Ballindaggin duo main men
Loch Garman Cup lifted after Tractorman’s thrilling win
BALLINDAGGIN DUO Gearóid Doyle and Hughie Doyle were the main men at the 89th annual meeting of the Wexford and District Coursing Clubs when they lifted the Loch Garman Cup following a thrilling final.
The Ballindaggin-based owners sent out an excellent dog in Tractorman, nominated by Michael Nolan, setting the ball rolling with some top notch courses in his earlier rounds.
He looked hugely impressive in winning his way through to the semi-final where he defeated Winter Wish, getting the judge’s nod after a thrilling buckle.
The second semi-final saw the Cavan-based Janey’s Fawn Boy, nominated by Duggan and Kirwan, Rosslare Harbour, put in a really huge course to get the better of Andrew Kehoe’s Pulse Boy.
The Cavan dog, trained by a former Wexford under-age hurler and footballer from Bishopswater, Tom ‘Gawny’ Walsh, ensured the final had an all-Wexford flavour.
Getting the upper hand early in the final course, Tractorman put in a superb course to get the better of Janey’s Fawn Boy. He gained superiority down the back straight, and stuck gamely to his task to lead close to home and pass the flag first.
Maintaining her fine form, the Roche and Fitzpatrick syndicate’s Kingsmill Ariel made it a successful final, having impressed in the earlier round, winning the Michael Hickey Stakes and Perpetual Cup.
In the final the Barntown syndicate’s Kingsmill, trained by John Roche and nominated by Eugene McCabe, defeated Queen Denise, owned and trained by John Byrne, Gorey, and nominated by ‘Shanks’ Whelan, Piercestown.
The Derby Trial Stakes went to Steady Rise, trained by Ray Murray, Mooncoin, Kilkenny, who beat David Power’s and Michael Power’s Honey Smoke in the final.
In the Oaks Trial Stake final, Yippee Lilly, owned and trained by John Martin, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, beat Monveen Sparkle, owned by Judy Mackey, and trained by her husband, Bernard, of Piltown, Co. Kilkenny, coming out of some tough rounds to shade the final buckle.
The Working Members’ Stake final and Tony Kirwan Perpetual Cup was won Telex Bingo, owned by Anton Butler and Tony Butler, Rathaspeck, Piercestown, and trained by Anton, coming out on top of a fine final buckle at the expense of Bounceback Betty, owned and trained by Seán Barnes, Wexford.
The Ballymorris Stakes final went to Tentone Him, owned and trained by Stephen O’Reilly, Ashfield Drive, Wexford, beating Cheap and Fancy, owned by Doyle and Rossiter, Cleariestown, and trained by Anton Butler.
At the presentation of prizes, the Chairman, Anton Butler, thanked the Codd family, Woodlands, Enniscorthy, for the use of their facilities which helped produce two excellent days of coursing, held over the New Year’s weekend, a change from the Christmas meeting.
He also thanked judge Bernard Goold, slipper Alan Kelly, and all committee members who carried out excellent work ensuring the success of the meeting.
Meanwhile, there was also success for Wexford at the 101st Mooncoin coursing meeting in nearby Co. Kilkenny.
Bluehill Leather, owned by Desmond and Liz McCabe, won the Mooncoin Champion Puppy Stake over the festive period, qualifying for the national finals in Clonmel in the process.