Connie Doyle Memorial Drag 23/08/09

The fairhill club hosted the Connie Doyle senior drag at Watergrasshill at an earlier slip at 2:30pm. In appalling winds and rain the seniors set off to a long 33 minute course ahead of them. Three fields out from the start the hounds made a major check, not just one or two, even a few, but all of the 17 hounds over ran the hunt before one noticed there was no scent beneath them. I suppose the hounds are over eager to set off at the start and this excitement was the main reason for this check, along with gale force winds and lashing rain.

John O Callaghans 'Is It It', (now of Southern Harriers) led the 3rd crossing with Christy & Marie Keatings 'Wardance', Frankie Allens 'Tallyman' and Denise & Leslie Kepples 'Magics Choice' in 4th place after approx 8 minutes running. They had another staggering 12 roads ahead of them and this was not an easy run, because of a lot of young calves out this time of year on top of the shocking weather. However, each crossing had the same class hounds out in front. At the last road before the finish it was Christy & Marie Keatings who led them across and into the finish but over ran the hunt giving way to 'Is It It' to get out in front. As soon as the call went up Denise & Leslies fast finishing 'Magics Choice' over took his rivals to come from 3rd to a 5 length lead out in front and crossed the finishing line first place. 'Is It It' took 2nd place for John O Callaghan followed by Frankie Allens 'Tallyman' who was being hardly chased by Pat O Mahonys 'Harold Scott' who snatched the 4th ticket.

Pictured Above; The Doyle family celebrating with (front Row) Leslie & denise Kepple and Bernie Rall with Senior winner 'Magics Choice'

Senior Results;

1st Magics Choice, Mayfield

2nd Is It It, Southern Harriers

3rd Tallyman, Northern United

4th Harold Scott, Northern United

5th Newtown Raven, Griffin United

6th Bobbys Choice, Clogheen

17 Ran, 34mins 25 secs

Senior Maiden Results

1st Superman, Northern United

2nd Shane, Griffin United

3rd Westgate Tally, Mayfield

4th Stracken, Mayfield

5th Wayward Lad, Mayfield

6th Rainbow Dancer, Northern Hunt

15 Ran, 33mins 45 secs

Fairhill Puppy Drag held on Friday evening at Haunted House, Fairhill

Results;

1st Scarty Lad, Mayfield

2nd Skylark, Northern Hunt

3rd Judys Girl, Mayfield

4th I Want You, Northern United

5th The Buffer Boy, Clogheen

6th Toffee Boy, Southern Harriers

Sean & David Harrington Memorial Drag

ICDA Harrington Memorial

Puppy Drag at Ballygarvan Co Cork, 15/08/09
Puppy Results:
1st Blue Rose, ICDA
2nd Ballintemple Lad, ICDA
3rd Blue Machine, ICDA
4th Mossgrove Quietly, ICDA
5th Winnie, ICDA
6th JCB, ICDA

Senior Drag at Ballinhassig, Co Cork, 16/08/09
Senior Results;
1st Bluebell, ICDA
2nd It's Hard To Say, ICDA
3rd Not Now Man, ICDA
4th Mayday, ICDA
5th Blue Diamond, ICDA
6th Kilmoy Kate, ICDA

Senior Maiden Results;
1st Mossgrove Harvey
2nd Mossgrove Music, ICDA
3rd Amber, ICDA
4th Shane, Griffin United
5th Specky, ICDA
6th Westgate Tally, Mayfield

Donal O Mahony Drag, 09/08/09

That time of year again where the Cork City & County joined forces to put on 4 outstanding drags at Blarney. The evening echo sponsoring this makes this event even more exciting for trainers because of the media coverage.
Hundreds of people attended this major event and were not disappointed. The senior puppy race was first at 3pm, where they had an open course of 27 minutes. They had a good run until the last road where they checked. Coming on the finish it looked to be anyones drag, until the call went up. The honours went to John and Francis Carroll of the ICDA with their hound 'JCB' who kept his pace to take 1st place from club mate 'Blue Rose' trained by Mike Dineen. Timmy McCarthys 'Sheares Park Boy' snatched the 3rd ticket from the betting favourite 'I Want You' trained by Pat Leary.

The puppy maiden finish had a great race to the line where this time Timmy McCarthy did one better when his hound 'Sheares Park Lad' just edged over the line to take 1st place from club mates 'Toffee Boy' who got 2nd and 'Speedy' took 3rd place. Badgers 'Rob The Drag' of the ICDA took the 4th ticket.

Above; Timmy McCarthy & Cathy of Cumbria celebrating with the winning cup

The next event was the puppy show and this year credit has to be given to the organisers. They really made this for the kids and they were all presented with medals and sweets to keep them quiet ! For the past 9 years Tom Newall of Cumbria judges this event and the honours went to Deirdre Kenneallys 'Millie' of Southern Harriers won the bitch show and Lauren McCarthys 'Mike' of Mayfield won the dog show.

From here we went across the road for the main event of any drag, the seniors. A 36 minute course lay ahead of these talented group of hounds. I think all eyes were on the usual favourites; Magics Choice, Is It It and Bluebell. Reports from the roads confirm this as at the Waterloo crossing Mike Dineens 'Bluebell' led the way for 'It's hard to say', 'Magics Choice', 'Blue Diamond' and 'Quiet Lady'. The last road showed Tristan O Herlihys 'Quiet Lady' leading at a comfortable pace. On to the finish, where we all stood in shock at what was to come. 'Quiet Lady' battled hard to stay in front and maintained her position, with about 3 lengths from the hard chasing 'Euro Star' in 2nd position. At 4 lengths to the line, after running 37 minutes and leading the last 15 minutes of it, for whatever reason 'Quiet Lady' veared toward the catchers and stopped .......... 3 inches before the finishing line. Tristan screaming his lungs out all the way, but she gave away the drag to Ger McCarthys 'Euro Star', who came straight through and crossed the line 1st. Badgers 'It's Hard to Say' came in 2nd followed closely by 'Ballinard Kizzy' of the ICDA and 'Quiet Lady' had to settle for 4th place.

The senior maiden race got the biggest cheer as Triona Longs 'Foxy Jack' fought all the way to snatch a well deserved 1st place for his determination to win, and just got his head in front of William Freynes 'Not Now Ryan' of Clogheen. 'Mossgrove Harvey' finished 3rd with club mate 'Specky' taking the 4th ticket for the ICDA. Keith O Callaghans 'Valdor' finished a close 5th in front of Mayfields 'Westgate Tally'.


Above; Ken, Paddy & Triona celebrating with the senior maiden cup

As with all good drags there's alway a better social night afterwards. Southern Harriers were still celebrating the next night at Annie Macs and here's a few photos below.

Above; Southern Harreirs social party !!!

Right; Ken, triona, Jack, Jennifer, Timmy & Declan of Southern Harriers

Senior Results;

1st Euro Star, ICDA

2nd It's Hard To Say, ICDA

3rd Ballinard Kizzy, ICDA

4th Quiet Lady, Fairhill

5th Coppeen Lady, ICDA

6th Blue Diamond, ICDA

Senior Maiden Results;

1st Foxy Jack, Southern Harriers

2nd Not Now Ryan, Clogheen

3rd Mossgrove Harvey, ICDA

4th Specky, ICDA

5th Valdor, Fairhill

6th Westgate Tally, Mayfield

Right; 'Most Wanted' Stephanie & Gary O Sullivan owner of 'Black & Tan' (I'm 1st on the list when she has pups !!!)

Senior Puppy Results;

1st JCB, ICDA

2nd Blue Rose, ICDA

3rd Sheares Park Boy, Southern Harriers

4th I Want You, Northern United

5th Ballintemple Lad, ICDA

6th Skylark, Northern Hunt

Puppy Maiden Results;

1st Sheares Park Lad, Southern Harriers

2nd Toffee Boy, Southern Harriers

3rd Speedy, Southern Harriers

4th Rob The Drag, ICDA

5th Hi Ya, Fairhill

6th Toffee Biscuit, Southern Harriers