Ballydonoghue GAA benefit from great organisation

SUCCESSFUL benefit meetings at Tralee Track are great for the organisers and for the Oakview venue itself and that was well proven again last Saturday night when Ballydonoghue GAA Club came to town and showed in the most effective way possible what good organisational work can achieve.

A huge crowd turned up, testifying to a very strong support base by the club, but that was only the start of it, in terms of money raised anyway. One had only to glance at a 146-page programme packed with advertising to know that a hell of a selling job had been done and, of course, sponsors were pulled in for every one of twelve races.

There were other things that brought in the dosh andit can be safely assumed that a very sizeable profit was made – which, needless to say, will be put to good use by the North Kerry club.

Racing-wise, a 12-race card provided plenty to enthuse about and fastest over the standard trip, on 28.62, was Charlesfield Tom, jointly owned by Veronica and Tom McAuliffe, of Banteer.

Charlesfield Tom was running from trap 5 in the tenth race (A1 525) and he set himself up for victory with the slickest of starts. Indeed, such was his early acceleration that he enjoyed a lead of six lengths over Scart Tipp by the third bend and, although Scart Tipp ran on well behind him, three lengths separated the pair at the line.

Three semi-finals of an A7 525 sweepstake sponsored by the Kerry Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association formed part of the programme and the fastest winner, on 28.85 in the first semi-final, was Hopeful Aidan, a wide seed that absolutely routed the opposition – reflected in the fact that he had nine lengths to spare at the line from Kilcurra Nicky.

The other semi-finals were won by the Maurice O’Connor-trained Killahas Brandy, which clocked 28.91, and the Brendan Maunsell-trained Cash Is King, which clocked 29.07.

Earlier, Maunsell won a novice race in 29.40 with a litter sister to Cash Is King, Fire Height Lisa, and, in search of a treble in the seventh race, his bitch, Lithuanian Lila, fell between the last two bends when in contention. Such highs and lows are part of the doggy game, though there was also another nice high for Maunsell at Shelbourne Park where Redzer Rocco won the fifth race for him in 28.56.

The final of the A7 525 sweepstake takes place this Saturday night and, being the fastest semi-finalist and guaranteed another trap 6 draw because he is the only wide seed, Hopeful Aidan is sure to make a very bold bid for victory. However, slight preference is for Killahas Brandy in trap 3.

The draw is (trap order): Boxer Miley, Cash Is King, Killahas Brandy, Lone Jet, Kilcurra Nicky,Hopeful Aidan (W).

The night ended with a 525yds race for A4 class and the winner, Misty Nidge, is none other than a litter brother to Misty Supreme, which won the €4,000-to-the-winner Kerry Group Hospital Sweepstake a week previously. Misty Nidge won the last race (A4 525) by three lengths in 29.25.

Other winners were Simons Girl, 17.80; Adamswood Sandy, 29.51; Shifters Pearl, 29.06; Black Mechanic, 17.87; Kebab Lucy, 31.29 (570yds); Shancol Ranger, 29.08.

SIS MEETINGS

THE Patrick O’Connor-trained Shanless Frank was the fastest winner over the standard trip, on 29.07, at last week’s Tuesday SIS meeting at Tralee Track, while the other winners were: Johns Cod Actor, 29.29; Knockavahig Gent, 17.83; Conaic View Lord, 29.59; Mohane Denzel, 17.82; Manhattan Sky, 29.17; Solo Rock, 29.22; Navajo Dan, 29.22; Leigh Florence, 29.22; Ardralla Paul, 29.51.

Fastest at Saturday morning’s SIS meeting was the Neilus O’Connell-trained Good Brandy, which clocked 28.72 on going rated .10 fast, while the other winners were: Aughacasla Ket, 29.29; Space Ghetto, 28.91; Devon Gunner, 28.88; Demesne Misty, 29.16; Loher Ben, 29.05; My Right Ear, 29.03; Shronedraugh Dan, 29.14.