Galway the focus as Larkin’s stable star demolishes Killarney rivals
Hard work pasy for Dundalk
THE John Larkin trained Total Demolition came from last to first to win the one-mile Dublin Coach Handicap in Killarney last week - landing a tasty gamble for connections in the process.
A poor start saw the six-yearold give his rivals a five-length headstart, but jockey Ross Coakley held his nerve and slowly worked his way back to the rear of the field.
Larkin and owner Breen White from Dundalk must have been slightly concerned at that stage, but they needn’t have been as Coakley steered his mount to fifth by the halfway mark.
And the horse show no ill-effects of that early effort, flying home in some style to chin fellow 14-1 shot Paved With Gold by half a length. Perdisnap was a head further back in third.
After opening at 28/1 that morning Total Demolition was backed into 14/1 by the off on his first run since last November.
Togher-based trainer Larkin wasn’t surprised by the performance of his stable star who has won a race at Galway festival two years ago.
‘He worked well at Navan racecourse a couple of weeks ago but you never know when you’re coming here. He’s a devil in the stalls and would wreck your head but was back down to a winnable mark.’
Ballybrit is again in Larkin and White’s plans with one more prep in the meantime.
‘Nothing else counts only Galway and Listowel and he’ll have one more run before Galway - he won there in 2016,’ Larkin added. DECIDATION paid of for a number of Dundalk Karate members who went forward for Grading recently.
Following weeks of training and hard work put in at their Dojo in the Redeemer Family Resource Centre, Dundalk, everyone who stepped forward in front of Head of Dundalk Karate, Sensei Mary Marcus 2nd Dan, and Sensei Stephen Hughes 5th Dan, showed how all their dedication and commitment to their training has paid of.
First under the microscope was Liam Hoey who was going forward for 3rd Kyu (Brown Belt) and with numerous Basic’s followed by Combinations and Blocks, which included Head and Kick blocks, Ohio’s and Kihons, followed by Kata’s to be completed, the bar was set at a very high standard.
Following in Liam’s footsteps, was Jacob Viliusis, Ivan Simutrins, David Prieto Bacho and Viktoria Konopacka going forward for 10th Kyu (Yellow Stripe) then Katie Igoe and George Tsikoudakis for 9th Lennon continue to be a dynamic duo, taking 1st and 2nd respectively ahead of Michael Fitzgerald of the IPA Cycling Club in 3rd.
Cuchulainn’s good run of results in the IVCA league with Aidan Delaney taking a win in round 10 in Kentstown. In the run in to the finish Delaney was at a numerical disadvantage as Swords Cycling Club was well represented in the bunch. However Delaney held his nerve to take the top step of the podium ahead of two Swords riders.
Off the smooth tarmacked roads the clubs mountain bikers continued with their league. After 4 rounds David O`Neil is leading on a total of 201 points. He maintains a 9 point gap over Bredndan Foley and 10 points over Caroline Martinez.
Graig Clifford was the winner of the most recent round, which sees him move up to 10th in the league. In the junior league Daragh McHugh was the winner of the most recent round, however it wasn’t enough to see him top the leader board. That distinction belongs to Eoin Carthy, who has been remarkable consistent taking second position in the first 3 races of the series. Kyu (Red Belt) and finally Ronan Igoe for 7th Kyu (Orange Belt), and with everyone completing their grading without fault was definitely key to Dundalk Karate’s continued sucess.
With numerous family members and fellow members of Dundalk Karate watching from the sidelines it was with huge relief for those grading that Sensei Marcus announced that everyone had passed their Grading and the added bonus was that Sensei Hughes