The big day finally arrived for all anxious trainers of the 4 grades of racing where each of the finish of these drags, were not to be missed. Approximately 28 senior pups, 29 maiden pups, 55 senior hounds and 98 senior maiden hounds were entered to participate in this major event.
The senior pups were slipped at 3pm. It was a great finish to the line where a group of hounds were battling hard to over take each other. In a nail biting finish, Pat Learys 'I Want You' just beat Gary Freynes 'Berlin' by a whisker, and Cillian Dohertys 'The Stig' followed closely to take the 3rd ticket. In the puppy maiden race, the honours went to Timmy McCarthys 'Sheares Park Boy', who put all of his efforts into holding off clubmate 'Toffee Boy' who took 2nd place, followed by Charlie Cotters 'Schinazarde' of Carrigtwohill.
The senior maiden race was a lottery for any gambler ! Of the 98 hounds entered, 72 lined up. Running an open course over 45 minutes in warm weather was sure to make any hound fatigue, but not at this finish. The honours went to an overjoyed Pat & Marion Harrington with their talented hound 'McQuade' of Fairhill. He just held off ICDAs 'Randy' who took 2nd place and 3rd went to Tim Herlihys 'Shane' of Griffin United.
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Above; A delighted Pat & Marion Harrington with the Senior Maiden Winners CupWell down to the most important race of the day, the senior drag. Of all the top quality hounds, it's hard to pick out just one. 'Merlin', Magics Choice, Is It It, Callums Ryan, Black & Tan.............the list is just endless, but who would you have betted on to come up trumps in front. . . . .
Reports from the roads tell us that Gary Sullivans 'Black & Tan was stuck in almost all of the drag, though she never managed to finish in the first 6. Denise & Leslie 'Magics Choice' was stuck in all of the drag, crossing roads 5/6th, Paddy Carrolls 'Callums Ryan' ran a great race, although he didn't manage to get a ticket either. At some roads Michael John Buckleys 'Merlin' and John Callaghans 'Is It It' were in leading bunch but seen in the middle of the pack at other roads.
So, yes fair to say, it was a long and tiring drag for most, but the finish gave the best of the hounds their justice. Going to drags every week, you could nearly pick the first 6 because of their determination and strong hearts. I think there's nothing more annoying than a hound who does nothing all year, come to these major festival drags, and win. Thankfully this didn't happen at this International, the places went to talented hounds who weekly put on top class performances at practise and club drags. This is not to take it from any of the competing hounds who weren't in the first 6, it's just my opinion.
After an anxious age of 47 minutes, three top class finishing hound, Magics Choice, Is It It and Merlin, showed on the finish more or less together. It was a nerve wrecking moment for all three trainers. The call went up and these 3 upped their pace to the finishing line. In a driving finish, Denise & Leslie Kepple 'Magics Choice' put all his strength into every stride to pull away from 'Is It It' and be crowned the 2009 Senior International Winner for his overwhelmed owners, and once again finished very strongly in style. John O Callaghan 'Is It It' repeated last years All-Ireland where he finished a strong 2nd place, and Michael John Buckleys 'Merlin' tried his best to narrow the gap before jumping the line for 3rd place. Well done to all.
Senior Results;
1st Magics Choice, Mayfield
2nd Is It It, Douglas
3rd Merlin, Clogheen
4th Toffee Woman, Griffin United
5th Harold Scott, Northern United
6th Kempest, ICDA
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Above; A delighted Bernie, Denise and Leslie with the 2009 Senior International winners cupSenior Maiden Results;
1st McQuade, Fairhill
2nd Randy, ICDA
3rd Shane, Griffin United
4th Euro Star, ICDA
5th Scamp, ICDA
6th Ben, ICDA
Senior Puppy Results;
1st I Want You, Northern United
2nd Berlin, Clogheen
3rd The Stig, Fairhill
4th Montego Boy, ICDA
5th Mossgrove Quietly, ICDA
6th The Buffer Boy, Clogheen
Above; Just a few of our Cumbrian visitors enjoying the celebrations.....!
Maiden Puppy Results;
1st Sheares Park Boy, Southern Harriers
2nd Toffee Boy, Southern Harriers
3rd Schinazarde, Carrigtwohill
4th Emerald Magic, ICDA
5th Rob The Drag, ICDA
6th Blue Breeze, HTA England
4 comments:
YOUR COMMENTS/OPINION ARE TOPS-- A FAIR DRAG WILL ALWAYS HAVE TOP CLASS HOUNDS IN CONTENTION ON A WEEKLY BASIS HOWEVER LONG OR SHORT THE DRAG....
Rules are Rules and despite the best hounds battling their hearts out on the finish the Senior draghunt should have been Void.
45 minutes is the allocated time.
The whole day was a laughing stock with two differeent finishes and elderly and sick people unable to get up to the Senior one.
it was a long but fair race . i am wondering why they couldnt have ran around in a circle from where they started cos you would see a lot instead evrything was out of view,not great for spectators.dont forget the pups almost ran over time also.thank god it wasnt hot as the ispca would be down on us.if pullers dont know the difference between an hours and an hourand a half pulling they shouldnt be out.but with 2 associations behind this a big question has to be asked on the marking of this drag and who dose the buck stop with or as normal it will be swept under the carpet.2 bad international days in a row with english over its not good enoughthey are laughing at us again this year.piss up in a brewery springs to mind.fairplay to the dogs in the end of the day.fact.
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