Indo Laurels crown goes to O’Connor and to Ballyheigue

ANNE O’Connor, of Ballyheigue, and Noel Browne, of Castleisland, had very good reason to celebrate on Saturday night.

Anne was joint owner and breeder of Skywalker Manner (Leeview Jet – Jibberish) which won the final of the Irish Independent Irish Laurels (winner, €30,000) at Curraheen Park and Noel Browne was trainer of Coolavanny Mason which won the final of the EEC Timber Open Sweepstake (winner, €10,000) at Shelbourne Park.

Both victories were achieved in quite brilliant fashion by greyhounds which were at very attractive odds in the betting markets. Skywalker Manner was 5/1 and Coolavanny Mason, being the rank outsider of the field, was double that at 10/1.

Skywalker Manner, which is trained by Graham Holland, timed his break to perfection from trap 2 and, once in front off the first bend, he was not going to be caught. He finished a length and a half ahead of 2/1 favourite, Farloe Rumble, in 29.29 (.10 fast).

Coolavanny Mason also set himself up for victory with a very good start from trap 4 and, in a thrilling finish, he held off the challenge of Keplar Nine by a head in 29.53 (550yds).

Can the year get any better for Noel Browne? On the last day of January this year he was trainer and joint owner of Coolavanny Bingo, which so brilliantly won the Boylesports Coursing Derby at Powerstown Park. And now this. The man who shared that great coursing triumph with him, Mark Lowther, of Hertfordshire, is actually the owner of Coolavanny Mason, which won his first trial by no less than 19 lengths in 28.93 at Tralee Track in mid-October of last year..

In relation to the Irish Laurels victory of Skywalker Manner, it was a real shame that patrons at Tralee Track were unable to see it. There was no interruption to the televised service from Shelbourne Park this time, but not a single race was shown from Curraheen Park – and a greyhound with such strong Kerry involvement winning.the big one!.

A bad gaffe and the strong anger expressed by some of those patrons at the Oakview venue was very understandable.