COURSING - British Pathe
Click on the link for 1927 Irish Cup
Saturday, February 19, 2011
THE HARE WINS! - British Pathe
THE HARE WINS! - British Pathe
Click on the link
This time its footage from Australia!............Park Coursing....it features some great slow motion footage
Click on the link
This time its footage from Australia!............Park Coursing....it features some great slow motion footage
BLESS......and her kids
While they were due on the first and last day of the Clonmel Festival.....Bless came up trumps and produced a lovely litter of nine pups.....2 dogs and 7 bitches the evening before. It was a huge relief....coping with a bitch whelping and Clonmel was no longer a worry.
The pups are by Murtys Gang and they are totally thriving......stunning looking like both parents too!
The pups are by Murtys Gang and they are totally thriving......stunning looking like both parents too!
Here they are at 14 days...... took some mashed up mince and Puppy and Sapling nuts into them .
They dived into it like 8 month saplings....lol......it was their first feed.
Then of course mum has to tidy the house and do the washing up
Bless
Thursday, February 17, 2011
ERINSTONE COURSING BRED UNRACED
Get your entries in now!
7,000 euro Erinstone Coursing Bred
Unraced 325
(Kindly Sponsored By Erinstone, Holdensrath)
Winner €2,200 & Trophy!!
For 60 Coursing Bred Greyhounds @ €20 each. ( Must be strictly by a coursing bred sire)
Entries Close Fri Morn Mar 4th - 1st Rd Wed Mar 9th
To Book a Race or Trial ....Ring Office on 056 7721219 / 056 7721214
7,000 euro Erinstone Coursing Bred
Unraced 325
(Kindly Sponsored By Erinstone, Holdensrath)
Winner €2,200 & Trophy!!
For 60 Coursing Bred Greyhounds @ €20 each. ( Must be strictly by a coursing bred sire)
Entries Close Fri Morn Mar 4th - 1st Rd Wed Mar 9th
To Book a Race or Trial ....Ring Office on 056 7721219 / 056 7721214
FETHARD OPEN COURSING
Anyone wishing to attend Fethard Open Coursing they meet at the Ballroom.....Fethard at 9.30 in the Morning
Sunday 20th February
Meet at Car Park (opposite Ballroom) in Fethard at 9.30am
First Brace in Slips at 10.00am
Judge: Bernard Goold Slipper: Richard Brannigan
Draw for All Age Cup
Reserves (in order):
SHEERAGHS REDZER: TOCHAS TOCHASACH:
KIELYS CROSS: KEY FLOWER
1 MANX MOUNTAIN HONDO BLACK ex MANX SILKY
2 ALARM TIME MUSICAL TIME ex CALL UP
3 MISS CHIL BIT CHILI ex MISS SHAUNA
4 FOIDINN MEARA BEXHILL EOIN ex THREE FOOLS
5 BEARNAN EILE JANEY MAC AROO ex EOIN BUI
Late: ADIOS RODRIGUEZ
6 CALL ME BEN MATT HYLAND ex KILDONOGUE LASS
7 SOUTHERN SKYLINE TYNWALD SMOKEY ex BLUEBELL TIME
8 BEE BEE BEE BE OVER QUICK ex SHANEBOY FRISKY
9 JUDYS BALL MATT HYLAND ex CUDHAM SPECKS
Late: HUSKISSION MATT
10 FOXHALL DAN BALLYMAC MAEVE ex THREE FOOLS
11 FETHARD DOLLY MAGICAL CAPTAIN ex CHEEKY DREAMER
12 GENEROUS EOIN RUA ex CODE PEARL
Late: SPORTING DJANGO
13 MRS RIDICULOUS WHY TANYARDMOON ex PRINCESS TOWN
14 MOONLIGHT QUEEN BE OVER QUICK ex MARSHALS CHELSEA
15 FEALESUIR DARA TRAJECTORY ex BALLYMAC VIEW
16 COMMANCHE NIGHT STEPHENS DAWN ex COMMANCHE SUE
Sunday 20th February
Meet at Car Park (opposite Ballroom) in Fethard at 9.30am
First Brace in Slips at 10.00am
Judge: Bernard Goold Slipper: Richard Brannigan
Draw for All Age Cup
Reserves (in order):
SHEERAGHS REDZER: TOCHAS TOCHASACH:
KIELYS CROSS: KEY FLOWER
1 MANX MOUNTAIN HONDO BLACK ex MANX SILKY
2 ALARM TIME MUSICAL TIME ex CALL UP
3 MISS CHIL BIT CHILI ex MISS SHAUNA
4 FOIDINN MEARA BEXHILL EOIN ex THREE FOOLS
5 BEARNAN EILE JANEY MAC AROO ex EOIN BUI
Late: ADIOS RODRIGUEZ
6 CALL ME BEN MATT HYLAND ex KILDONOGUE LASS
7 SOUTHERN SKYLINE TYNWALD SMOKEY ex BLUEBELL TIME
8 BEE BEE BEE BE OVER QUICK ex SHANEBOY FRISKY
9 JUDYS BALL MATT HYLAND ex CUDHAM SPECKS
Late: HUSKISSION MATT
10 FOXHALL DAN BALLYMAC MAEVE ex THREE FOOLS
11 FETHARD DOLLY MAGICAL CAPTAIN ex CHEEKY DREAMER
12 GENEROUS EOIN RUA ex CODE PEARL
Late: SPORTING DJANGO
13 MRS RIDICULOUS WHY TANYARDMOON ex PRINCESS TOWN
14 MOONLIGHT QUEEN BE OVER QUICK ex MARSHALS CHELSEA
15 FEALESUIR DARA TRAJECTORY ex BALLYMAC VIEW
16 COMMANCHE NIGHT STEPHENS DAWN ex COMMANCHE SUE
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
IRISH CUP
taken from ICC Website
With less than two weeks to go to the 2011 running of the JP McManus Irish Cup at Limerick Racecourse, indications are that there will be another splendid mix of All Aged and Pups for not just the Irish Cup but also for the Patsy Byrne All Age Bitch Stake.
Owners/trainers are reminded that entries for all stakes at this meeting will close on Wednesday (Feb 16th).
The draw for the JP McManus Irish Cup will take place in the Woodlands House Hotel on Sunday next, 20th February, at 8pm.
Immediately after the draw on Sunday night, the County Limerick Coursing Club will hold a preview of the 2011 Irish Cup. Bookmaker Berkie Browne will be on hand to issue the first complete set of prices and he will be joined on the panel by Sean Doyle, Harry Ryan and John Field.
So if you want your Irish Cup card marked don’t miss the Woodlands next Sunday night at 8pm.
All are welcome
With less than two weeks to go to the 2011 running of the JP McManus Irish Cup at Limerick Racecourse, indications are that there will be another splendid mix of All Aged and Pups for not just the Irish Cup but also for the Patsy Byrne All Age Bitch Stake.
Last Years Final
Owners/trainers are reminded that entries for all stakes at this meeting will close on Wednesday (Feb 16th).
The draw for the JP McManus Irish Cup will take place in the Woodlands House Hotel on Sunday next, 20th February, at 8pm.
Immediately after the draw on Sunday night, the County Limerick Coursing Club will hold a preview of the 2011 Irish Cup. Bookmaker Berkie Browne will be on hand to issue the first complete set of prices and he will be joined on the panel by Sean Doyle, Harry Ryan and John Field.
So if you want your Irish Cup card marked don’t miss the Woodlands next Sunday night at 8pm.
All are welcome
Sunday, February 13, 2011
TIPPERARY CC RESULTS
Another season nearly over and it doesn't seem a year since the last Tipperary Meeting was on. Always a very enjoyable meeting.....This years meeting did not let us down...........Apart from a very heavy downpour during semi finals the weather was glorious
You can see yesterdays pictures on this link.....CLICK HERE
Daniel and Rachel Keating , seen here with John O`Donohgues next seasons saplings ( Siena Steel x Jeru). Bred by Jenna and Ruth O`Donoghue..
Jenna and Ruth had a great day as breeders, when Clogher Road ( Janey Mac Aroo x Jeru) won the Champion Bitch Stake
RESULTS
Armshaw Champion Puppy Stake
Nice win here for David Harrington of Cork CC............once named Mucky Donie ,.....Fleetwood Don ran well throughout the stake. His dam Mucky Kate is a litter sister to Quarrymount Man.
WINNER
In the Final with Droopys Babs
11 FLEETWOOD DON
CASTLE PINES ex MUCKY KATE
OWNER Mr. David Harrington
BREEDER Mr. Gerard Buckley
RUNNER UP
6 DROOPYS BABS
JANEY MAC AROO ex DROOPYS SCOTCH
OWNER The-m-m-g-syndicate
BREEDER Mr. John Lenihan
All Age Cup
The Brian Walsh trained Chancey Eoin finally got the luck he deserved to take this final.......a litter brother to Mafi Magic.....hes always has luck run against him in the past and it was good to see him finally show his worth.......owned by the 3 Chancers.....Brian.....Frank The Yank Walsh and Michael Lyng
WINNER
10 CHANCEY EOIN
BEXHILL EOIN ex CHUBBYS OG
OWNER The-three-chancers-syndicate
BREEDER Mrs. Catherine O'Meara
RUNNER UP
3 ALARM TIME
MUSICAL TIME ex CALL UP
OWNER Mr. David Hickey & Ms. Nikki O'Donnell
BREEDER Mr. Patsy Byrne
Champion Bitch Stake
They say its hard to keep a goo man down............and its true of Gerry Holihan....notching up yet another double.....Great performance yet again from this excellent trainer!
WINNER
29 CLOGHER ROAD
JANEY MAC AROO ex JERU
OWNER Mr Alphonsus Tubridy & Dr. P. O'Kelly
BREEDER Miss Jenna & Ruth O'Donoghue
RUNNER UP
7 NORFOLK NANCY
BEXHILL EOIN ex GALBALLY ROSE
OWNER Mr. David Needham
BREEDER Mrs. Frances Fielding
Lattin & Emly Stake
WINNER
24 STAR CHASER
MOUNTEDEN GUEST ex RITH GAN GAISCE
OWNER Mrs. Bernie Holian & Mr. Basil Holian
BREEDER Mrs Bernie Diskin Holian
RUNNER UP
15 GEORGE THE BOY
DALE BLUE BOY ex DALE TYRANT
OWNER Mr. Chris Richards. & Mr. Neil Haydon
BREEDER Mr. Brendan Farrelly
Saturday, February 12, 2011
TIPPERARY SURVIVORS
TIPPERARY
ARMSHAW CHAMPION PUPPY STAKE
Ishebizzi
Droopys Babs
Fleetwood Don
Pay Me
ALL AGE CUP
Gifted Hero
Alarm Time
Upourdat
Ballycasey (a)
Chancey Eoin
Blame The Judge
Ahanagran Snow
Floating Rain
CHAMPION BITCH STAKE
Glenbeg Lucy
Norfolk Nancy
Slick Snowy
Royal Rock ©
Lucan Majestic
Summerfield Bex
Blomingbeautiful
Clogher Road
LATTIN & EMLY STAKE
Runaway Mojo
Forever West (a)
Isle Of Kilflynn
George The Boy
Kilty Vale
Star Chaser
Ballinveala Hero
Crohane Highland
ARMSHAW CHAMPION PUPPY STAKE
Ishebizzi
Droopys Babs
Fleetwood Don
Pay Me
ALL AGE CUP
Gifted Hero
Alarm Time
Upourdat
Ballycasey (a)
Chancey Eoin
Blame The Judge
Ahanagran Snow
Floating Rain
CHAMPION BITCH STAKE
Glenbeg Lucy
Norfolk Nancy
Slick Snowy
Royal Rock ©
Lucan Majestic
Summerfield Bex
Blomingbeautiful
Clogher Road
LATTIN & EMLY STAKE
Runaway Mojo
Forever West (a)
Isle Of Kilflynn
George The Boy
Kilty Vale
Star Chaser
Ballinveala Hero
Crohane Highland
Thursday, February 10, 2011
FOSTER MOTHER
Foster mother urgently required in Tarbert County Kerry.
Please phone 068-43271 or 087-2907224.
Thanks..
Please phone 068-43271 or 087-2907224.
Thanks..
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
DONEGAL POST
I thought you would all like to see this fantastic article from the Donegal Post....
Its written by Sports Editor Scott Harvey.....its a great view from someone with a open mind who wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
I must say ....Ive stood on two coursing stands this year.....one at Punchestown and one at the Ploughing Match. This is exactly the reaction you get from the Public if they get to see coursing for themselves.
They are so used to being fed lies by Antis .....the truth often surprises them!
Thankyou Donegal Post for telling the Truth
FAMILY AFFAIR at ONE of IRELANDS BEST SPORTING EVENTS
ONLY two weeks ago I received an email from John Fitzgerald of the Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel
Sports, urging the press to highlight his groups crusade against hare coursing in Ireland at its biggest event, the National Meeting in Clonmel.
Coursing takes place at two meetings in Donegal which is always well supported, and with intrigue getting
the better of me, I set off for Co Tipperary to gain a balanced viewpoint of the sport.
Breakfast in Millers pub
It was an early start, leaving at 6.30am and stopping just for breakfast in the village of Oola, which is
just inside the Limerick border.
I pulled in at Millers, a popular sporting pub steeped in tradition, which was advertising a Full Irish breakfast
for just 6 euros, and on entering found it full with diners carefully studying the previous dayys coursing on a widescreen TV.
The walls were adorned with photographs of greyhounds, many belonging to proprietor Joe Cribben.
Full to the brim and buoyed by the pubs hearty welcome and atmosphere,
I hopped back into my car for the last leg of my journey and soon arrived outside Powerstown Park,
the home of Clonmel racecourse, to what was an almost full car park.
Sporting enthusiasm
I asked a garda on duty where the protestors were making their stand. He pointed to a spot across the road
from the main entrance and told me that it would be later on in the day before they would be there as they
are not known for getting out of bed too early.
Entry to the National Meeting was 25, which included a complimentary card. The event itself did not
start until 11.30am, and already both stands were jam packed with enthusiastsand spectators alike, the
crowd on the rails stretching from the first bend past the stand, all the way down to the last fence on the
steeplechase course.
I decided to have a hot whiskey, my one and only of the day, and went into the bar area under the stand
which was buzzing with voices from a myriad of nations.
Access was made easier by a man called Barry Lynch, who was in the company of some friends who had
come over from Scotland and England to enjoy the coursing. The two English lads had made the journey
over from Manchester were full of enthusiasm for the Sport which is banned back home. One of them called Steve said that apart from following their beloved United, their
only other passion was coming over for the coursing, which he said brings them to Ireland eight times a year on average.
Electric atmosphere
Graeme, their friend from Scotland,informed me if you really want to experience an electric atmosphere then there are only two places to go. Clonmel for the coursing, and Celtic versus Rangers.
I explained who I was, and why I was in Clommel, and Barry kindly agreed to stay with me, explain the sports rules and answer any questions I had.
At 11 15am we proceeded to the rails area passing out through the bookmakers enclosure. I was surprised to count nearly 30 bookmakers all doing great business as wads of euros and sterling exchanged hands by the minute.
Cheltenham of the greyhound world
Something about it all felt very familiar to me, and when Barry piped up: This is the Cheltenham of the greyhound world, that pretty much summed up the whole day. The atmosphere was electric and we acquired a coveted position on the rails in anticipation of when the slipper, the red-jacketed official who releases the two dogs in every course, would start the final day of the Festival.
I got speaking to a lady from Wexford who was there with her two daughters who had a runner in one of the Consolation stakes. She explained that she had taken her chance in the Oaks on Monday, but was not good enough, but now in the consolation stake for first round losers she had won her first round and was
in the quarter final. She briefed me on the basics of hare coursing as Barry chatted away with two men who had traveled over from Sydney n Australia, and would be staying until the coursing season ends with the Irish Cup meeting whch is held in Limerick racecourse at the end of February.
Test of speed and stamina
The Wexford mother-of-two said coursing is all about testing the speed and stamina of two greyhounds against their natural quarry the Irish hare in the wild is not at about killing the hare, she said, adding that some animal rights organisations would like to mislead the public into believing. She went on to explain that the Irish Coursing Club is comprised of about 80 clubs dotted all over the country in different counties. Each year these clubs go out and net hares in the wild and bring them to the field where their meeting takes place.
The hares on arrival are checked by a vet and vaccinated against various diseases which are commonplace
in hares, including foot rot and are wormed dosed to kill any parasites they may be carrying. They are then
put into an enclosed park for a few days where they have plenty of shelter
and food including oats, sallies and turnips before being trained to run from the bottom of the field to the top.
At the top of every field, at every club is an escape about a foot high off the ground which allows the hare
access back to the safety of the hare park, but which the dogs cannot access at the end of each course.
Dogs are muzzled On the day of coursing two dogs are put into the care of the slipper at the bottom of a field of about 320 yards on average. One wears a red collar, the other white. A hare is released in front of the muzzled dogs and given about 120 yards head start and then the dogs are released in unison. The object of the sport is to see which dog is the fastest, and that is determined by the dog who is closest to the hare when he makes his escape through the escape hatch, or who turns him before he heads home
All courses vary depending on the hare and the ideal course is for the two dogs to turn the hare once about
20 yards from where the escape hatch is so that he makes it home safely A judge on a horse sits at the top of the field ready to raise a red or white flag of whichever is the victor. Hares unique vision It is worth pointing out that hares have unique 180 degree vision that allows them to see behind and know when the dogs are closing in and thus are able to make a sharp turn to put the dogs the wrong way enabling them to make their escape. You will get the odd time, she admitted, when the slippers judgment is out and the dogs might get no turn, or even make five or six turns, but that is part to the uncertainty of the game which makes it so special to coursing devotees.
Sometimes the dogs do get close to the hare but the mortality rate of hares during the time they have been
netted until their subsequent release into the wild has been documented by the Wildlife Service at around two percent. Barry, who had now finished speaking with the two Aussies, added: You must remember that clubs usually net about 100 hares during the worst weeks of the year in weather terms when food is scarce and foxes are at their most dangerous. If these hares were out it the wild he said the mortality rate with cars and predators would be much higher.
Vital role in hares survival
The coursing clubs play a vital role in the hares survival he said and an independent survey compiled by Queens University in Belfast proves that hares are more plentiful in areas where coursing takes place than in other places When the Government banned hare coursing in Northern Ireland, a
study showed that far from the hare numbers increasing, the opposite was the result.
Poaching by gangs who set 9 or 10 dogs after one hare is the problem, adding that only for the vigilance of the coursing community who watch over their hare preserves, there wouldnt be a hare left in Ireland.
If we listened to what the animal rights crowd want us to do, you couldnt kill a rat or even a fly, not to mention eating fish or meat.
The Wexford lady agreed, adding: They would ban national hunt racing if they had their way and this track Clonmel would be closed in the morning. These selfish people are eaten up with their own egos and thank god their mouthpiece the Green Party is gone, and will stay gone if the Irish people remember what false promises and hardships they bestowed on us come election time.
After some hot debate, the hour of reckoning had arrived and the first two dogs were released from slips and
turned the hare twice. I watched it get away under a canvas escape hatch, which preceeds the wooden
one and was told it is put there in order to slow down the dogs, and give the hare extra protection..
Dog with the Donegal connection
What won that course? asked Barry. Going on the outline of the rules given to me that morning, I replied the white colar. Barry smiled. You are a fast learner, he said. The coursing action soon moved on to the Derby, and Barry told me that there was a dog left in it with a strong Donegal connection. Central City, a white and
black brute of a dog, had won a cup against much older dogs at the Lifford meeting before winning his Clonmel ticket in Tubbercurry only two weeks ago, and was running very well. The dog was reputed to have been bought by the Duffy family from Donegal, who I was told are stalwart coursing supporters, for in the region of £15,000. What would make it such an amazing feat if he were to win, said Barry is that he is an August pup and is bred purely for tracking. Age wise, its comparable to a 15-year-old lad playing in a minor all
Ireland, having played senior for his club. And in racing terms its like running a purely bred flat horse in the
champion hurdle in Cheltenham. Its almost impossible to do, but there is always the chance it could happen, enthused Barry.
Remember Istabraq, I said, sharing my knowledge of horse racing. Central City duly won his semi-final and an interval of an hour was called.
30 protestors, 15,000 spectators
I decided I had seen enough to make a balanced judgment and leaving my telephone number with Barry to call me if Donegal hopes, Central City, won. I headed for my car and the long journey back. Outside I
counted no more than 30 protestors shouting slogans against the estimated15,000 in attendance. I asked
one of their group for a comment, but was refused.
Getting into my car, an elderly lady asked me would there be any chance of a lift back to Clonmel as the taxis
firms were busy. We chatted on the short trip back. She informed me that the coursing festival is worth in
the region of 20 million to the local economy at a time of year when things are quiet. She told me she that although not a coursing person herself she went out to watch a local dog called Stephens Ray run, but that it had got beaten in the quarter
final of the Derby.
Asking her about the protestors she said: Years ago before the dogs were muzzled they usually brought school children in buses mostly from the school where the late Tony Gregory TD used to teach to protest outside.
The muzzling has stopped all that, and the coursing sport has been all the better for it, she said. What do
these protestors contribute to the town?
It was a rhetorical question and I smiled as she exited to meet her daughter. I was at a petrol filling station
at 4 pm when Barry called. Irelands safest sporting event
Central City won it, he said Its the best thing that ever happened for coursing as you will now have plenty
of track dogs willing to take on the coursing dogs where it matters. Safe journey home and maybe we might see you again next year, He certainly got that right as I plan to visit Clonmel again, this time with my family, getting them to experience what has to be one of the best, and safest, sporting events to take place in Ireland, and for this I have animal rights campaigner John Fitzgerald to thank
Its written by Sports Editor Scott Harvey.....its a great view from someone with a open mind who wanted to see what all the fuss was about.
I must say ....Ive stood on two coursing stands this year.....one at Punchestown and one at the Ploughing Match. This is exactly the reaction you get from the Public if they get to see coursing for themselves.
They are so used to being fed lies by Antis .....the truth often surprises them!
Thankyou Donegal Post for telling the Truth
FAMILY AFFAIR at ONE of IRELANDS BEST SPORTING EVENTS
ONLY two weeks ago I received an email from John Fitzgerald of the Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel
Sports, urging the press to highlight his groups crusade against hare coursing in Ireland at its biggest event, the National Meeting in Clonmel.
Coursing takes place at two meetings in Donegal which is always well supported, and with intrigue getting
the better of me, I set off for Co Tipperary to gain a balanced viewpoint of the sport.
Breakfast in Millers pub
It was an early start, leaving at 6.30am and stopping just for breakfast in the village of Oola, which is
just inside the Limerick border.
I pulled in at Millers, a popular sporting pub steeped in tradition, which was advertising a Full Irish breakfast
for just 6 euros, and on entering found it full with diners carefully studying the previous dayys coursing on a widescreen TV.
The walls were adorned with photographs of greyhounds, many belonging to proprietor Joe Cribben.
Full to the brim and buoyed by the pubs hearty welcome and atmosphere,
I hopped back into my car for the last leg of my journey and soon arrived outside Powerstown Park,
the home of Clonmel racecourse, to what was an almost full car park.
Sporting enthusiasm
I asked a garda on duty where the protestors were making their stand. He pointed to a spot across the road
from the main entrance and told me that it would be later on in the day before they would be there as they
are not known for getting out of bed too early.
Entry to the National Meeting was 25, which included a complimentary card. The event itself did not
start until 11.30am, and already both stands were jam packed with enthusiastsand spectators alike, the
crowd on the rails stretching from the first bend past the stand, all the way down to the last fence on the
steeplechase course.
I decided to have a hot whiskey, my one and only of the day, and went into the bar area under the stand
which was buzzing with voices from a myriad of nations.
Access was made easier by a man called Barry Lynch, who was in the company of some friends who had
come over from Scotland and England to enjoy the coursing. The two English lads had made the journey
over from Manchester were full of enthusiasm for the Sport which is banned back home. One of them called Steve said that apart from following their beloved United, their
only other passion was coming over for the coursing, which he said brings them to Ireland eight times a year on average.
Electric atmosphere
Graeme, their friend from Scotland,informed me if you really want to experience an electric atmosphere then there are only two places to go. Clonmel for the coursing, and Celtic versus Rangers.
I explained who I was, and why I was in Clommel, and Barry kindly agreed to stay with me, explain the sports rules and answer any questions I had.
At 11 15am we proceeded to the rails area passing out through the bookmakers enclosure. I was surprised to count nearly 30 bookmakers all doing great business as wads of euros and sterling exchanged hands by the minute.
Cheltenham of the greyhound world
Something about it all felt very familiar to me, and when Barry piped up: This is the Cheltenham of the greyhound world, that pretty much summed up the whole day. The atmosphere was electric and we acquired a coveted position on the rails in anticipation of when the slipper, the red-jacketed official who releases the two dogs in every course, would start the final day of the Festival.
I got speaking to a lady from Wexford who was there with her two daughters who had a runner in one of the Consolation stakes. She explained that she had taken her chance in the Oaks on Monday, but was not good enough, but now in the consolation stake for first round losers she had won her first round and was
in the quarter final. She briefed me on the basics of hare coursing as Barry chatted away with two men who had traveled over from Sydney n Australia, and would be staying until the coursing season ends with the Irish Cup meeting whch is held in Limerick racecourse at the end of February.
Test of speed and stamina
The Wexford mother-of-two said coursing is all about testing the speed and stamina of two greyhounds against their natural quarry the Irish hare in the wild is not at about killing the hare, she said, adding that some animal rights organisations would like to mislead the public into believing. She went on to explain that the Irish Coursing Club is comprised of about 80 clubs dotted all over the country in different counties. Each year these clubs go out and net hares in the wild and bring them to the field where their meeting takes place.
The hares on arrival are checked by a vet and vaccinated against various diseases which are commonplace
in hares, including foot rot and are wormed dosed to kill any parasites they may be carrying. They are then
put into an enclosed park for a few days where they have plenty of shelter
and food including oats, sallies and turnips before being trained to run from the bottom of the field to the top.
At the top of every field, at every club is an escape about a foot high off the ground which allows the hare
access back to the safety of the hare park, but which the dogs cannot access at the end of each course.
Dogs are muzzled On the day of coursing two dogs are put into the care of the slipper at the bottom of a field of about 320 yards on average. One wears a red collar, the other white. A hare is released in front of the muzzled dogs and given about 120 yards head start and then the dogs are released in unison. The object of the sport is to see which dog is the fastest, and that is determined by the dog who is closest to the hare when he makes his escape through the escape hatch, or who turns him before he heads home
All courses vary depending on the hare and the ideal course is for the two dogs to turn the hare once about
20 yards from where the escape hatch is so that he makes it home safely A judge on a horse sits at the top of the field ready to raise a red or white flag of whichever is the victor. Hares unique vision It is worth pointing out that hares have unique 180 degree vision that allows them to see behind and know when the dogs are closing in and thus are able to make a sharp turn to put the dogs the wrong way enabling them to make their escape. You will get the odd time, she admitted, when the slippers judgment is out and the dogs might get no turn, or even make five or six turns, but that is part to the uncertainty of the game which makes it so special to coursing devotees.
Sometimes the dogs do get close to the hare but the mortality rate of hares during the time they have been
netted until their subsequent release into the wild has been documented by the Wildlife Service at around two percent. Barry, who had now finished speaking with the two Aussies, added: You must remember that clubs usually net about 100 hares during the worst weeks of the year in weather terms when food is scarce and foxes are at their most dangerous. If these hares were out it the wild he said the mortality rate with cars and predators would be much higher.
Vital role in hares survival
The coursing clubs play a vital role in the hares survival he said and an independent survey compiled by Queens University in Belfast proves that hares are more plentiful in areas where coursing takes place than in other places When the Government banned hare coursing in Northern Ireland, a
study showed that far from the hare numbers increasing, the opposite was the result.
Poaching by gangs who set 9 or 10 dogs after one hare is the problem, adding that only for the vigilance of the coursing community who watch over their hare preserves, there wouldnt be a hare left in Ireland.
If we listened to what the animal rights crowd want us to do, you couldnt kill a rat or even a fly, not to mention eating fish or meat.
The Wexford lady agreed, adding: They would ban national hunt racing if they had their way and this track Clonmel would be closed in the morning. These selfish people are eaten up with their own egos and thank god their mouthpiece the Green Party is gone, and will stay gone if the Irish people remember what false promises and hardships they bestowed on us come election time.
After some hot debate, the hour of reckoning had arrived and the first two dogs were released from slips and
turned the hare twice. I watched it get away under a canvas escape hatch, which preceeds the wooden
one and was told it is put there in order to slow down the dogs, and give the hare extra protection..
Dog with the Donegal connection
What won that course? asked Barry. Going on the outline of the rules given to me that morning, I replied the white colar. Barry smiled. You are a fast learner, he said. The coursing action soon moved on to the Derby, and Barry told me that there was a dog left in it with a strong Donegal connection. Central City, a white and
black brute of a dog, had won a cup against much older dogs at the Lifford meeting before winning his Clonmel ticket in Tubbercurry only two weeks ago, and was running very well. The dog was reputed to have been bought by the Duffy family from Donegal, who I was told are stalwart coursing supporters, for in the region of £15,000. What would make it such an amazing feat if he were to win, said Barry is that he is an August pup and is bred purely for tracking. Age wise, its comparable to a 15-year-old lad playing in a minor all
Ireland, having played senior for his club. And in racing terms its like running a purely bred flat horse in the
champion hurdle in Cheltenham. Its almost impossible to do, but there is always the chance it could happen, enthused Barry.
Remember Istabraq, I said, sharing my knowledge of horse racing. Central City duly won his semi-final and an interval of an hour was called.
30 protestors, 15,000 spectators
I decided I had seen enough to make a balanced judgment and leaving my telephone number with Barry to call me if Donegal hopes, Central City, won. I headed for my car and the long journey back. Outside I
counted no more than 30 protestors shouting slogans against the estimated15,000 in attendance. I asked
one of their group for a comment, but was refused.
Getting into my car, an elderly lady asked me would there be any chance of a lift back to Clonmel as the taxis
firms were busy. We chatted on the short trip back. She informed me that the coursing festival is worth in
the region of 20 million to the local economy at a time of year when things are quiet. She told me she that although not a coursing person herself she went out to watch a local dog called Stephens Ray run, but that it had got beaten in the quarter
final of the Derby.
Asking her about the protestors she said: Years ago before the dogs were muzzled they usually brought school children in buses mostly from the school where the late Tony Gregory TD used to teach to protest outside.
The muzzling has stopped all that, and the coursing sport has been all the better for it, she said. What do
these protestors contribute to the town?
It was a rhetorical question and I smiled as she exited to meet her daughter. I was at a petrol filling station
at 4 pm when Barry called. Irelands safest sporting event
Central City won it, he said Its the best thing that ever happened for coursing as you will now have plenty
of track dogs willing to take on the coursing dogs where it matters. Safe journey home and maybe we might see you again next year, He certainly got that right as I plan to visit Clonmel again, this time with my family, getting them to experience what has to be one of the best, and safest, sporting events to take place in Ireland, and for this I have animal rights campaigner John Fitzgerald to thank
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
MARCH IS ON
Our impressive Champion Stakes winner March Is On will not run in the Irish Cup.....Instead he is at home with the O`Connor Family and will be Availiable to mate bitches.
On his way to a Champion Stakes Victory
PEDIGREE
Without doubt this years Coursing Star.......winning Cups at Doon , Freshford and the prestigious Corn Na Feile..............before his Festival win.
His dam has 6 trial stake winners out of Nine pups.....only whelping small litters...........from a top class line that is a outcross to 99% of all bitches..........This fella will give you Speed and determination
phone Dan on .... 087 7845538 or 0667147100
On his way to a Champion Stakes Victory
PEDIGREE
Without doubt this years Coursing Star.......winning Cups at Doon , Freshford and the prestigious Corn Na Feile..............before his Festival win.
His dam has 6 trial stake winners out of Nine pups.....only whelping small litters...........from a top class line that is a outcross to 99% of all bitches..........This fella will give you Speed and determination
phone Dan on .... 087 7845538 or 0667147100
Monday, February 7, 2011
ELECTION TIME
Well its time for a election
Perhaps you could get all canvassing politicians to sign this form......interesting to see what their reaction is
Get politicians to sign/agree to the below when they knock on our doors!
i support Coursing, hunting and all field sports. I will vote against legislation that harms or hinders these activities. I realise that ALL field sports are socially important and that many jobs depend on these sports nationwide. They are a vital part of the Irish economy and must be protected.
Signed____________________________
Perhaps you could get all canvassing politicians to sign this form......interesting to see what their reaction is
Get politicians to sign/agree to the below when they knock on our doors!
i support Coursing, hunting and all field sports. I will vote against legislation that harms or hinders these activities. I realise that ALL field sports are socially important and that many jobs depend on these sports nationwide. They are a vital part of the Irish economy and must be protected.
Signed____________________________
FESTIVAL PICTURES
A edited photos are now up on the Smugmug site.....there are 4 albums...CLONMEL PICS
If you dont see the one you looking for give me a ring....ive plenty more!
If you looking for something different how about one like this
If you dont see the one you looking for give me a ring....ive plenty more!
If you looking for something different how about one like this
Thursday, February 3, 2011
LOST BOOTS
Weve all done it!...........packed up the car and left something behind.
Well a pair of Boots were left in the Car Park yesterday......if you saw them or found them can you ring
0877912088......Michael
He was parked far way to the right of the ticket booth coming out about 3 or 4 rows down
Thankyou
I would like to Add........dont forget to use the FOR SALE PAGE............Its Free!
Just fill in the Contact form on right of Blog.....with ALL details and ill post your add on
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
CLONMEL RESULTS
It was certainly three amazing days at Powerstown Park........First of all I would like to thank the team who put this show together........if its posssible it just gets better ever year. There was certainly a huge crowd ...........be interesting to see the figures, but from where I was it looked a bumper show.
There was plenty of drama and heartache for some......and that is what makes the wins so special
Well done to all the winners...
Heres a few shots of final day..........im ploughing my way through the 5000 photos that I took and the more interesting ones will be onshow on my Smugmug site .....some now and the rest over the next few days
----------------
Finally finnished editing the photos......Click my link and you will be taken to a Gallery with 4 Albums of Festival Pictures.......CLONMEL FESTIVAL
BOYLESPORTS DERBY
It was a Derby full of Drama and hard luck stories for Fav backers...........while fate was sorting out some the little white and black tracker was picking off his oponents one by one. There was a huge cheer of relief from connections when he raised the flag against Coshair Magic in a great course.
What a super pup.....you know the storey by now....18 months old........qualified 3 weeks ago after running udefeated in a Cup! then a Trail Stake.....Tough as teak! a true Champion....well done
Heres a link to his pedigree....CLICK HERE............with Staplers Jo......Im Slippy......Daleys Gold.......and Debbycott Lad in his damline its not hard to see where the pace came from
46 CENTRAL CITY
BALLYMAC MAEVE EX BABY HAZEL
OWNER Mr. Brendan Duffy
BREEDER Mr. Erwin Birkmyre
RUNNER UP
KYLE RANGER
MATT HYLAND ex BALLYORGAN
OWNER Mrs Marie Field
BREEDER Mr. James Bourke
GREYHOUND AND PETWORLD OAKS
Following on from last year I think this was a top quality Oaks.........any of the final day bitches could have taken the crown !
What a super bitch our winner is......she was impressive in Fermoy but flunked in the Final.....made no mistakes at Urlingford and was faultless here on the Hill. After Coursing she was ready to run again
WINNER
SKELLIG BABE
BOAVISTA ex MOUNTAIN GUEST
If ever a dog lived up to expectations then shes the one........Boavista loved the long hill at Powerstown Park and Mountain Geust a Oaks winner in 2006
OWNER Mrs. Rose O'Driscoll
BREEDER Mr. Harry Findlay
RUNNER UP
CALL HER NOW
This Lady has been a total Star this year.......ive seen all her runs and was a fan from Kilflynn.....a truely lovely bitch who gives her all. It was a shame to see her underperform in the final due to semi final tumble but shell be back next year for another tilt .
BEXHILL EOIN ex CALL BIDDY
OWNER Mr. Patrick Mccarthy & Mr. John O'Keeffe
BREEDER Mr. Patrick Carrigy
CHAMPION STAKES
Congratulations to the whole O`Connor family....and of course Paddy John Fitzgerald. This little homebred dog had been a revalation this season. Injury at Clonmel , last year ,stopped him showing his true worth.
This season however hes stormed his way to the top.....its been a pleasure watching the lovely Oconnor family enjoy their special dog
WINNER
4 MARCH IS ON
TRAJECTORY ex DEDICATED
OWNER Mr. Daniel J. O'Connor & Mr. Patrick Fitzgerald
BREEDER Mr. Daniel J. O'Connor
RUNNER UP
5 MUCKY EAMONN
BEXHILL EOIN ex SULLANE SIGN
OWNER Mr. Don Buckley & Mr. Gerard Buckley
BREEDER Mr. Christy Lucey
Champion Bitch Stakes
WINNER
3 CLASS ATTRACTION
JUDICIAL AFFAIR ex MOONVEEN ELLEN
OWNER Miss Elaine Guiney
BREEDER Mrs. Judy Mackey
RUNNER UP (WITHDRAWN FROM FINAL)
7 QUALITY AND DASH
BEXHILL EOIN ex CHUBBYS ACCORD
13.09, N.C. GRUELER,
OWNER Mrs. Catherine O'Meara
BREEDER Mrs. Catherine O'Meara
CLONMEL T.A. MORRIS
WINNER
44 RE ME MARTIN
BEXHILL EOIN ex MARINERS TOWN
OWNER D-m-d-h-syndicate
BREEDER Mr. Pearse O'Hagan
RUNNER UP
54 SHILLING COUNTRY
CROSS COUNTRY ex CUSHIE MAG
OWNER Mr. Michael Williams
BREEDER Mrs. Ruth Codd
KITTY BUTLER STAKES
WINNER
18 MADTOGOAGAIN
ASHMORE VIEW ex SPECKLED WOOD
OWNER Dream-on-syndicate
BREEDER Mrs. Kathleen Casey-O'Connell
RUNNER UP
23 SKELLIG SIDE
MOUNTEDEN GUEST ex RITH GAN GAISCE
OWNER Mrs. Rose O'Driscoll
BREEDER Mrs Bernie Diskin Holian
HORSE & JOCKEY KEEN LADDIE STAKE
WINNER
35 GURTEEN OSCAR
BEXHILL EOIN ex LOCHBO KATIE
OWNER Mr. Tom Spillane
BREEDER Master Stephen Spillane
RUNNER UP
RES H CANNAKILL SHOP
COURT HOUSE ex FAHY DOME
OWNER Mr. Paddy Mccormack
BREEDER Mr. Declan Delaney
SPIRIT OF MISCHIEF STAKE
WINNER
54 CHIANG MIA
MUCKLE MEG ex CABLE SAL
OWNER Norris-treacy-horgan-syndicate
BREEDER Mr. Patrick A. Cunningham,
RUNNER UP
57 TOWNPARKS BEST
JUDICIAL BEST ex SHES THE WEST
OWNER Mr. Daniel Begley
BREEDER Mr. Martin Donnelly
There was plenty of drama and heartache for some......and that is what makes the wins so special
Well done to all the winners...
Heres a few shots of final day..........im ploughing my way through the 5000 photos that I took and the more interesting ones will be onshow on my Smugmug site .....some now and the rest over the next few days
----------------
Finally finnished editing the photos......Click my link and you will be taken to a Gallery with 4 Albums of Festival Pictures.......CLONMEL FESTIVAL
Brendon Duffy with Central City and Shane Hourihan with Skellig Babe
BOYLESPORTS DERBY
It was a Derby full of Drama and hard luck stories for Fav backers...........while fate was sorting out some the little white and black tracker was picking off his oponents one by one. There was a huge cheer of relief from connections when he raised the flag against Coshair Magic in a great course.
What a super pup.....you know the storey by now....18 months old........qualified 3 weeks ago after running udefeated in a Cup! then a Trail Stake.....Tough as teak! a true Champion....well done
Heres a link to his pedigree....CLICK HERE............with Staplers Jo......Im Slippy......Daleys Gold.......and Debbycott Lad in his damline its not hard to see where the pace came from
Buckle of the meeting shows Central City just holding off Killimor Matey in Third Round
Its in the Bag
WINNER46 CENTRAL CITY
BALLYMAC MAEVE EX BABY HAZEL
OWNER Mr. Brendan Duffy
RUNNER UP
It was sad to see Ranger take such a crashing fall in the semi finals.........and hard on connections
but as they say....."thats coursing"..........it dosnt make it any easier .
However it was good to see the dog looking happy in the presentation photos
looking forward to seeing him in Cups
KYLE RANGER
MATT HYLAND ex BALLYORGAN
OWNER Mrs Marie Field
BREEDER Mr. James Bourke
GREYHOUND AND PETWORLD OAKS
Following on from last year I think this was a top quality Oaks.........any of the final day bitches could have taken the crown !
What a super bitch our winner is......she was impressive in Fermoy but flunked in the Final.....made no mistakes at Urlingford and was faultless here on the Hill. After Coursing she was ready to run again
WINNER
The Oaks Final
SKELLIG BABE
BOAVISTA ex MOUNTAIN GUEST
If ever a dog lived up to expectations then shes the one........Boavista loved the long hill at Powerstown Park and Mountain Geust a Oaks winner in 2006
OWNER Mrs. Rose O'Driscoll
BREEDER Mr. Harry Findlay
RUNNER UP
CALL HER NOW
This Lady has been a total Star this year.......ive seen all her runs and was a fan from Kilflynn.....a truely lovely bitch who gives her all. It was a shame to see her underperform in the final due to semi final tumble but shell be back next year for another tilt .
BEXHILL EOIN ex CALL BIDDY
OWNER Mr. Patrick Mccarthy & Mr. John O'Keeffe
BREEDER Mr. Patrick Carrigy
CHAMPION STAKES
Congratulations to the whole O`Connor family....and of course Paddy John Fitzgerald. This little homebred dog had been a revalation this season. Injury at Clonmel , last year ,stopped him showing his true worth.
This season however hes stormed his way to the top.....its been a pleasure watching the lovely Oconnor family enjoy their special dog
WINNER
4 MARCH IS ON
TRAJECTORY ex DEDICATED
OWNER Mr. Daniel J. O'Connor & Mr. Patrick Fitzgerald
BREEDER Mr. Daniel J. O'Connor
RUNNER UP
5 MUCKY EAMONN
BEXHILL EOIN ex SULLANE SIGN
OWNER Mr. Don Buckley & Mr. Gerard Buckley
BREEDER Mr. Christy Lucey
Champion Bitch Stakes
WINNER
3 CLASS ATTRACTION
JUDICIAL AFFAIR ex MOONVEEN ELLEN
OWNER Miss Elaine Guiney
BREEDER Mrs. Judy Mackey
RUNNER UP (WITHDRAWN FROM FINAL)
7 QUALITY AND DASH
BEXHILL EOIN ex CHUBBYS ACCORD
13.09, N.C. GRUELER,
OWNER Mrs. Catherine O'Meara
BREEDER Mrs. Catherine O'Meara
CLONMEL T.A. MORRIS
WINNER
44 RE ME MARTIN
BEXHILL EOIN ex MARINERS TOWN
OWNER D-m-d-h-syndicate
BREEDER Mr. Pearse O'Hagan
RUNNER UP
54 SHILLING COUNTRY
CROSS COUNTRY ex CUSHIE MAG
OWNER Mr. Michael Williams
BREEDER Mrs. Ruth Codd
KITTY BUTLER STAKES
WINNER
18 MADTOGOAGAIN
ASHMORE VIEW ex SPECKLED WOOD
OWNER Dream-on-syndicate
BREEDER Mrs. Kathleen Casey-O'Connell
RUNNER UP
23 SKELLIG SIDE
MOUNTEDEN GUEST ex RITH GAN GAISCE
OWNER Mrs. Rose O'Driscoll
BREEDER Mrs Bernie Diskin Holian
HORSE & JOCKEY KEEN LADDIE STAKE
WINNER
35 GURTEEN OSCAR
BEXHILL EOIN ex LOCHBO KATIE
OWNER Mr. Tom Spillane
BREEDER Master Stephen Spillane
RUNNER UP
RES H CANNAKILL SHOP
COURT HOUSE ex FAHY DOME
OWNER Mr. Paddy Mccormack
BREEDER Mr. Declan Delaney
SPIRIT OF MISCHIEF STAKE
WINNER
54 CHIANG MIA
MUCKLE MEG ex CABLE SAL
OWNER Norris-treacy-horgan-syndicate
BREEDER Mr. Patrick A. Cunningham,
RUNNER UP
57 TOWNPARKS BEST
JUDICIAL BEST ex SHES THE WEST
OWNER Mr. Daniel Begley
BREEDER Mr. Martin Donnelly
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