Exit Strategy sparkles

Top-quality coursing at 90th annual meeting

AFTER AN impressive opening round victory, the John Martin-owned Exit Strategy turned in a sparkling final course to take the Loch Garman Cup at the Wexford & District Coursing meeting at Woodlands, Enniscorthy.

The 90th annual meeting provided some excellent coursing over two days which were not without their surprises. With an excellent standard of hares, spectators were treated to many excellent buckles in the various stakes before the eventual winners were known.

Exit Strategy showed his real potential as early as the opening round when he turned in a superb buckle to get the better of the Bryan Cunningham-owned Sheeraghs Fry.

Having come through some tight courses on the way to the final, Exit Strategy came up against the Brendan Matthews-owned Lukaku, who had shown equally impressive form in the earlier rounds.

After a tremendous buckle down the straight, the Co. Antrim-owned Exit Strategy got the nod from judge Bernard Goold to the delight of nominators Doyle and Behan, and Eugene McCabe.

A few upsets also occurred in the Lisloose Accord Oaks Trial Stake before the Pat White-owned Still Amazing saw off the challenge of Julietes Rocket, jointly owned by Joseph Keeling and Philip Murphy.

Both semi-finals in the Derby Trial Stake and Dick Fortune Perpetual Cup threw up excellent courses before the final was decided, with Anthony P. Hussey’s Seaside Danger emerging as winner after a close call with the Alan Carroll-owned Dillrock Rapper.

The Working Members’ Stake and Tony Kirwan Perpetual Trophy was won by Susies Daisy, owned by Susan Nolan and Daniel Frayne, who defeated the P.J. Kehoe-owned Bounceback Abi in the final.

Wexford Coursing Club had a special thanks for Tom Codd of Woodlands and Enniscorthy Coursing Club for providing the facilities for the two-day course. They also offered a special thanks to the judge, Bernard Goold, and the slipper, Alan Kelly. The assistant judge was Killian Saunders, while the assistant slipper was Michael Rafferty.

The presentation of the Loch Garman Cup to winning owner John Martin with nominators and connections.

Fran Doyle (President, Wexford Coursing Club) presenting the Lisloose Accord Oaks Trial Stake trophy to Pat Martin with trainer and connections.

The Butler family (sponsors) presenting the Derby Trial Stake and Dick Fortune Perpetual Trophy to the winning owner, Anthony Hussey, at the 90th annual Loch Garman Cup meeting at Woodlands, Enniscorthy.

The presentation to the winner of The Working Members’ Stake (from left): Martin Newport, Brendan Frayne, Susan Nolan (owner), Des McCabe (call steward), Daniel Frayne (owner), John Codd and Jess Boyd.