Weekly Draghunting Results & Reviews

Northern United Draghunt
Puppy Drag, 28/06/08, Bottlehill @ 4pm


Video Clip of First Road Crossing Above
This drag would have definately suited the pups with stamina, as it was just over the 23 minute mark. The start wouldn't have suited the smaller hounds though as it was knee high in marsh bog.......... It didn't contain these hounds though as they managed to get through it and came to the first road after 9/10 minutes with no sign of fatigue as they crossed. Bernie Ralls 'Stracken' and Southern Harriers 'Curraheen Drive' led both roads, with a few lengths on their followers. On the second/last road the same leading hound had a good few lengths on the rest of the pack, but this didn't match with the final results. The winning honours went to Leslie & Denise Kepples very consistent 'Torres' of Mayfield (who crossed 8th on the last road with approx 6 mins to the finish) who speeded up his pace to cross the finishing line a gallant first in a boggy finish, followed by Gary O Callaghans 'Midday Lad' of Douglas, who seems to like this marshy ground, took a deserving 2nd place and close enough to him crossed Tim Herlihys 'Shane' of Griffin United.

(Bernie, Why didn't you call in Johnny Murtagh to ride 'Stracken' over the line, you must be sick of giving the honours to your outlaws!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)


Video Clip of 2nd/last road crossing above

Puppy Results:
1st: 'Torres', Mayfield
2nd: 'Midday Lad', Douglas
3rd: 'Shane', Griffin United
4th: 'Curaheen Drive', Southern Harriers
5th: 'Stracken', Mayfield
6th: 'Midday Lass', Douglas
21 Ran, Timed: 23mins 15secs

Senior Hounds:
These were slipped on Sunday at 4pm at Bottlehill Road, Carrignavar. All hounds were well strung out at each of the 4 roads. It was about 18degs and was sure to be a bitches day. Of course this was true for Gary O Sullivans 'Black and Tan' who had to settle for a tight 2nd last week, but put her head out in front of 'Toffee Woman' to finish a well deserving 1st this week. With 'Black and Tan' I think it was only a matter of time, as this bitch has serious gears on the call but unfortunately nearly always has to settle for a place. Congratulations to father and son owners Gary & Adam O Sullivan!!! So a very tight finish again this week as Griffin United 'Toffee Woman' crossed for 2nd place and Michael John Buckleys 'Merlin' took the 3rd place.

Senior Results:
1st: 'Black & Tan', Northern Hunt
2nd: 'Toffee Woman', Griffin United
3rd: 'Merlin', Clogheen
4th: 'Not Now Man', Clogheen
5th: 'Pats Pick, Mayfield
6th: 'Westgate Storm', Mayfield
20 Ran, Time: 28 mins

Senior Maiden Results:
1st: 'Ranter', Mayfield
2nd: 'Callums Ryan, Douglas
3rd: 'Nemo', Griffin United
4th: 'Bobbys Choice', Clogheen
5th: 'Indian Scout', Southern Harriers
6th: 'John T', Griffin United
18 Ran, 27mins 33secs


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John O Leary Memorial Draghunt
Sunday, 22/06/08 at Grenagh


Senior Hounds:
Seniors were slipped at 4pm on a very gusty day at Grenagh. I think trainers were hoping to take a piece of the winning places as the O Leary family put on double the prize money for the first 6 places in all 3 drags. So off with the 23 senior hounds who were expected to complete this drag just above the 30minute mark, and they did....... This was probably the closest finish that I have witnessed this season between Bernie Ralls 'Pats Pick' and Gary O Sullivans 'Black and Tan'. Reports say that 'Pats Pick' led the divide, was 6th on second last road and showed 3rd on the finish. When the call went up this changed big time..... 'Pats Pick' and 'Black & Tan' were neck in neck all the way to the finishing line, trainers screaming for their dog to get his head over the finishing line first and take the winning honours, and Bernie Ralls 'Pats Pick' did just that. When talking to Bernie afterwards he said; 'He showed 3rd on the call until I roared him home, when he came into the last field before the tape it was like 'Johnny Murtagh'(the jockey) sat on his back and rode him into the finish' !!!!!!!!!!! So a very tight finish and 'Black and Tan' had to settle for 2nd place followed a few lengths behind came John O Callaghans 'Is It It' of Douglas.
Pictured Above; Bernie Rall with senior winner 'Pats Pick' and daughter Denise Kepple with 'Magics Choice'

SENIOR RESULTS:
1st: 'Pats Pick', Mayfield
2nd: 'Black & Tan', Northern Hunt
3rd: 'Is It It', Douglas
4th: 'Denton Laser', Griffin United
5th: 'Magics Choice, Mayfield
6th: 'Barney', Northern United
23 Ran, 33mins

SENIOR MAIDEN RESULTS:
1st: 'Bobbys Choice, Clogheen
2nd: 'Callums Ryan', Douglas
3rd: 'Nemo', Griffin United
4th: Lincoln', Mayfield
5th: 'Queenie', Carrigtwohill
6th: 'Marybelle, Northern United
20 Ran, 32.30 mins

Puppy Results:
1st: Joker, Northern United
2nd: 'Kilmoy Boy, ICDA
3rd: 'Curaheen Drive'
4th: 'Sandiman'
5th: 'Montana', Fairhill
6th: 'Blue McKoy', ICDA
17mins, 30secs

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Griffin United Senior Draghunt

Sunday, 15/06/08 at Whitechurch

Pictured Right: Senior slip

Senior Hounds:

A nice number of supporters & trainers attended the Griffin United senior drag at Whitechurch. 18 senior hounds were slipped at 4pm to a good start and reports from the road were varied to the final outcome for some hounds. Reports say that Bernie Ralls 'Pats Pick' & Gary O Sullivans 'Black & Tan' led 2nd road, 'Pats Pick' and 'Not Now Man' led 3rd road along with 'Is It It' Of Douglas and these named dogs are but a few of the dogs who were well stuck in this drag on all (4, I think) roads. When the call went up it looked very close between 'Black and Tan' of Northern Hunt, Gary Freynes' Not Now Man' of Clogheen & Denise Kepples 'Magics Choice' of Mayfield. 'Magics Choice' won here last year as a pup and this season this hound won both Griffin United drags, which seen Magics Choice move up to the senior ranks. The Gary Freyne trained 'Not Now Man' of Clogheen, who seems to be running in form of late, battled hard on the last field to step over the line to finish 1st just a length before Denise Kepples 'Magics Choice' of Mayfield who crossed for a very close 2nd place next to the Gary O Sullivan owned 'Black & Tan' of Northern Hunt who finised 3rd.

Pictured Above; Josh & Gary Freyne with the senior winner 'Not Now Man'

SENIOR RESULTS:

1st: 'Not Now Man', Clogheen

2nd: 'Magics Choice', Mayfield

3rd: 'Black & Tan', Northern Hunt

4th: 'Black Sail', Douglas

5th: 'Barney', Northern United

6th: 'Westgate Storm', Mayfield
18 Ran, 29 mins

Senior Maiden Hounds:

Pictured Above; Senior start.........

Slipped 15mins after the seniors in same course, the finishing hounds were reported to have been stuck in all of this drag also. However this was truely a grand finish for Michaels Freynes 'Bobbys Choice', who ran as maiden last year only to win 4 and got promoted to the senior ranks and hasn't been as consistent up senior so decided to drop maiden and his first run with the maidens yesterday this hound has certainly proved to be more than able in this rank, finished practically on its own over half a field before the 2nd dog, pure class finish. No surprise when the very consistent 'Callums Ryan' of Douglas, who's leading the senior maiden table at the moment, finished 2nd for Paddy Carroll, whilst 'Lincoln' of Mayfield finished a close 3rd.

Pictured Above; Right Michael Freyne with his senior maiden winner 'Bobbys Choice' and left are the senior maiden places from left to right.

Senior Maiden Results:

1st: 'Bobbys Choice', Clogheen

2nd: 'Callums Ryan', Douglas

3rd: 'Lincoln', Mayfield

4th: 'Queenie', Carrigtwohill

5th: 'Indian Scout', Southern Harriers

6th: 'My Way', Clogheen
19 Ran, 29 mins

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Griffin Uniteds Puppy Draghunt

Kilcully, Cork

Wednesday, 11th of June at 7:30pm



Pictured Right: Father and son; Andrew with 'Midday Lad' and Gary O Callaghan with 'Midday Lass'

A lot of trainers and supporters turned up for the Griffin United drag at Kilcully. The 28 pups were slipped at 7:30pm and this turned out to be a nail biting run from start to finish. When the hounds were slipped they went down a dip where the dogs literally had to queue to get through a gap one dog at a time. We all could hear the commotion, but couldn't see. After approx 4 mins 5 hounds came back to the start for God only knows the reason.

The others carried on the hunt and were well spread out over the course. They had one boreen/road to cross. When they came into view a few fields out they seemed to be in a line before going down into a blind dip and came into the finishing field where the call went up. When they showed, there were only 4 hounds a field clear, racing hard to to get over the finishing line. The honours went to the Gary O Callaghan trained 'Midday Lass' of Douglas who finished 1st, making this her 4th win of the season, about 2/3 lengths in front of Bernie Ralls (Our Associations Treasurer, whom is very active in every part of hound trailing and highly admired and regarded by all (most anyway!!!)) 'Stracken' who's finding his winning form lately, of Mayfield, who tried hard to catch her but had to settle for 2nd place, leaving a 4 length gap between himself and follower 'Lockey' who finished 3rd for John & Nuala Carey of Carrigtwohill, next to Northern Uniteds 'Nine Lives' who finished 4th.

Below: Puppy Finish.....

Puppy Results:

1st: 'Midday Lass', Douglas
2nd: 'Stracken', Mayfield
3rd: 'Lockey', Carrigtwohill
4th: 'Nine Lives', Northern United
5th: 'Cracker Jack', Southern Harriers
6th: 'Midday Lad', Douglas
28 Ran, 14Mins 30secs.

Pictured above from left to right: Tim Herlihy with 'Shane', John & Nuala Carey with 'Lockey', Andrew O Callaghan with 'Midday Lad', Gary O Callaghan with 'Midday Lass', Kieran Lynch & Hugh O Callaghan.

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ICDA Draghunt
Newcestown, Cork
Puppy Drag, Saturday, 7th of June at 6pm
A masssive number of 48 hounds were slipped together at Newcestown at 6pm. It turned from a warm sunny evening into a cloudy rainy one as soon as they went off. Speculation was that this drag would be above the 20 minute mark, but the hounds set a fast pace to complete this course in 19 minutes. They came onto the finish at a savage pace, but unfortunately had to race through a heavy bog field two fields out before crossing the finishing line, which definately seperated the pack as some hounds lost their place at this stage. This however was not true for the evergreen 'Tallyman', who seperated himself from the rest of the pack by about 15 lengths to cross the finishing line a scorching 1st again for Northern Uniteds trainer Frankie Allen. Gary O Callaghans' 'Midday Lad' (no not 'lass', who initally showed 3rd before coming into the boggy field) of Douglas jumped in to take 2nd place next to 'Randy' of ICDA and 'Foxy Jack' of Southern Harriers, of which there was about half a length between the three. Well done to all.
Pictured Above: Frankie Allen and his hound 'Tallyman'






Tallyman winning with style......

PUPPY RESULTS:
1st: Tallyman, Northern United
2nd: Midday Lad', Douglas
3rd: 'Randy, ICDA
4th: 'Foxy Jack', Southern Harriers
5th: 'Kilmoy Boy', ICDA
6th: Ballinard Beamish', ICDA
48 Ran Time: 19 Mins

Senior Hounds
1st: 'Bluebell', ICDA
2nd: 'Black and Tan', Northern Hunt
3rd: 'Newtown Raven', Griffin United
4th: 'Blueboys Son', ICDA
5th: Blue Rocket', ICDA
6th: 'Toffee Woman', Griffin United
Time: 35 Mins

Senior Maiden Hounds:
1st: 'Black and White', ICDA
2nd: 'Callums Ryan', Douglas
3rd: 'Rocky', ICDA
4th: 'Lincoln', Mayfield
5th: 'Highlander', Southern Harriers
6th: 'Futura Lass', ICDA
Time: 35 Mins 11 secs