IRISH CUP MEETING 2010

Before I get to talking about dogs Id just like to thank the Committee and Working Members of Limerick CC for the welcome and help they have given me over the last couple of weeks.

I have hounded them with visits in order to get photos of hares and their management, covered their trial session and back again to see the dismantling of the grounds and the release of the hares.  Added to that they went out of there way to assist me at the meeting itself...........I am extremely grateful.

"Now where have they put that bucket of oats"

It was a education to see the high level of hare husbandry and the respect and care they have in handling their hares. 

It was interesting to see one hare "escape" onto the racecourse only to make his way straight back to the hare pens.....waiting to be let back in!!

Free Willys bid to escape

goes to plan as he crosses the melling road.....the fence is dismantled and hes got a clear road to freedom

 

I was amazed when he turned right to go back up the run that leads to the pens

It seems life in the pens can't be as bad as the "antis" think!! 

In fact.....No animal would head back to a pen unless it considered it to be a "safe haven"

Elaine Guiney with Party Jay Cee
Hes recovering well from his hunt

Irish Cup meeting results

IRISH CUP

Lillian and Mairead Sheenan

John Barrett and Conor  Sheenan

Winner: BEXHILL BRIAN
R-up: Kerry Call

When Bexhill Brian went to slips with Kerry Call it was always going to be a great final ......and each way , a good storey behind the winner..........Irelands two top trainers going head to head. This was Brendan Matthews 6th Irish Cup.........but I understand his first at Greenmount.

We had two fine coursing dogs in slips for the Final ,  and they put forward a great buckle.  The young Kerry Call (may pup) lead the way with Bexhill Brian ready to deliver his late charge..........it was coursing at its most exciting
It will be hard to find two more determined runners........both fine dogs for driving a hare.......but Brian came through where it mattered most ,to take the turn.

 

 

This victory must seal Greyhound of The Year for Bexhill Brian , whos had a great season for his owners Conor Sheehan and John Barrett..........and his Newry based trainer Brendon Matthews.   Watching him walk back to the vans after every course , I must say he looked a tired dog. But this just proved the effort he put into every course.  His power of recovery is immense.........and the same can be said for last years winner Sandy Sea.

 

Vacume Honey 

Bred in Co Cork by Dermott O`Sullivan..........from Bexhill Eoins first crop,  out of Vacume Honey.
Honey  is a  3 x 4 of that great brood Safety Leader.  being by Hilltown out of Lady Vacume, she  won a TS at Enniscorthy and was also a winner of two Bitch Stakes.......shes a fine selection of Trial Stake winners to her credit .....two TS winners from her Matt Hyland litter this year, Vacume Hyland and Fealesuir Johnny

 Tomas Shields, Susan McCarthy Dermot O`Sullivan, (breeder)Julie O`Sullivan, Adam Matthews. Nial Conlon

 

Bexhill Brians Nominator .....Christy Murphy receives his trophy from Bill Burke

You can enjoy Christys hospitality at the Cu Chulainn Bar in Nearby Patrickswell 

where hes the publican

Bexhill Brian will make a great addition to the Stud team up in Townsview Kennels..........a pedigree to die for,  im sure Brian will now be popular with the ladies.

 

  

First round win against Dale Indecisive

When Sandy Sea went out on the first day many will have thought Pa`s challenge was gone! Added to that ,his two other runners were drawn together in the first round.........The battle of the brothers........Kerry Calling and Kerry call was a close thing with Call `coming with a late run to get the flag.

 

Kerry Calls first round battle with Kerry Calling 

 

And again with High and Mighty in the Quarters

You couldn't fail to be impressed with this May puppy,  he improved with every round and was as brave as a lion.     What a Mighty pair of Cup dogs for next year these two brothers will be.

 

quarter finals with Dougal Town 

 

Runner up Kerry Call is by Janey Mac Aroo out of Patsy Byrnes Call Up, herself a Grace Burton winner in 2007, ........Her first litter by Musical Time produced Castleisland.  She is another good brood from the Safety Leader line , this time through Lincolns Rose, Oaks winner in 1991..

Kerry Call is owned by the Patsy Byrne, Billy O`Toole and Pa Fitzgerald

Outstanding performance by this very young pup, on testing conditions

Pa will have his eye on next years Gold Cup!!

winning conections

Semi Finalists

Seen here is Dougal Town......he ran a great Irish Cup.............handled by Donal Leahy

and the very unlucky Party Jay Cee............a very hard hunt in the quarters robbed him of a chance to go further

seen here with Oilean Fantasy

This says it all really!

Some great performances were put up by puppies.........these fellas got to the quarter finals leaving there owners dreaming of a great Cup year

Beyond Kilimer

Kyle Basil

Carrowkeal Wally

SELECT ALL AGE BITCH STAKE

Winner: KALANOVA
R-up: Quality And Dash

If ever there was a case for patience .....this stake is a fine example.....

Kalanova is a Nov07 whelp from Oaks winner Quality and Golds first litter............unable to run in her puppy year as she was too young, Kalanova turned out for this Stake with still only 4 runs to her credit.

She was on the board at 20/1...........before the off

Trained in the North by Laurence Jones  and jointly owned with his brother Brian.....a excellent training performance.

Kalanova and Enjoythesunshine

Over the 2 days this lady put in some mighty runs,  to put out top quality bitches...........a glance at her breeding showed she is bred to take a big stake.  By Stud Dog of the year Bexhill Eoin out of Oaks winner Quality and Gold..........she is everything you could hope for from those lines.  Buckle of the stake came from her semi final run with Champion bitch Cleanaway Smurf. 

a great buckle with Grace Burton winner Cleanaway Smurf

against Ashwood Dee

winning the final

Breda Mann presents trophy to owner Brian Jones,  Michael Mann presents nominator Michael Reidy with his trophy

Breeders , Catherine and Seamus O`Meara must be hugely proud of the way their broods have performed this year...........being responsible for both finalists in this stake.........from two different broods..........ontop of countless TS winners.........another Oaks and a Derby runner up.

Quality and Dash was in tremendous form for this final meeting, a nigling injury midway through the season put her back in her work for Clonmel...........she showed her worth in this stake

Quality and Dash is trained and owned by her breeders, the OMeara family

Quality and Dash v  By Mistake in the quarters

Cleanaway Smurf  v Jardin Del Mar

Semi finalist Toners Girl

IRISH PURSE

Winner: KERRY CALLING
R-up: Carrigmore Heart

I saw Kerry Calling win his qualifier at Limerick City and was so impressed I put 10 euros at 30/1 on him to win the Derby.  Things never went to plan there but I was pleased to see him confirm that running here at this meeting

When Litter brothers Kerry Calling and Kerry Call met in the first round it was very close between the two..........the form of both was franked by the final day results...........a great training performance, by Pa Fitzgerald  saw the two young pups run right up to the top of their form.

Kerry Calling and Jacks Navigator

The one thing that stands out with both these pups is their game, commited way of running, it will stand them in good stead in their Cup year

Semi Final with Gallys Bridgre

The Final

Runner up in the Purse was Carrigmore Heart who is owned trained and bred by Patsy and Aoife Coffey from Doon...........They must have been proud of his fine performance over the weekend...........Nominated by Pat Dalton

By Carrigmore Becks out of Fast Loser, he won his TS at Sevenhouses last season and has given connections great fun in Cups this year,  winning a Cup at South Clare and running up at Ardpatrick

Carrigmore Heart

taking the flag from Marcroney Caesar

working the hare in the final

Carrigmore Heart

Others running well

Gallys Bridge and Jiving Rythm

semi finalist Duarigle Alstar

Quarter finalists

Marcroney Caesar

Likely Treble

Kildonogue Billy

IRISH PLATE

Winner: MOOT POINT
R-up: Lisloose Eoin


Another who met his kennel mate in the first round of the Cup...........and going on to win his Final
.Won his trial Stake in Cashel in fine style, Moot Point, trained by Micheal O Donovan`is owned , nominated and also bred by Sir Mark Prescott

Moot Point

Just loosing out to kennelmate Serene Digital in Cup

By Matt Hyland out of Miss Preston...........Miss Preston is a daughter of Ardnalee Laura making her a sister of  Oaks dividers Chubbys Accord ans Qualityandgold

The Final

Lisloose Eoin

Runner up Lisloose Eoin was unlucky enough to meet Bexhill Brian in the second round.........once in the Plate he put up some super runs untill the Final where he ran way below his form

A great dog in the making and I hope he comes out next year in fighting form

Lisloose Eoin and Prevelance

semi finalists

Banna Joker

Eshwary Brea

Eshwary Brea and Stiff test

Catunda Ashmore

Wake Up Rascal

CHAMPION WORKING MEMBERS STAKE

Bridey and Brian Moore

Small Bit Gone

Winner: SMALL BIT GONE
R-up: Moorstown Mia

Small Bit Gone may have been a rank outsider but he never knew the odds as he made his way through this stake.  Just a may puppy, its often the case that these young pups come on in leaps towards the end of the season.  Small Bit Gone gave trainer Brendon Moore a nice win for owner  Patrick Martin.   He was a runner up in the Galbally Working members this year

taking the turn in the semi final with Brave Hurcules

Another winner for Bexhill Eoin.............This time out of Windfarm Lady whos from the

Goon the Mac line .....Beyond Kilimer and Silent Echo both being close relations

the Final

Moorstown mia with Toome Ban

Moorstown Mia RU

Brave Hurcules and Baby Daddy Cool

EARL OF DUNRAVEN STAKE

Winner: KILTY WAZZER
R-up: Savings Aughrim

Kilty Wazzer and Killeagh Harry in semi Final

The final

Finalist Savings Aughrim