Ballymac Matt wins Dog of the Year award for Liam Dowling
BALLYMAC Matt, bred and trained by Liam Dowling at his Ballymacelligott kennels, has been named Greyhound of the Year at the Irish Greyhound Board’s annual awards hosted in Limerick Greyhound Stadium last Saturday. The event, which was sponsored by Galway Crystal, was attended by approximately 200 nominees and invited guests.
Dog of the Year: Ballymac Matt Owners: Ballymac-Kelly-and-the-lads Syndicate Breeder: Liam Dowling, Tralee, Co. Kerry Trainer: Liam Dowling, Tralee, Co. Kerry
Bitch of the Year: Ballydoyle Honey Owner: Alison Coxon, Roscommon Breeder: Larry Dunne, Dundalk, Co. Louth Trainer: Graham Holland, Golden, Co. Tipperary
Sprinter of the Year: Catherines Drico Owner: Liam, Seamus and Shea Campbell, Armagh Breeders: Thomas Morrissey, Templemore, Co. Tipperary Trainer: Ronnie McKeown, Hillsborough, Co. Down
Stayer of the Year: Tradition Owner/breeder: Pat Dalton, Golden, Co. Tipperary Trainer: Pat Dalton, Golden, Co. Tipperary
Brood Bitch of the Year: Kildallon Maid Owner: Larry Dunne, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Stud Dog of the Year: Kinloch Brae Owner: Michael Dunne, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
Future Star: Droopys Roddick Owner: J M Proctor, Essex, UK Breeder: Sean Dunphy, Portlaw, Co. Waterford Trainer: Pat Buckley, Cappawhite, Co. Tipperary
PATSY Richardson from Doon in Co. Limerick, a man with a strong history of breeding champion greyhounds, was the 2015 inductee to the Hall of Fame. Among his on-track greats was Yanka Boy, winner of the Irish St. Leger and Irish Cesarewitch in 1967 and a winner of ‘Greyhound of the Year’.
The Greyhound Welfare Award, which was introduced last year, was awarded to GAIN Dog Food. This is the first time a company has been honoured in these awards, and the decision was driven by their support of events for retired greyhounds. The company was one of the founders of the Retired Greyhound Shows in 2011, established to encourage ownership of greyhounds as pets and highlight their docile nature.
The final award was presented to the event MC, Michael Fortune, who received the Special Merit Award. Michael is well known as the voice of greyhound racing, and currently reports on Irish racing in the Irish Independent, the Racing Post and on the IGB website at Talking Dogs.