*Leonard McNamara, Mick Darcy and Shane Flanagan enjoy the celebrations at the Halfway.
IT WAS a historic last weekend for members of the Ennis/Clarecastle coursing club after Gigantor won the Irish Cup at the Annual Meeting held at the Limerick Race Track.
By Michael Maher
Club member Paul Horig and his partner Catherine Darcy are owners of the greyhound, the pair are well-known supporters of track and coursing.
Paul has dogs in training with several notable handlers all over Ireland, Catherine’s father Mick hails from Cashel while her mother Francis is a native of Killenna a winner of Several Senior Camogie Titles with the Killenna club. The Irish Cup is sponsored by the O’Sullivans of Labasheda, this year’s event was the Una O Sullivan Memorial Irish Cup.
There were twelve races on the card for last Thursday afternoon’s meeting in Limerick with four Clare winners.
Tiermana Oak recorded his eight-career success for Noel Mororney from Mullagh, a son of Laughil Blake and Cloneyogan Flash, he stopped the clock in 29.15.
The ever-consistent Snuggie Archie won his twelfth career race with a 29.28 for Newmarket-on-Fergus’s Myles Cummins, he is a homebred son of Paddy’s Magic and Miles Girl.
Killuran Babe recorded her third win on the bounce for Ciaran and Donal Cooney from O’Callaghan Mills, a daughter of Pestana and Border Electric, her winning time was 29.46.
The Donie Duggan trained Mr Moffit followed up from his victory two weeks ago with a 29.43 victory in an A4 graded contest, a son of Slippery Robert and Clodagh Legend, Sligo natives Vincent Sweeney and Reece Gittens are his respective owners.
In the opening semi-final of the Rcets APP Novice 325 at the Galway Track on Friday night last Croaghill Archie towards the outer and Glasheen Magic along the inner were both away smartly with the rail hugging Glasheen Magic holding a narrow advantage as the opening bend loomed. Tracking well the Brendan Browne of Kilkee owned son of Broadstand Bono & Glasheen Covid took a couple of lengths out of his rival as he raced clear for a length and three parts success over Croaghill Archie and Fortune Zeyno in 18.25.
In race two at the same venue on Saturday night Declan McDonagh of Liscannor trained Coronation made in mistake at the second time of asking in this A7 graded contest as she made all the running to defeat Gainstown Choice by seven and a half lengths in 29.14. Smartly into her stride the Paul Reid and Paul Horig owned daughter of Good News & Mountaylor Queen led Gainstown Choice by half a length approaching the opening bend . Racing down the back Grangeview Spice moved into second place but at halfway Coronation began to draw clear of her rivals and the further she travelled the more the winning margin increased.
The Peter Mulrooney owned May On Faya recorded her second career success in this S4 graded contest striding home four and three quarter lengths clear of Ballyea Jet in 17.85. The Donie Duggan of Tulla trained daughter of Droopys Sydney and Vigorous Lindsey was very smartly into her stride along the inner as Oaktree Roxy trapped well towards the outer. Onto the opening bend though the winner really lengthened her stride to lead by two lengths. Railing superbly she extended her advantage between the two bends before striding clear all alone up the home straight.
