paradise Madison wins newcomer award

The Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, was in Athlone on Sunday to honour and make presentations to the owners of the leading track dogs in the country over the past 12 months, including Sean Meade, Annagh, Miltown Malbay, joint owner and breeder of the sensational Paradise Madison, the inaugural winner of the  Newcomer Of The Year award.

As expected, Derby winner and outstanding tracker, Skywalker Puma, trained by Frances O’ Donnell for Raymond Patterson, Devon England, won the Dog Of The Year Award and Oaks winner Milldean Tally, trained by Dolores Ruth for the M and H syndicate, England, took the Bitch of the Year award.

Other award winners were: Sprinter Of The Year, Cambushmore, owned by Ned Kerrick, Carrigrohane, County Cork and trained by Graham Holland, Golden; Stayer Of The Year, Future Boy, owned by Mike Rowe, Stafford, England and trained in Abbeyfeale by Jerry Griffin; Stud Dog Of The Year, Head Bound, owned by Sean Dunphy, Knocktopher, County Kilkenny; Brood Bitch Of The Year, Talita Beauty, owned by Rita Carberry, Kilmessan, County Meath and Barbara Carberry, Navan.
A total of 19 greyhounds were nominated for the awards.

The sensational runs by Paradise Madison in dipping below the 28 seconds barrier on three occasions and setting a new national record of 27.67 in Shelboune Park during November- December last were recalled when the Newcomer Award was presented by Minister Coveney to joint owners Sean Meade and Dave Buckley, Enniskerry, County Wicklow.

Minister Coveney said he noted with interest this year the introduction of the new award for Newcomer Of The Year. Paradise Madison was an exceptional dog and a very worthy winner. The dog had shown great tenacity and spirit, not having won a race until his sixth attempt and later going on to set a new national record while giving one of the all-time great performances.
Well-known trainer, Fraser Black, a native of Airdrie, Scotland and who has been based in Ireland since the 1970s, was welcomed into the Hall of Fame, while the Special Merit award went to the popular Jackie Devine from Edgeworthstown, County Longord, the former Longford GAA player, who has also been one of the leading lights in the promotion of Longford track for many years.

The presentations were made at an enjoyable function in the Hodson Bay Hotel outside Athlone last Sunday.
Minister Coveney said that the awards, now in their 48th year, were recognised as amongst the most prestigious in the Irish greyhound racing calendar. Adjudicated by an eminent group of people drawn from the industry, these awards recognised human and canine excellence in the sport of greyhound racing, a sport in which Ireland continued to achieve great success in the international arena.

He added that the enduring strength and depth of the sport in Ireland is testament to the tireless efforts and skills of the remarkable men and women involved in the sector throughout the country. He was mindful that breeding and racing of greyhounds are interdependent and the health of one depends on the other. This afternoon, they were once again gathered to honour the great and good of the thriving industry.

The minister also acknowledged the presence of two legends of the sport, Fraser Black and Jackie Devine. It was fitting that they were both receiving well-deserved recognition for their outstanding contributions to the greyhound racing industry. Fraser, a native of Airdrie in Scotland, made a huge contribution to the industry since adopting Ireland as his base in the 1970s, was a most deserving recipient of the Hall of Fame Award.
While Jackie, who has a long and distinguished association with the Longford track, was a very worthy winner of the Special Merit Award, given his huge efforts in ensuring the survival of this well-maintained track.

He also told the big attendance that the Government is committed to the greyhound racing industry. In 2001, the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund was established to provide funding to both the horse and greyhound racing industries. By the end of 2012, Bord na gCon had received over €157 million from the fund and is due to receive just over €11 million from the fund this year. This investment will help to ensure the future of Irish greyhound racing. Bord na gCon estimate the greyhound industry sustains over 10,300 jobs, mostly in rural areas, and contributes an estimated €500 million in economic output to local economies adjacent to greyhound tracks, which have a wide geographic spread. It is a vital part of the fabric of rural society and is of enormous economic benefit to the country.

He commended the good work that Bord na gCon does in attracting tourists to Ireland from many countries, particularly France, Germany and the UK as they continue to work closely with Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and the various tour operators. Bord na gCon has recently been accredited with Guaranteed Irish certification, which will enable it to carry the Guaranteed Irish symbol and will hopefully provide a boost to Bord na gCon’s marketing drive.

He noted with interest Bord na gCon’s initiative in identifying and developing new market opportunities, in particular of the recent partnership entered into with the GAA Social Initiative to address social isolation and loneliness and also the vigour with which BnG have embraced the concept of The Gathering.

“The sport attracts people from a wide cross-section of society across a broad geographic spread, both nationally and internationally. I commend the board and the executive of Bord na gCon for the manner in which they are seeking to harness the potential of innovative marketing strategies and information technology to grow and develop this important industry,” Minister Coveney said.