A huge thank you to all who attended the 2022 Irish Coursing Club Awards at Hotel Minella, Clonmel last Sunday evening. We hope everyone had a great time. Special thanks to our wonderful Award sponsors: Greyhound & Pet World Abbeyfeale, The Flaherty Family Galway, Clonmel Cabins Clonmel, The National Meeting Bookmakers, Hotel Minella Clonmel, The Sporting Press and Michael Horgan Mitchelstown. Your generosity allowed us to host such a joyous occasion to celebrate the coursing stars of last season and to welcome an outstanding coursing supporter into the ICC Hall of Fame.

In their first year of Irish Cup sponsorship it was possibly written in the stars that the Co Kildare based O’Sullivan family would present the Cup to a Kildare trained greyhound. And so it came to pass at Greenmount Park this afternoon when the pup Berlin Station, trained in Kildare by Mick Murphy gave a brilliant display to win the Dublin Coach Irish Cup.

This victory will be celebrated far beyond Kildare though. His sporting owner is Bahamas based Paul Horig, he was bred in Kilmacow, Co Kilkenny by Paul Reid and he was nominated by Mallow resident Pat Burke, a brother to Co Limerick CC secretary Bill.

Berlin Station, a January 2020 son of Newinn Wonder & Tory Ellie, had won many admirers at Clonmel and was as low as 12/1 in the ante post betting for the Irish Cup. His victory over Tree Top Danno in the third round yesterday afternoon left us all in no doubt that he was worthy of his place on the illustrious roll of honour which dates back to 1905.

Disappointment for the Kilkenny based connections of a gallant runner-up Busy Man, owner Seamus Neary and the Lennon family who bred & train him but he gave them a weekend to remember and this May 2020 pup should make into a top class All Age. In the final his usual blistering early pace was matched by the winner and even though he was definitely rallying after going behind, the all important first turn just came too soon.

Kerry seldom leave a Championship event without a trophy and sure enough the Patsy Byrne Select Bitch Stake went to Asdee courtesy of the Sean Carr owned Our Ambition. This second season lady was very impressive in her first two courses this morning and then got the better of the pup Cloncunny Wonder in a thrilling final. The winner is trained in Macroom by Liam O’Callaghan.

Some of the loudest cheers of the day were reserved for the Dick Fitzgerald Irish Purse and Bill Chawke Irish Plate. Popular bookmakers and cousins Ted & Berkie Browne combined to win the Purse with the pup Taxi From Jumbos which came from behind in a few courses to win including the final. He is trained by Declan Byrne and his daughter Annie near Carrick On Suir.

The Crested Ten Syndicate led by Fran Burke from Edenderry CC have had some great times in recent years with their ‘Partys On’ dogs and they will be celebrating tonight after the third season Partys On Willy won the Plate in convincing fashion. Congratulations also to winning trainer Davy Reynolds, Co Meath.

It was a tough season for Millstreet CC but it ended on a high when their representative Lady Arabella won the Kyle Invitational Champion Working Members Stake. Successful owners are the Fitzgibbon brothers, David and Gene from Newmarket, Cork.

The new Greenmount Cup for 8 All Ages gave us another thrilling final when Timeforachat, owned, trained & bred by Seamus Bourke & family, Oola came from well off the pace to deny Ballymac Maxwell.

After a spell of wintry weather which gave the Co Limerick CC committee plenty concern, the three days of the meeting itself were blessed with lovely weather, especially today. Club members & all at the venue are due well deserved congratulations for producing beautiful coursing ground and strong running hares. It was exactly what we were hoping for to say a fond farewell to the 2021/22 season.

Co Limerick CC have arranged a link to the action each evening via https://page.inplayer.com/irishcup2022/

A much more blustery day at Greenmount Park for Day 2 of the Dublin Coach Irish Cup meeting but thankfully the rain kept away for the most part. We now have our Final Eight for the Irish Cup and whilst many of the pre-event fancies are gone it would be very true to say that there were no hard luck stories today and all our quarter finalists are there on merit.

BANBA THE BOSS: Third season greyhound, bred, owned, trained and nominated by various members of the well known Mangan & Goff families, from nearby Crecora, Co Limerick & also Waterford. A first ever nomination for Fiona Goff (nee Mangan). A dual Cup winner already this season at Clonakilty and Enniscorthy. His third round success this afternoon over Foxhunter in joint best time of the round suggests he has plenty more to give.

BARRACK CRUZ: Second season greyhound bred, owned and trained by various members of the Curtin family from Tournafulla and of course hugely involved with Abbeyfeale CC. A first Irish Cup nomination for Liam & Noreen Liddy. The ‘Barrack’ greyhounds had a brilliant season up to Clonmel where this fellow lost a just up decision in RD2 of Derby. Has blistering early and could be hard to peg back.

BERLIN STATION: This pup is owned by Bahamas based Paul Horig, trained by Michael Murphy in Sallins, Kildare and bred by Paul Reid, Kilmacow. Nominated by Pat Burke. Lost nothing in defeat to Terminator in third round of Derby at Clonmel. After taking the scalp of Tree Top Danno this afternoon he is the new Irish Cup favourite (hopefully not a poisoned chalice) and a worthy one.

THE OTHER OLLIE: This pup is owned, trained & bred by Jennifer O’Donnell, Killenaule, Tipperary. Nominated by Mary Scallon who took over the nomination of her late husband Oliver, a great supporter of the Irish Cup meeting. Interestingly he bowed out to Terminator in the second round at Clonmel. A big outsider at 50/1 coming into this competition but from the very first round he has shown a liking for the venue. Huge early pace and don’t forget he added the Walsh Cup at North Kilkenny to his trial stake before Powerstown.

CATUNDA NIALL: Second season dog. Owned by the Kilmardinny Syndicate led by Imelda Byrne and her family from Beaumont, Dublin. Trained by Owen McKenna and bred by the Maher-Holian-O’Sullivan syndicate. Nominated by Luke Kilcoyne who has a long association with the McKenna family. Won two rounds of the Derby earlier this month but defeated the Derby runner-up in a thrilling buckle this afternoon when he came from well behind. Most likely will have to do the same again in quarter-final.

BUSY MAN: A pup, owned by Seamus Neary, Troyswood, Kilkenny. Also bred & trained in Kilkenny by Denis Lennon & family. Nominated by Eamonn Kiely. Just touched off by Black As Gold in the Derby RD2. Before that he ran exceptionally well in the Walsh Cup before losing to The Other Ollie in the final. His blistering early left both his opponents languishing in his wake today and his clock this afternoon gives him a real shout at outright success.

WALLACE BEST: This second season dog is owned & trained by Brendan Matthews in Newry. Bred from a bitch that Marie Roche, Clonmel leased from Brendan and nominated by Mike O’Donovan (Curly). More North Kilkenny form here because he won his trial stake there before a very decent showing at Clonmel, losing to Carrowkeal Shane in the quarter final. A handful for any slipper but so far it hasn’t come against him at Greenmount Park and he has put in three polished runs. Would be no surprise to see him win another Classic for the maestro.

UPPER HAND: Third season dog. Owned by the Part Of A Dream Syndicate led by Teresa Cahill in Kent UK. Trained by Matt Harte, bred by Liam Farrell and nominated by Waterford based James Cunningham & Maurice Jackson. Needs no introduction as he won the 2020 Boylesports Derby. Unfortunately we got to see very little of him during the curtailed 2020/21 season and it looked as though a heavy hunt at Kilmallock in November last had taken its toll. However we were very wrong as he is showing all his old spark this weekend. Hopefully his tumble and argument with the escape this afternoon won’t stop his journey towards a remarkable Derby/Irish Cup double

In the Patsy Byrne Select Bitch Stakes the defeat of Shes Invincible was one of the shocks of the day but it was great to see Touch Of Rosie show no effects of her extra work in RD1. Aldanite is still the one to beat and surely deserves a purse like this. Dangers lurk everywhere though and she will need to be at her best in every course.

Sir Mark Prescott has a great record at the Irish Cup meeting and his Missing Pounds could have a big say in the Dick Fitzgerald Memorial Irish Purse. Dresden Dingo could be the one he meets in the final.

The Ryco prefix had a great season and could round it off with a win for Ryco Town in the Bill Chawke Irish Plate. Partys On Willy might prove best of those remaining in the top half. .

Finals Day will get underway at 11.30am tomorrow morning with the second round of the Kyle Invitational Champion Working Members Stake. Our photo shows Josephine Denihan, Fiona O’Flaherty and Laura Scanlon enjoying the Irish Cup meeting.

Finally on a sad note we extend our sincerest sympathy to the Gallery family, Ennis on the death of Fiona Howard (nee Gallery). Our thoughts are with her sons Tommy & Adam, brothers George & David, sisters Bernadette & Patricia and extended members of the Gallery family. Funeral arrangements on www.rip.ie . May she Rest In Peace.

The weather was idyllic at Greenmount, Patrickswell today for the opening round of the 111th Irish Cup, this year very kindly sponsored by Dublin Coach. It was a very satisfactory first day and it is a top class renewal of Ireland’s oldest coursing Classic, first staged in 1905. It is hard to believe that it is three years since we were last in Greenmount and it is good to be back.

There were not too many surprises today but the six runs up Powerstown when winning the Derby (2019 whelps) certainly took their toll on On My Terms and dual Cup winner Get Lost Now did not run up to expectations. Age also caught up on Wi Can There and Mad Mans Game. The hard luck story was Senior Service who looked to be heading for victory only to lose sight when the hare moved right. This afternoon in the Patsy Byrne Select Bitch Stakes it was a pity to see Touch Of Rosie getting a bit too much work as it looked as though she would have a big say in that stake.

Both Champion Stakes winners from Clonmel 2022, Tree Top Danno and Shes Invincible looked very good and it will take something special or hard luck to stop them from achieving unique doubles in their respective stakes. However we have a long long way to go yet.

In the first quarter Noted Rambler showed once again that he is returning to top form and of course connections won the Irish Cup six years ago with Foot Solution. Barrack Cruz and Banba The Boss might pose the biggest dangers.

The second quarter should be all about Tree Top Danno although Berlin Station could give him a battle in RD3. Derby semi-finalist Badminton Wonder has a great chance of making it to Sunday if the bump off the escape today does not come against him.

The top of the third quarter is very difficult to call and includes two runners-up from Clonmel in Carrowkeal Shane & Faha Wonder. Black As Gold made it to the last day in Clonmel and Catunda Niall recorded the joint fastest clock today. It might go the way of local hope Faha Wonder. With a bye tomorrow morning (Crafty Expo withdrawn) Coalition Wonder, subject of plenty interest in the betting before coursing, is very likely to progress from this quarter also to the final day.

Plenty in with chances in the fourth quarter and although Terminator has replaced Tree Top Danno as the new favourite he is going to have to do it the hard way. His next opponent is 2020 Derby winner Upper Hand who showed a lot of his old spark today and the winner of the Sammy Be / Partys On Willy course will be no pushover. Wallace Best caught the eye in RD1 and may have an easier passage in the top half of that quarter.

All the big names made it through from the opening round of the Patsy Byrne Select Bitch Stakes although the handicap will be against Touch Of Rosie after those extra turns. Shes Invincible, Poetic Justice, Aldanite and Gortmelia Sophie will be fancied to progress from their respective quarters but ante post favourite Aldanite may be the most vulnerable with Lark Lane Me and Cloncunny Wonder in her section both impressing today too.

The action begins again on Day 2 at 11.30am with the second round of the Dublin Coach Irish Cup. Our photo shows members of the Comerford family, Harry, Conor, John, Charlie, Fintan and Evan who will all be cheering on their runner and the new Irish Cup favourite, Terminator.

Co Limerick CC have arranged a link to the action each evening via https://page.inplayer.com/irishcup2022/

Congratulations to Margaret Barrett (Flanagan) who is not only joint breeder of our 2020 whelp Boylesports Derby winner Annual Fergie but is also the winner of our online Clonmel Tipster competition.

Margaret (pictured right) naturally selected ‘Fergie’ but she also selected Tactical to win the 2020 whelp Horse & Jockey Hotel Oaks. This 33/1 ante post runner only just failed to win her maximum points but her final total of 35 points is enough to win her the prize.

Margaret and three friends will now enjoy a night out at Shelbourne Park on Saturday 18th June for the final of the Sporting Press Irish Oaks including admission, race programme, four course dinner and a bottle of Prosecco.

Annual Fergie was a popular choice and two selected Oaks heroine Rushview Raven (Vincent Fahy, Glanworth and Eamonn Kiely, Cork). However no one selected the winner or runner-up in either the Derby or Oaks for 2019 whelps so one suspects it was a great National Meeting for the bookmakers !!!

An historic four day National Coursing Meeting came to a brilliant conclusion at Powerstown Park, Clonmel today in front of a huge crowd. The winner’s trophies are on their way to Kilkenny, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Laois and Cahir, Co Tipperary this evening but there should be a trophy too for every member of Team Powerstown who produced fantastic hares over the four days. We must remember also our stake sponsors John Boyle (Boylesports), Tom Egan (Horse & Jockey Hotel) and everyone who supported the Classics Club draw.

It has been a hectic few weeks so we will let you all purchase the Examiner tomorrow and the Sporting Press on Thursday for a full report. However it would be remiss of us not to mention the ‘Clonmel 2022 Champions’.      

Boylesports Derby – ANNUAL FERGIE (Mafi Magic – Amelies Milly)

Born in Powerstown Park from a litter bred by racecourse resident Fergus Flynn & his great friend Margaret Flanagan (Barrett). Now a Derby winner for the popular Wilson brothers from Kilkenny,   John and Donal and trainer Kevin Barry. Connections were thrilled when he won Corn Na Feile but today is a dream come true for the ‘Annual’ boys. Qualified at Edenderry and coincidentally that is where 2019 Derby winner ‘Rumour Has It’ trained by Kevin qualified also.   

Boylesports Derby 20 21 – ON MY TERMS (Adios Alonso – Handsoffshesmine)

What a day for Kevin Marmion. He bred, owned & trained On My Terms to win the Derby, it represented Loughrea so his own club receives the €1,000 Club Award and for good measure he had the winning ticket in the Classics Club draw on the 2020 whelp Derby. It doesn’t come much better than that and it was great to see his dad Lexie on the podium to accept the trophy.

Horse & Jockey Hotel Oaks – RUSHVIEW RAVEN (Blades Of Hope – Blazing Kathy)  

Ten years to the day that he ran-up the Oaks with Emmas Goldrush, Paul Willis of Mallow made it into the winner’s enclosure with his Borrisoleigh qualifier which he also trains himself. Very appropriate that she should represent that club because she first saw light of day in North Tipperary, bred by Darren Lee (Roscrea) and Ger Maher (Puckane). We had six great finals today but this one was epic with Raven just holding Tactical by the narrowest of margins.  

Horse & Jockey Hotel Oaks 20 21 – BALLYMAC FLORAL (Newinn Wonder – Ballymac Town)

Ballymac Town has produced another Oaks heroine for Liam Dowling and family. Three years ago it was Enya, this time her half sister Floral representing Castleisland. The Dowling family have had amazing success on the track but it was great to see how much they enjoyed this victory and were present in large numbers including a few new additions to the family.

Kevin Smith Champion Stakes – TREE TOP DANNO (Newinn Wonder – Tanyard Rena)

A local success for David Lonergan from Cahir and his parents Bill and Breda. A second success at the 96^th National Meeting for trainer Kevin Barry. And many congratulations to breeder Dan O’Donoghue, Millstreet. Came in as reserve but was immediately installed as favourite and a worthy one at that. Huge compensation for having to withdraw Tree Top Henry from the Derby yesterday.

Grace & Matt Bruton Champion Bitch Stakes – SHES INVINCIBLE (Adios Alonso – Woodpark Fever)

A brave decision to bypass the Oaks (2019 whelps) and opt for the Champion Bitch Stakes instead paid dividends today for owners Ray Conroy & Ollie Dunne of Portlaoise. She truly was invincible and a credit to handler Matt Harte. This lady was bred in Ennis by Bernard Quinn whose family won the very same stake in 2008 with Woodpark Rebel, grandmother of today’s champion.             

Congratulations also to Paul Horig (The Bahamas), Pat & Breda Cunningham (Castlemartyr), Joan Herbert & family (Kilflynn) and the man in dreamland Kevin Marmion (Loughrea) on winning €10,000 each in the Classics Club Draws.        

Our sincere sympathy to Cork Coursing Club (Blarney) on the passing of their esteemed Vice President and former Chairman, Denis Bernard. Our thoughts also with his son John, daughters Catherine & Ellen and extended family members. May he Rest in Peace.

The dream of every coursing man and woman to reach the third day at Clonmel switches to the fourth day for 2022. However if anything it makes it even more special and there were tears in the eyes of many an owner this afternoon at Powerstown Park when it all became real. Sadly there were tears too for the Going Grand Syndicate from New Inn & Donegal when Full Redress incurred an injury after winning his third round course of the Boylesports Derby impressively. However otherwise it really was an excellent day of coursing and a credit to Team Powerstown. It augurs well for the final day tomorrow (Monday) when six coursing champions will be crowned.        

BOYLESPORTS DERBY (2020 whelps)

The John & Donal Wilson owned Corn Na Feile winner Annual Fergie continues to impress and now meets his kennelmate Terminator running for the 2021 Track Derby/Oaks winning Comerford family. Connections of Black As Gold (Harry McGuinness/Teresa Reilly) and Badminton Wonder (David McGrath) both had to withdraw other qualifiers before the draw but are getting ample compensation with the performance of these dogs. (Badminton Wonder being a litter brother to Terminator). Mitchelstown’s Michael Horgan, joint sponsor of the Club Awards at the National Meeting, shrewdly purchased Two Bears after it had won the Working Members at Thurles in November and now has a Derby semi-finalist on his hands (receives a bye tomorrow morning). Noel Sheehan and his son Stephen give the rebel county a second chance of Derby success with Echo Bill and of course he qualified at that excellent meeting in Blarney over Christmas. He meets Killucan Pat, running for the Carrs and Healys and attempting to give them more Clonmel success, five years after their memorable Champion Stakes double. 

BOYLESPORTS DERBY (2021 whelps)

Glenhouse Wonder qualified at Charleville at one of the last meetings before the 20/21 season shut down due to the pandemic but the long wait has been worth it for Timmy Collins & past ICC President, Gerry Meehan. His quarter-final opponent Kyle Karl was probably the least fancied runner that Marie Field brought to Clonmel this year but he is enjoying his role of ‘last man standing’. Off To Chicago already added an All Age Cup at Lixnaw to his Listowel trial stake win and is giving Donal O’Connell another super run. On My Terms owned by ICC Executive member Kevin Marmion is leaving things very late in all his courses but is representing Kevin’s club Loughrea with great credit. Leo Walsh and his daughter Katie (Secretary Balbriggan CC) will be thrilled this evening to have their ‘Spital’ prefix in Derby contention and Spital Ted now meets Granard Wonder belonging to another great coursing family, the O’Flahertys of Liscarroll near Mallow. The last quarter-final will be contested by two other very well-known coursing prefixes, with Wallace Best representing the one and only Brendan Matthews of Newry and Carrowkeal Shane running for Kathleen, Brian & Jackie Murphy (another one for Mallow). Shane caused one of the big upsets of Day 3 when eliminating the favourite this afternoon.  

HORSE & JOCKEY OAKS (2020 whelps).

This season Paul Reid was joined in his Tory prefix by Paul Horig and it is proving to be a winning combination so far with Tory Elite. Her opponent tomorrow morning is Knockout Sky whose dam won an Oaks for the McAuliffe family of Athea (Bill, Rose & son Liam) in 2017. There will be plenty of singing if the Jimmy Buckley led ‘Shtick At It Syndicate’ is successful tomorrow afternoon with Montpelier Lolly but first she has to get the better of the Tactical, jointly owned by Damian & Dayna O’Shea and trained by a man who made all the decisions at Clonmel for many many years, Tom Lawler. Pheobes Pride is another daughter of a bitch which tasted success up Powerstown (Blades Of Honour) and is giving Sean Herlihy and young Tiernan Horgan a weekend to remember. She meets a bitch which represents the ‘Blades’ line on the sire side, Rushview Raven. This lady got everyone’s attention with her blistering early in the first round and owner Paul Willis will be hoping to go one better than 10 years ago when he ran-up the Oaks. Coursing bitch of the year 2019, Silent Wonder, is responsible for our next quarter-finalist Chance To Shine which runs in the ownership of the Three Lucky Ms Syndicate led by her trainer Mossie O’Connor and she now comes up against the ante-post favourite Kilty Coco. The latter is owned by Agnes & Una Mai Hallissey and how they would love to be going to slips for the final tomorrow afternoon as their fellow Clonakilty club man Jimmy O’Regan is singing the National Anthem.

HORSE & JOCKEY OAKS (2019 whelps).

Two weeks is a long time in coursing because two weeks ago the connections of Murhur Lady (Work The Mobile Syndicate) and Masonbrook Ivy (Jennie Griffin and her dad Tom, retired ICC Control Steward) did not even expect to be running at Clonmel. However they both came in when we needed to draw from runners-up to fill vacancies and the rest as they say is history. Vying to make history by winning two Oaks at the same National Meeting are the McAuliffe family and Knockout Model is showing all the right attributes. Her next opponent is Ballybeg Honey, a litter sister to Granard Wonder and running for Janette Buckley of Buttevant (Cork very well represented on Day 4). Martin McDaid of Derry came to Clonmel six years ago with high hopes of Oaks success with Moat Matilda but it is her daughter Positive Note that might bring him that Classic success. Standing in her way tomorrow is the Wexford representative Maisy Daisy which would be a popular winner for the Grannell, Fitzpatrick & Dempsey families. Some of the loudest cheers at Powerstown Park today were reserved for the locally owned Village Robin which won the last qualifier of the season at Sevenhouses for Tommy O’Gorman, Lar Walsh & Co. Let’s hope they mind their voices for when she meets Ballymac Floral from the powerful Liam Dowling kennels, a half-sister of his 2019 Oaks heroine Enya.                                                                                

Coursing starts on Day 4 (Monday) at 11.00am with the first round of the Grace & Matt Bruton Champion Bitch Stakes.

For Results, Clocks & Latest Prices go to Quick Results.

Our photo by Imelda Grauer includes Helena Dennehy, Michael & Martina Richard, Timmy Gleeson and Michael Dennehy enjoying the 96^th National Coursing Meeting.      

On a sad note tonight we sympathise with Thurles Coursing Club and the Ryan family, Beakstown, Holycross on the death of Johnny Ryan. Not only was Johnny the President of Thurles CC but he and his family provided the Club with their coursing field which is developed into a top class venue. Funeral arrangements to follow. May he Rest in Peace.             

History was made at Powerstown Park today when a second Derby and a second Oaks got underway. These ones were for 2019 whelps which missed out when last year’s National Meeting was cancelled due to the Covid 19 lockdown. Approximately 40 of the runners between both Classics had booked their ticket over 12 months ago so for connections of those runners it was a long wait to get to Clonmel but all appreciated the decision of the ICC Executive to accommodate them.   

It was a much better day than yesterday for the Field family who saw both their runners Kyle Karl & Kyle Raimund qualify impressively for the second round of the Boylesports Derby 20 21. (Although unfortunately we understand Raimund will not be able to take his place in the second round tomorrow). Brendan Matthews had his two ‘Wallace’ dogs progress and East Donegal’s Dessie Tighe will be delighted with his three flags (two in Oaks and one in Derby). The locals too had plenty to cheer about with Village Robin (Oaks) and Tree Top Henry, Blueway Wonder & Dionysus (Derby) all coming back tomorrow. However it will be a long road home to Listowel for the ‘Jet Lads Syndicate’ who came with two live chances of outright glory in the Derby with their ‘Bedford’ dogs only to succumb to runners from the Owen McKenna kennels in quick succession, Foxhunter and Catunda Niall.

Without doubt the eye catcher in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Oaks 20 21 was Aldanite and she is a worthy favourite after two rounds. Her second round clock was the fastest clock at Clonmel today.  She won’t have her own way against Ballymac Floral but should progress, with Positive Note looking like her biggest danger in the bottom half of the draw. The top half is more difficult to call because there were plenty of thrills n spills for the likes of Barrack Luna, Knockout Model and Rathduff Reba. Matt Harte certainly will have a big say with his runners Masonbrook Ivy & Knockderk Maid and Finn Heather for the aforementioned Dessie Tighe is not out of it either.    

The second best clock today was recorded by Go Home Ourthat but he had to pull out all the stops to hold off the fast finishing Noted Rambler. Hot Dog was also involved in a tight buckle with Barrack Archie and Tree Top Henry took a tumble after he ran well to oust his kennelmate Brave. Unlike the Oaks it is almost impossible at this stage to predict the eight that will make it through to the last day, never alone the winner. However when the action continues tomorrow Sunday it will commence with this Boylesports Derby for 2019 whelps and the picture will become a little clearer hopefully.

Coursing starts on Day 3 (Sunday) at 11.00am and we can confirm that Island Rhythm will also be absent from the Horse & Jockey Hotel Oaks for 2020 whelps.

For Results, Clocks & Latest Prices go to Quick Results.

Our photo by Imelda Grauer includes Fergal Hehir, Niall Heaney, Rory Henchy, Brian Hannon, Brian Culligan, Pat Hogan, Michael Daffy, P Ward and Paul Clune all from Co Clare and enjoying today’s coursing.             

In many ways it was a typical first day at the National Meeting, some fancy runs, a few surprises and a couple of hard luck stories (but not too many). Then in other ways it was different with two runs in the Oaks and 80 runners gone home after Day 1 having no consolation events to soften the blow of bowing out early.

It was a good day for Paul Horig who raised five flags (Tory Elite, Island Rhythm & Berlin Station) and the Collins family (Skibbereen), the Carr family (Killucan) and the Ryco Syndicate (Portlaoise) who raised three flags each.   

In the Horse & Jockey Oaks for 2020 whelps it was announced before coursing that the fancied Excelerate would be absent. And in the eagerly awaited buckle of the litter sisters No Luck Penny and Touch Of Rosie the hare unfortunately moved offline to create an unsatisfactory finish. In fairness to No Luck Penny she may still have won anyhow and she did win her second round in style. Other than that things went more or less to form. The other eye catchers were Rushview Raven, Knockout Sky and Tactical in both rounds and Gortmelia Sophie in the second round. Sophie now meets Kilty Coco which is still very much fancied for outright honours but has a battle on her hands Sunday afternoon.

The first round of the BoyleSports Derby provided us with the fancy clocks but also the biggest upsets. Best run of the day came from Annual Fergie 12.45 but he did get a few extra turns. The second and third fastest clocks also came in the first quarter, with Berlin Station recording 12.57 and Terminator (kennelmate of Annual Fergie and litter brother to No Luck Penny) striding out well in 12.59. The upsets came in the shape of Kyle Honour, Kyle Finale, Hermes and Annual Draiocht which were all in the top ten of the betting market before coursing but won’t be returning on Sunday. Betting after the first round suggests that Badminton Wonder, Black as Gold, Full Redress and Blades Of Style are others that made an impression with the layers on the opening day of the 96^th National Meeting.     

The action continues tomorrow Saturday with the 2019 whelps getting their chance to shine.

For Results, Clocks & Latest Prices go to Quick Results                   

National Coursing Meeting 2022 – Important Notices 

TRAFFIC NOTICE

A word of warning to everyone travelling to Clonmel tomorrow, especially those with runners. Traffic on the bypass has been very heavy in recent weeks and Fridays are particularly bad. So PLEASE give yourself plenty of time and for anyone with a Derby runner do not presume that the interval will be one hour, it may be only 45 mins on Friday/Saturday.

SPORTING PRESS SPECIAL

Your National Meeting Sporting Press is in the shops today. Includes a 48 page NM Special supplement which is jam packed with previews, form guides, interviews with leading contenders and expert views. But don’t forget to look in the main paper also where Boylesports’ Damien Lonergan is put ‘On The Spot’ and the predictions of our website members are on Page 37. Well done to Anne Marie, Sean, Frank, Tony and all our contributors on an excellent production once again.

COVID 19 – National Meeting Code of Conduct (Revised)

Please read the revised Covid 19- Code of Conduct which appears on the home page of the ICC website before coming to the National Meeting this weekend. It will no longer be necessary to complete an ICC Health Declaration Form.

ADMISSION TO THE NATIONAL MEETING

We are receiving a number of phone calls and emails about admission to the National Meeting, especially now that our online ticket shop has been closed. Our ticket shop had to close yesterday as we could no longer guarantee that tickets would arrive in the post in time to customers.

Following the easing of Covid 19 restrictions, it will now be possible to pay admission (€25 incl programme) at the turnstiles on all four days of the meeting.  

NOTICE OF NON RUNNERS

National Meeting 2022 – Non Runners

Horse & Jockey Hotel Oaks 2019 whelps

BARRACK APRIL

COOLARD FAME

MAKE IT RAIN

SHIFTY LADY

STEAM HOPE

BoyleSports Derby 2019 whelps

OUTCAST LUCKY

Horse & Jockey Hotel Oaks 2020 whelps

BoyleSports Derby 2020 whelps

CALL THE GUARDS

THE DUBLIN COACH COURSING BUS

We are delighted that John O’Sullivan is once again providing this wonderful service on three different routes. The coaches will leave each morning from Galway, Dundalk and Tralee with strategic pick-ups along the way. All who travelled this way in recent years have had nothing but the highest of praise for the service so early booking is advisable. Full details of how to book your seat can be found on this website and on the Sporting Press.