Will Clubs please note that your Gate Stewards must remain in place at the entrance until the end of coursing each day to ensure that only those permitted to attend (see below) have access to the coursing field.     

Covid 19 Protocol  

Club Secretaries have been issued with Covid 19 protocol directives in relation to the running of their meeting. This includes how to deal with Working Members, Officials, Vets etc and how to make things safe for all participants.

The following Covid19 protocol directives relate to greyhound owners, trainers & handlers.

• Strictly a maximum of TWO entrants per greyhound listed on the coursing programme.

• No spectators permitted.

• No catering permitted.

• A Face Mask or Visor must be worn at all times.

• The Wrist Band issued to you at point of entry must be worn at all times.

• Your Name & Contact details must be provided at point of entry (this is strictly for contact tracing purposes only).

• Please have the exact admission charge of €10 ready at point of entry as no change will be given.

• Once inside the grounds please follow the instruction of the Parking Steward and comply with all Covid 19 signage on display.

• Please place your Entry Fee in an envelope which is clearly marked with the name of your greyhound(s) and the competition(s) they are participating in. Again no change will be given. The €10 for Membership Card can also be placed in this envelope if you wish to avail of same.

• Please follow the instruction of the Control Steward in terms of entering the waiting shelter and the Slippers Hut.

• Catchers must follow the instructions of the stewards at top of field when entering the coursing stretch to lead up at conclusion of course.

• No shaking hands or other celebratory gestures that involve contact.

• Maximum of FOUR people at the presentation. Two located at front, two at the rear and all socially distanced. Mask to be worn for photograph.

• Make regular use of the Hand sanitisers which will be located at strategic points for public use throughout the grounds.

• Maintain a social distance of two metres at all times.

• Most importantly of all if you have any of the common symptoms of coronavirus or feel generally unwell DO NOT ATTEND A COURSING MEETING.  

NM 2020 – Kitty Butler Final

NM 2020 – Champion Bitch Stake Final

NM 2020 – Champion Stakes Final

NM 2020 – Oaks Final

NM 2020 – Derby Final

Following a meeting of the Executive Committee of the ICC today and after consideration of the impact of the country going into Level 5 of the Government plan in dealing with Covid-19, and the associated difficulties that would ensue as well as professional advice received, it is decided to suspend all park coursing events and open coursing events from midnight tonight, October 21st. 

The suspension will exist until it is appropriate to resume coursing events under the ICC Covid-19 Plan. The Executive are acutely aware of what this decision means to clubs, in particular the clubs that were mid-way through their events and we will work with them in bringing those meetings to a conclusion at a future date. We also acknowledge the impact this decision has on club members, owners, trainers, breeders, stud keepers, sponsors, coursing supporters, staff of the ICC and all related businesses that rely on coursing.

This is a time to focus on the Government’s actions to reduce the level of the virus in our community to ensure a positive outcome for us all. We acknowledge coursing people will play their part in protecting each other from the indiscriminate nature of Covid-19.

We look forward to re-commencing the season when the country is released from level 5 and we wish all our members and supporters well during this difficult time for the country.

Stay safe. 

They had to wait a while and unfortunately we won’t be able to hold an Awards Ceremony to celebrate their success but we would like to extend our congratulations to the Coursing Greyhounds of the Year for the season 2019/20. Many thanks to all of you who voted in the four categories last March.  We would also like to associate our very loyal Award Sponsors with this announcement today. Full details of our winners and their achievements will appear on next week’s Sporting Press and we will be arranging a memento for them.

Greyhound & Pet World Abbeyfeale Coursing Dog of the Year

Winner: BOYLESPORTSMAGIC (in photo)

Jimmy O’Flaherty Galway Coursing Bitch of the Year

Winner: CRAFTY PERFECTO

O’Murchú Financial Services Coursing Brood Bitch of the Year

Winner: BALLYMAC ADELPHA

National Meeting Bookmakers Coursing Stud Dog of the Year

Winner: NEWINN WONDER

The Executive Committee of the Irish Coursing Club have announced that the 2021 National Coursing Meeting will take place at Powerstown Park, Clonmel on Saturday 6th, Sunday 7th and Monday 8th February 2021.

The 95th National Coursing Meeting concluded in Clonmel today with some of the best finals seen at the venue for a long time and six outstanding winners. Afterwards there were some very familiar faces back on the presentation podium but plenty of new ones too. All coursing supporters everywhere will be thrilled that loyal Derby sponsor John Boyle took the Kevin Smith Champion Stakes with his own Boylesportsmagic.   

The 2020 Boylesports Derby winner is the Ardpatrick & Kilfinane qualifier Upper Hand. Owned by the Teresa Cahill (Kent) led ‘Part Of A Dream Syndicate’, trained by multiple Classic winning trainer Gerry Holian and bred by Liam Farrell. He was the morning favourite having ousted Callaway Rambler in the third round. He came from behind Soul Man, held off the late challenge of Snap Streak and then in a brilliant final where the lead changed twice he powered up the Powerstown Hill to defeat a gallant Gingerbread Bud. He is a son of Newinn Wonder – Nomore Lily.

The 2020 Horse & Jockey Hotel Oaks winner is the Regional qualifier Foxhollow Queen. A half-sister to 2018 Oaks heroine Foxhollow Lady and running for the same connections, joint owners Brendan Matthews (Newry) & Nora Raleigh (Adare), trained by Brendan and bred by John Flynn from his own 2014 Oaks winner Somelittlething with Adios Alonso the sire the successful sire on this occasion. Brendan & Nora may have come to Clonmel with high hopes of her brother Foxhollow Adios winning the Derby (withdrawn injured from third round) but this lady didn’t put a paw wrong all weekend. Having enjoyed comfortable successes over Tobarmartin Mags and Lets Get Started she was put to the test in the final by the early pace of Please Abbie. The runner-up lost nothing in defeat but the ‘Queen’ showed devastating foot from halfway.

Boylesportsmagic (Mafi Magic – Ballymac Adelpha) was magic today and lit up the packed stands with his ‘come from behind’ performances in the semi-finals and final of the Kevin Smith Champion Stakes. As already stated it was a most popular success for John and Liam Boyle but it also ensured trainer Liam Dowling and his family were back on the podium 12 months after their Oaks success. It was heartbreak of course for Shane Flanagan & the Hey You Sir Syndicate as their triple Cup winner Netflixandchill looked to be on his way to success for most of the final.

30 years exactly after winning the Champion Stakes with Crafty Roberto, Brian Divilly was in the winners’ enclosure this afternoon, with his family Noelle, Shane & Peter, to celebrate the success of Crafty Perfecto in the Grace & Matt Bruton Champion Bitch Stake. Runner-up in the 2019 Oaks, this daughter of Crafty Gonzalo and Drumcrow Adele once again showed her liking for the venue. She was brilliant in the first course and then battled really well to hold off the challenge of Ballymac Marge in the semi-final. In the final she was paired against Seaside Lucy which had caused a huge shock by eliminating the warm favourite Share The Dream in the semi-final. For a short time in the final Lucy looked to be about to cause another upset but the winner started to motor from half-way.

It was a few days to remember for Nenagh coursing club stalwarts Stephen Noonan and trainer John Kelly who combined to win the Dublin Coach Kitty Butler Stakes with Buggies Rose. She was only first reserve on Friday but ran instead of Breska Wild. In that first round she never left the much fancied Ballymac Amber get away from her so it came as no surprise to see her run so well in this consolation event. The daughter of Newinn Wonder and Bucks Honey qualified at Borris In Ossory and defeated Rockanes Beauty in another super final this afternoon.

At the same meeting at Borris In Ossory it was Blueview Lucky which won the Rathdowney Derby Trial Stake and today he added the Stockproof Fencing TA Morris Stakes for James Maxi Collins, Drogheda and his family. He went out to Highbury in the first round of the Derby but did nothing wrong throughout the TA Morris Stakes and he was joined on the podium by his kennelmate and Derby runner-up Gingerbread Bud. The runner-up here was Boherlode Paddy which had up to then also given his syndicate owners a great few days.

Congratulations to all the winners including Jack Foley (Abbeyfeale) and Bob Shanahan (Limerick) who won the Classics Club 600 Draws, Darren & Danny Quinn from Regional CC and Lee Reale from Ardpatrick & Kilfinane CC who are our winning Patsy Byrne Junior Nominators for this season and finally to those two clubs Regional and Ardpatrick & Kilfinane who will be receiving €1,000 each from Michael Horgan for providing us with this year’s Oaks and Derby winners.

All focus will now be on the Dublin Coach Irish Cup with the draw due to be held tonight (Monday) and the first round starting on Friday at Limerick racecourse. We wish Co Limerick CC every success with same. However it would be remiss of us not to conclude by saying a massive well done to all involved with the running of our 2020 National Meeting and in particular to the hare husbandry team at Powerstown Park. Yes it is our flagship meeting and you did yourselves and our sport proud.