DALCASH Dvinsky was again at her brilliant best when capturing the Sporting Press Irish Oaks title for 2010 in Shelbourne Park last Saturday night. It was a performance worthy of the big occasion and after her unbeaten run in the event coupled with a similar display when winning the the Olympic Bee Puppy Oaks some weeks ago, Fr Jack Meade’s black daughter of Ace Hi Rumble-Dalcash Diva surely deserved to be crowned queen of the track.
Owned, bred and trained by Fr Jack from the Miltown Malbay parsh, Dalvash Dvinsky won it the hard way. She was in hot company in all her heats but came through with flying colours and winning performances.
Again, the September 2008 black faced a severe test in the final last Saturday night when a good case could be made for all six finalists. Drawn in trap four, she had a lively start and in the run to the opening bend, was joined by Clearview Kelly in trap four with the defending  champion, Skywalker Queen, (trap six) sharing third place with Cartier’s Dazzle ( trap two). Dalcash Dvinsky was in flying form as she negotiated the bend and going down the back led by one length from ClearviewKelly. Down the far side, Clearview Kelly was still a threat as she began to close in over the final two bends, making her challenge on the inside. However, turning for home, Fr Jack’s charge was still in front with Skywalker Queen moving well at this stage. And in the run to the line, Skywalker Queen put in a tremendous finish but Dalcash Dvinsky was first to reach the line with a neck to spare in a briliant time of 28.41, her fastest clock yet in the event. It was a win, which was greeted with by great Banner shout from the large Miltown Malbay contingent.
It was another superb performance from Dalcash Dvinksy, bringing  glory to Fr Jack of Rockwell College and Miltown Malbay and the Meade family from Knockliscrane, Miltown Malbay. It was also a performance which brought  the seventh win on the trot for the unbeaten Dalcash Dvinsky and a return of the  Oaks title to West Clare for the first time since 1984 when it was won by Burnpark Sally, representing the Browne family from Leitrim, near Kilmihil.
Unfortunately, Fr Jack was  away in America and was not present to see Dalcash win a fantastic final. On the night,  the new Oaks heroine was handled by the owner’s nephew, Seán Meade from Knocklisacrane.

GOBA  Heats

FIRST-round heats of the Limerick-Clare GOBA A4 over 525 yards were decided in Limerick last Saturday and in the opening heat, Cragaknock Tina (Westmead Joe-Safari Princess) dead heated with Bua Cancellera for first place. The time was 28.97. The other heat winers were Bluemoon Rock (29.00), Cradlesfortyfive (29.02) and Tandem Bar (28.69).
Also at the same meeting, Snugborough Gent (Group Rooster-Christains Lady) was 16.50 winner for owner Myles Cummins, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
There were two Clare winners at the same venue last Thursday night. Rallying Caul (Black Shaw-Goodbye Lucy) was a 29.48 winner for Dan Flynn of Meelick in his first outing while Goforitlady (Razldazl  Billy-Knockdrumlady) put in a winning performance for Ballynacally owner, Liam Shannon. Her winning time was 29.33 when beating Scarlet Pet by eight lengths.
Radisson Queen, trained by Joe Collins for the Shanakyle Syndicate, Parteen, was runner-up in a semi-final heat of the Dave Cremin Engineering A5 won by Peony King in 29.68
Placed in his A8 graded race was  Gortglas Blayney (Michael Kennedy, Killaloe Post Office).

Four Clare dogs in fasttrap.net final at Galway

FOUR Clare-owned dogs will contest the final of the www.fasttrap.net 575 A3 in Galway next Friday night. They all qualified from their semi-final heats at the same venue last Friday night.
In the opening heat, Annagh Toffee, trained by Seán Cooke for Master Seán Cooke-Moore, Gort dominated  for a lot of the way but rounding the home bend,  Shaneboy Vegas switched wide and in the run to line, got up to beat Annagh Toffee by one length in 31.99.
The Clarecastle-owned Barntick Luke, trained by Gerry Reidy for Mary Reidy, was the star of heat two. The son of Droopy’s Maldini-Barntick Sally got off to a flyer from trap three and in the long run to the opening bend, led fromWorth A Wager and the Meelick-owned Icy Princess (Patrick Cronin). Down the back, Barnntick Luke went clear by four lengths and at the line had two and a half lengths to spare on Worth a Wager, which is trained by Broadford’s Donal Cooney for the Boys’ Club syndicate.The time for this race was 31.83.
Doonbeg owners, Joan Normoyle and Imelda Grauer, the well-known photographer based in Dun Laoghaire,won the final heat with their Jimmy Normoyle-trained GipsyMadam. Well off the mark from trap five, the daughter of Droopy’s Kewell-Lady Geraldine led all the way to record an impressive 31.96 win, beating Glenbrack Tina( BillyKilroy,Kinvara) by three parts of a length.
Draw for final next Friday night: 1. Barntick Luke; 2. Worth A Wager; 3. Annagh Toffee; 4. Gipsy Madam; 5. Glenbrack Tina; 6. Shaneboy Vegas.
Four heats of the ECC Timber A2 event over 525 yards were also decided and the opening heat went to the Seamus Fahy-trained Dan the Navigator in a time of 29.26, beating Derena’s Folly by one and a half lengths. Third placed was Master of Chase (Master Gary Cooney).
There was a surprise result in heat two when the 4/1 shot, Carol’s Conrender, was first to cross the line. Her time was 29.2. Although Nathan’s Joy was first to showin heat three, the Rynal Ruane-trained Fire Stop soon found her feet and down the far side, she was three lengths clear. She was still in front at the line where she beat Bogberry Kitty (Tom Reynolds,  Ennistymon) by two and a quarter lengths in 29.20. Third home was the Seán Hehir-trained Dunsallagh Milo.
Frisco Rumble, owned by the Spelman-Riordan-McDonagh syndicate from Shannon qualified from the final heat in which the Seamus Fahy-trained Ezfrank led all the way to gain a 29.16 win. He finished almost three lengths in front of Tyrur Leo with Frisco Rumble taking third place.
Trap draw for the semi-finals next Friday night: heat 1: 1. Master of Chase; 2. Ezfrank; 3. Frisco Rumble; 4. Dunsallagh Milo; 5.  Bogberry Kitty; 6. Dan the Navigator.
Heat 2: 1. Fire Stop; 2. Go Sonny Go; 3. Tyrur Leo; 4. Carol’s Contender; 5. Killea Fancy; 6. Derena’s Folly.
A 29.11 and trap-to-line winner of the opening heat of the ECC Timber A3 event over 525 yards was the Athlone-owned Springwell Hero. Beaten a length and a quarter into runner-up spot was the Loughrea-owned On Thaw Jarug who beat ManusVieri (Pat McInerney, Manus, Clarecastle) into third place.
The trap-four runner, Mythical Tar, owned in Ennis by John Keane and Frank White, just led from Big Thrills in trap three in heat two. However, as they rounded the opening bend, the pair collided with Mythical Tar losing all chances of a qualifying spot. As a result, the Cooraclare-owned Buffalo Bash in trap six went three lengths clear of  Big Thrills heading for the far side. Buffalo Bash maintained his advantage down the back and although the Seamus Fahy-trained Big Thrills gained some ground between this and the finishing line, Buffalo Bash (Crash-Elmhurst Ellen), the fawn dog owned by Anna Carey had enough in reserve to win by three and a quarter lengths in 29.28.
So They Say, owned in County Limerick by Mick Enright and Paul Gilligan was an easy eight-length winner of heat three in a time of 29.15, beating Springwell Messi and TJ McMahon’s Bodyshoip Flame who was third home.
There was a very tight finish to heat four, Forty Two Fifty getting the veridct by a neck from Combo Lomu, in a time of 29.37.

Meeting in aid of Clare Crusaders’ Clinic this Friday

THE newly elected Mayor of Clare, Councillor Christy Curtin, will be attending the benefit meeting in aid of the Clare Crusaders Clinic, Barefield at the Galway Greyhound Track this Friday night at 8pm. One of his first duties as major will be to present the prize to the winner of the feature race, the all-Clare buster, worth  €1,000 to the winning owner.
Three of the races on the 11-race card will involve Clare Crusaders and as well as the Mayor of Clare, prizes will also be presented by Clare hurling manager,Ger O’Loughlin and Ann Norton of the Barefield clinic.
A special bus is being laid on to bring Clare supporters to the meeting. It will leave Shannon at 6pm and pick up points will be in Sixmilebridge, Quin, Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis, and Barefield.
Clare Crusaders Clinic, Barefield, is a registered charity dedicated to he provision of services to children living in County Clare with special needs in  the following areas – Cerebal Palsy, Autism and Down Syndrome. These services are free of charge to all children and their families. The Clare Crusaders running group was founded in 2005 by the late Howard Flannery, initially to help parents and families of children with Cerebal Palsy. He was joined with other parents and friends to form Clare Crusaders Charity for children. Howard was tragically killed in a road accident while training for a fundraiser for the Clare Crusaders in June 2007. Clare Crusaders opened their first clinic in September 2007 at the Tulla Road Ennis. In March 2009, they moved to a larger premises in Barefield.
The clinic is managed by Ann Norton on a voluntary basis.

Magic run for Clarecastle’s Manus

MANUS Magic, owned by Brian McInerney, Manus, Clarecastle, came through the semi-finals of the ECC Timber A7 with flying colours in Galway last Thuursday night.
The East Clare runner, Killuran Hawk and French Car Crash led from traps but Manus Magic in trap three was up with them  at the opening corner. However, at the halfway mark, Manus Magic began to come away from the rest of the field and at the finishing line, the son of Droopy’s Vieri was close on six lengths clear of the second placed Blackcastle Nina with a clock of 29.24.
The opening semi-final was won in 29.54 by the Nenagh-owned Grenanstown Rose from Headford Mack.
The card also featured first-round heats of the ECC Timber A5 and the ECC Timber A4 events.
The first A4 winner was Springwell Jack (29.19) followed by Tyrur Alice in an impressive 28.98, beating the John McDonagh trained and Kinvara-owned Shyan Sonia by four lengths. The next heat winner was Clon Mettle Rum (29.46) while the final heat was won by a Clare-owned runner, Kylea Dreamer, owned and trained by Irene Barry, Inagh. The daughter of Droopy’s Scolari-Cathy of Inagh in trap six strengthened her case by avoiding trouble at the first bend. At this stage, she was fractionally in front on the wide outside when Zulu Droopy in trap two ran off the bend and interfered with the chances of the rest of the field with the exception of the Inagh-owned winner. She was well clear of her rivals at the halfway stage and although Tyrur Valerie closed in from the home bend, there was no denying Kylea Dreamer, who won the race by two and a quarter lengths with a clock of 29.60.
Racing down the back, Peggy, owned by Frankie Sheehan, Ennis, improved his position and finished runner-up in the opening heat of the ECC Timber A5 event over 525 yards. The heat was won by the Claregalway-owned Noelle’s Hero who finished half a length in front of Peggy. The time for this race was 29.37.
The Kilmihil-owned Pro Bono was well supported in heat two and racing down the back he took over the lead from Galvanised Ted. However, PJ Fahy’s Tyrur Crowley had not given up the ghost as yet and coming with a great run on the inside when coming from the back strraight, he became the new leader and stayed in front for the remainder of the trip to win by two and a half lengths from the North Clare-owned Rathope Blanco with Pro Bono, three parts of a length back for third spot. The winner’s time was 29.42. The next two heats were won by Corrandulla Star (29.16) and Hoffmans Mega (29.43).

Guitar Moment stays in tune for Galway win

THE  Ladbroke.Com Derby Trial Stake over 525 yards was dominated by Guitar  Moment, the eventual winner and the North Clare-owned MythicalVieri, in Galway last Saturday night.
The Ballinasloe-owned Guitar Moment absolutely flew from trap six and led on the wide outside by two lengths from Tom Flanagan’s black and white dog. The winner extended his lead by four lengths down the back and finished well to beat Mythical Vieri by nearly seven lengths in 28.70.
Three heats of the ECC Timber A1 over 525 yards were down for decision and the first two heats went to Jumeirah Joe (28.92) and Crafty Fandango (28.98) while Gort trainer, Noel Mullins, won heat three with the Dublin-owned Lorenzo’s Magic. Uncle Rio, who was well supported, led early on from Mangaliso and Kilbannon Tess. Down the far side, Lorenzo’s Magic in trap two started to make up ground and was a length behind Kilbannon Tess, the leader coming to the third bend. Lorenzo’s Magic continuied to gain ground on the inside and in the run home just got there to win by a head in 28.87.
The semi-finals of the ECC Timber A6 over 525 yards were won by Bumblebee Casey (29.28)  and Derrew Ice (30.07). Third home in heat one was Rathorpe Hawk (Martin Kelly) and Talk Bristol(Martin J Keane, Kilmihil) finished in the same position in heat two.
Pal Duke, owned by Colman O’Loughlin, Inagh was third the opening contest of the night, which went to the Ross Murphy-owned Paris Tornado (29.39).
The Clare-owned George’s Street Diva (Janey MacAroo-George St Star), owned by Declan McDonagh was first to show in an S8 graded 350. She was two lengths in front at the first and while Batmax came on level terms at the home bend, Geroge’s St Diva found more in reserve to go clear and win by two and a quarter lengths in 19.42.
The John McDonagh-trained Kilbannon Magic (Razldazl Billy-Rondo’s Gamble) led all the way in an S2 graded 350 and but she had to survive a great last effort by the Jennie Griffin-trained Howley’s Boreen to win by a neck in 19.50. The winner is owned by Willie McDonagh, Tuam, and the runner-up is owned by Kevin Fahy, Kiltartan.
The concluding A5 graded 525  produced another trap-to-line winner in the Seamus Fahy-trained Ezjohn (Crash-Ezgirlz). He crossed the line three and a half lengths in front of Pinnacle Roxy, trained by Tom Flanagan for Ballyvaughan owners Michael Costello and Douglas Culligan.