Southern Harriers Puppy Drag, 28/02/09

Waterfall at 4pm


The opening of the drag season happened today with the puppy hounds and their patient trainers, who anxiously awaited this event for the past few months. These trainers put a lot of hard work, time and patience into trailing their hounds, and today was the day which would determine their efforts at Waterfall where 16 puppy hopefuls were slipped.


So off they went to a tricky course. Tricky because of the first road crossing which was at an angle and these young pups didn't take it very well, and ran the road. Pups being pups they were probably just following each other for this part. However they did correct themselves and continued on their course. They had two road crossings and the pups were very staggered across the whole course. We knew there were 2 dogs away in front on their own, but we didn't know who for sure until the finish.


It was a long field to the call. Two fields out 2 hounds showed, and indeed it was not out of form ........... Pat O Learys 'I Want You' and Troy O Mahonys 'Get Smart' both of Northern United came into view. Pat O Learys 'I Want You' seemed to be driving out in front but Troy O Mahonys 'Get Smart' did just that when he cleared the ditch first into the long finishing field and maintained his position in front to win first place for a delighted Troy O Mahony, with a couple of lengths to spare on his clubmate 'I Want You', who took 2nd place for Pat O Leary.


After a few minutes we seen the next few hounds jump into the finishing field together, but the long call seperated these on the finish line with about 4 lengths between each. Northern United dominated this drag with 4 places and Mayfield taking 4th and 6th place.

Pictured Above; Troy O Mahony and Jennifer with their winning hound 'Get Smart'

RESULTS:

1st; 'Get Smart', Northern United
2nd; 'I Want You', Northern United
3rd; 'Nina', Northern United
4th; 'Barucca', Mayfield
5th; 'Jasper', Northern United
6th; 'Judys Girl', Mayfield
17 Ran, 16 Mins

Re-Run; Tuesday Night at 5pm, same venue

The re-run of Saturdays puppy drag got off to a great start. The pups were a lot more confident this second time round. They crossed the first road in a row with no hesitation, and at the second road, the pack were divided into two groups with a field seperating each.
A group of dogs came into the last field for the finish, where the previous placed hounds were in with a chance of a repeat performance. At least that's what we thought until the call went up and John Ahernes 'Nina' of Northern United stormed away from the pack and finished a very strong 1st on her own leaving a 6-8 length gap on her clubmate followers, 'Get Smart' who finished 2nd place for Troy O Mahony and 'I Want You' finishing 3rd for Pat O Leary, all of Northern United.

Results;

1. 'Nina', Northern United


2. 'Get Smart', Northern United


3. 'I Want You', Northern United


4. 'United Jack', Southern Harriers


5. 'Jasper', Northern United


6. 'Roxanne', Northern United