Dowling nominated for three at National Greyhound Awards

BALLYMACELLIGOTT trainer Liam Dowling has three nominations for the 2018 National Greyhound Racing awards. Dowling is firstly in the running for the ‘Future Star’ category with Ballymac Anton, who reached the final of the Juvenile Derby last year and was runner-up at the Night of Stars in Shelbourne Park. Up against him will be Killer Bee and Sliabh Liag.

Dowling’s Ballymac Arminta, Paul Hennessey’s Jaytee Jordan and the Peter-Cronin trained Vancouver are up for ‘Bitch of the Year’ award. Ballymac Arminta reached the Derby quarter-finals, as well as winning the Christmas Oaks and the final of the Champion Unraced Stake in Kilkenny.

Are Nagini, a winner over 850 yards at the Night of Stars in Shelbourne Park, is Dowling’s hope in the ‘Stayer of the Year’ category. Corn Cuchulainn winner Javielenko and Ballykett Beauty will be up against him.

The ‘Special Merit’ award will be jointly presented to Ballymacelligott native Bob Shanahan, and Tim Keane, regular attendees at Limerick Stadium. Bob has been a director of the stadium and a member of the local Advisory Council, as well as a number of syndicates, while Tim, also a member of the Advisory Council, is former chairman of the IGOBF and has owned greyhounds for nearly 50 years.

The winners will be revealed in the Killashee House Hotel in Naas on March 24.