Tuesday 30 April 2019

Shining star Aishling honoured at National Garda Youth Awards



Ever important to make our greyhound racing community a welcome sanctuary for a younger generation who can build a bright future for all of us in the sport, that onus also extends into everyday life for when nurtured, there is no predicting what our promising youth could possibly achieve.

In the case of one teenager however, a bright future in whatever path is chosen by Aishling Rafferty is confidently predicted as those who have gotten to know the Ballinagarry Roscrea native in her formative years will have recognised the seventeen year old as a rare young gem.


Known to many of the greyhound community through her own family racers, as a working member of both Borrisoleigh and Nenagh Coursing Clubs or as the bright personality greeting patrons while working the turnstiles at Thurles Greyhound Stadium, Aishling’s wonderfully giving and selfless nature, that has brightened so many greyhound occasions, has also been recognised in her local community where she has been a tireless worker for those less fortunate than herself.

Nominated by Borrisokane Community College, Aisling was bestowed with a Divisional Garda Youth Award for work in her community but such is the extent of her selfless endeavours, the very first Garda National Youth Awards in 2019 saw Aishling honoured with a National Individual Award for “Making a positive contribution to her community, making it a better place to live.”

At the awards ceremony on Friday last, Sergeant Carol O'Leary spoke at length of the efforts made by Aishling saying; “Just some of her contributions include organising a Charity Walk to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society and a bus for the elderly in her community to visit Christmas markets.


“She visits elderly neighbours, her local Nursing Home and Day Care Centre to simply chat or play cards. Aishling is currently working towards a President Of Ireland Silver Gaisce Award and has been honoured with a Gold John Paul II Award.

“At present she is in Romania, volunteering with Habitat For Humanity having raised €3000 towards the venture and continues to fundraise for a cause that she fervently passionate about.

"A busy and pro-active young lady in her community, Aishling has a great sense of others and is selfless in responding to their needs.

“Nominators Elaine Dunne and Matthew Carr of Borrisokane Community College see her as a wonderful role model for her peers who creates a very positive image of young people in her community. She really does make a difference!”

Of course being in Romania at the time of the awards, Aishling was unable to be present to receive her award with dad John Rafferty accepting on her behalf at the Midlands Hotel in Portlaoise.

John; “Oh what can I say about her. She shies back from nothing and you would be all day writing a list of the things she has done! But, she had gotten her Divisional Award and that was brilliant for her. We were told that her name would be going forward then for the National Awards but honestly, we thought little of it really until we got a call and were told that there was good news coming.

“It really was a big surprise. It’s wonderful recognition for her. Listen, we’re very humbled over it and so is she. What can I say she’s that type of girl, she’ll do anything to help others. There just is no selfish in her. I suppose many at that age can be, so we are very lucky and of course very proud!”

Having missed the ceremony, Aishling arrived home from Romania on Sunday morning last but not one to rest for long, she accompanied her family to a Country Music and Dancing night at the Sherwater Hotel in Ballinasloe where greyhound friend Jimmy Buckley was providing the entertainment on stage.


John says, “Sure what youngster at her age would be swinging her dad around the dance floor to Country Music?! But anyway, she would know Jimmy through the greyhounds and we met him early in the night before he went on stage.

“We had been telling him about the award and that she was just back from Romania so what did he do only give a speech in the middle of his show about Aishling. He had it all off and she got a right ovation! So she has had a great weekend but in fairness to her, she deserves it!”

Whatever path she takes in life, all in the greyhound racing community will wish Aishling only the very best of luck at every turn. She may be selfless but we will selfishly hope that whatever lies ahead will always include us. Congratulations our Aisling!



Thursday 18 April 2019

2019 Kirby Nuggets!!!



In the 2019 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial Final, Ballymac Tas will bid to become the first bitch to claim the title but how many bitches have reached the final to this point?

Well, in 2018 we had no bitch in the final but also from the Liam Dowling kennels, Coolavanny Pet was widest of six inside seeds when third in 2017.

In 2016, the beast that was Witches Belle finished 3rd behind Droopys Roddick before going on to win the Irish Oaks.

Our first bitch to reach the final was in the inaugural 2013 event when the brilliant Royal Diva was unlucky when baulked badly at the opening bends behind winner Roxholme Bully.

Final trap spread

Trap 4 has proven to be the winner's lucky box so far in Kirby finals. No longer the "coffin", three of the six winners wore black on final night. Cable Bay, Droopys Roddick and Bentekes Bocko. Oi Oi Toolmaker!!

Lemon Bolt

An absolute legend in the breeding stakes, Colin Rafter's Lemon Bolt will be represented by her son Toolmaker Josie in the 2019 final and this comes after two of her litter to Droopys Jet reached last year's showdown. First bend bumping saw them held in the back two positions but how higher up the standings can Josie get this week than Lemon Shane and Blue East managed a year ago?!!

Staying with Josie, trainer Robert Gleeson and owner William Hyslop have teamed-up with a finalist in the past. Remember the brilliant Droopys Braedon who ran fourth to Cable Bay in 2015?!!

Dowling Duo

2019 will not be the first time that Liam Dowling has had two runners in the Kirby final. Already mentioned, Coolavanny Pet ran third in 2017 but do you recall that she was joined by Borsalino who was sixth on the night?!!

Number Nine can be Golden??

Unless I've forgotten something obvious, I make this year and the final appearance of Herecomesdahoney a ninth Kirby finalist for Graham Holland. In fairness, we've only had three winning trainers after the exploits of Brendan Matthews and Pat Buckley but the Golden handler must be anxious to get over the line sooner rather than later in one of the few events that have eluded the kennels.

Previous finalists are: 2018 Slippy Cian, Blue East 2017 Drive On Tipp 2016 Riverside Oscar, Riverside Chip, Clares Rocket 2015 Rural Hawaii 2014 Vans Viking.



Tuesday 9 April 2019

KIRBY Splits Q/F



Quarter-final sectionals
They say three into two won’t go but in the quarter-final heats of the 2019 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial at Limerick on Saturday, it was more a case of six into three will not go as a dramatic session of quarter-final heats saw supremely talented youngsters scrambling for precious qualifying places where victory became irrelevant while desperately seeking to keep Kirby dreams alive.

You could throw any amount of adjectives at a report on Saturday’s action but I’ve settled on brutal for it was quite scary as simply a racing fan to see this cast of stars thundering into a first bend when you knew that something had to give and that proper outright fancies were certain to be eliminated.


Aside from being capable of posting blistering clocks, it was the depth of talent amongst this cast of 2019 which ensured that this event was the most competitive of a seven year Kirby history and it was always going to reach a stage where some would simply have to cede. At quarter-final stage, we reached our pinch-point!

With so many survivors bearing a similar racing style, we struggled to get accurate sectional times on many for the opening 300 yards this week but those in the early paced bracket had already signalled their abilities before Saturday. Many in that mode were eliminated but an interesting aspect which is revealed below is that we now have a clear “strongest stayer” to focus on as Antigua Rum clearly emphasised how beneficial his stamina can be in an event with so many doing it the opposite way!

Next best in the staying department is Ballymac Tas and you could only be impressed further by her battling performance to qualify from a treacherous position behind Herecomesdahoney in Heat 4. She remains the fastest of the event while enhancing her claims despite defeat and offered relief to Liam Dowling for there should be no Kirby report written this week without offering best wishes to his Cuore Di Ferro. 

Gratefully completing the circuit after a fall in the opening heat when facing a nightmare Trap 6 draw, he all but secured qualification before tumbling at halfway. A fate he did not deserve and hammered home the precarious nature of these quarter-finals for a relieved attendance as he made his way along the home-straight.


*As always, only the leader's numbers at the respective marks are set in stone while those behind are calculated but we have done this enough now to know that even when a touch off the mark, it really will be very minor. Remarks are offered to indicate that a particular sectional could have been faster with a clear run but again, use your judgement to assess how much any figure is affected and I would always assert that the figures here should be analysed while watching the videos to fully appreciate the splits in the context of how the race was run. Descending order from quarter-final on top in red to opening round on the bottom for each runner.

Heat 1 28.70


Deadly Diamond
16.22 bump
16.25 touch
16.62 ckd
12.48
12.57
12.36
Toolmaker Me Dad
16.58 bmp
16.15
16.10
12.22
12.21
12.17
Grangeview West
16.65 blk
16.12
16.00
12.33
12.44
12.25

You really have to hand it to this Michael O’Donovan winner who was made to battle for control of the rails at the opening bend. He needed to lead Toolmaker Me Dad to his inner for qualification hopes and even with a bump to his hinds on the run-up, he again displayed the early pace that keeps his realistic Kirby hopes alive.

Still without a completely clear passage to the 300 yard mark, it is fair to assume that he can pretty much match any of the field in the early part of the race. Excepting his better finishing split on the faster circuit for Round One, what the numbers do reveal is that his outright claims are polarised, in that he must reach the closing bends while in full command. 12.48 this week, and 12.57 a week earlier, won’t see him defend small halfway leads over many who remain to semi-final stage.

A first defeat for Toolmaker Me Dad and he simply wasn’t away well enough this time. Trainer Robert Gleeson had hinted that he wasn’t convinced his young star, although an inside seed, truly wants the red jacket but again, it came in handy this week for while reaching the bend on the inside of a line of four behind the leaders, he came off best from a bump when all but assured qualification at the top of the back-straight.

His poor start aside however, he does appear to be holding his form when you examine his finishing split. Three times now he has covered the closing 225 yards within five spots and they are the figures of a strong runner. He will hold claims in any company when front rank to halfway and the 300 yard figures he posted in the earlier rounds clearly show that he can be with the best to that point. Obviously still has a big say.

“We got the rub of the green tonight!” They were Michael Hogan’s words after his gutsy Grangeview West was the chief beneficiary following the fall of Coure Di Ferro. But she had earned that luck in her two brilliant opening successes and her performance here was a brave one, from a draw she really did not want.

Crowding and bumping saw her tail just about last at the crown of the bends and it was no mean feat to subsequently repel Winetavern Don on the run to the line. Back nearer her first round finishing split this week is encouraging and given her rails draw in the semi-finals, her figures from the previous rounds could well see her in the final if repeated.

Heat 2 28.54


Toolmaker Josie
16.28 ckd
16.34 touch
16.22 brush
12.26
12.55
12.33
Rattling Conor
16.52 ckd / bmp
16.36 ckd
16.57 ckd
12.44
12.52 ckd
12.26
Deadly Storm
16.58 crd / bmp
16.34 bmp
16.06
12.61
12.53
12.38 bmp

Another heat where the run to the bend was always going to be crucial and it worked in Josie’s favour that he was not amongst the leaders when reaching the corner. The concern here will be that he was essentially outpaced by three rivals on the run-up, but, only one of those managed to advance!

He was forced to check slightly before finding a gaping gap on the rails off the second turn but he was highly impressive thereafter. Overall, the figures suggest that he is in and around the 16.20 mark to 300 yards and with this being very close to a clear run, reveal that he is even paced throughout. Just like his kennel companion, that very respectable 12.26 finishing split says that he is taking the runs well and will give him every opportunity of converting if shading the lead beyond halfway but he will need draws to get the run with a few remaining that can lead him to the corner.

Mossie O’Connor’s Rattling Conor is developing an aura in the Kirby which almost exudes a defiant confidence in that they just can’t seem to knock him out. He has yet to find a clear run and we are in the dark as to what he could post for the opening 300 yards. He’ll have to trap and secure a path to show us at some point but what he has shown is flashes of real pace. He was crossed on the run-up here, bumped at the bend and was a bad fifth at the crown. Granted there was trouble for rivals ahead of him but once swinging off the second bend, he displayed a powerful turn of pace along the back-straight. Odd to assert after watching three rounds but he remains a little unexposed. A faster break however is going to be required…..and soon!


Michael O’Donovan managed to guide two through to semi-final stage from his team of four on Saturday and Gary Hannon won’t mind me reporting that he was beaming leaving Limerick as Deadly Storm delivered a second semi-finalist for the Bray owner. Storm was one of three first bend leaders here who raced in tight quarters while all impeding each other. 

Only fourth at halfway however, he battled gamely to qualify and he is another of the early pacers who retain the ability to dominate a heat when free to gallop the opening bends independently. I wouldn’t be over harsh on him for that 12.61 finish either because he has done better and had an awful amount of work done before reaching the closing stages this time. His Kirby plan is very simple, must lead and hang on!

Heat 3 28.39


Antigua Rum
16.41 crd
16.39
16.67 crd
11.98
12.19 ckd
11.98
Tullig Footpad
16.40 bmp
16.48 ckd
16.28
12.34
12.44 brush
12.35
Ballymac Syd
16.65 bmp
16.57 blk
15.93
12.14
12.33 crd
12.14

Simply not possessing the early pace of his rivals here, this heat fell just perfectly for the staying abilities of Tom O’Neill’s Antigua Rum. Sitting in a pocket behind the leaders having been tight for room on the approach, he ducked inward to cleverly find a run at the bends before delivering his powerful challenge on the outside from the second turn.

Up to this point, he was among a handful of runners capable of dipping under the 12.00 barrier coming home but with his fellow stayers losing out at quarter-final stage, notably Redzer Ardfert in this heat, he is now the strongest remaining in the event. We had noted here that his very solid 16.39 in Round Two was an ominous sign if indeed he could get the room to repeat it. His finishing kick will clearly convert victory every time he is front rank to halfway but that early figure is key.

With the heats being so competitive, and the semis likely to be the same, those capable of leading him are scrambling to execute their best race against similar types and as such are being forced to race in tight quarters. His lack of early dash in the context of this Kirby has now almost become an advantage and when considered that our fastest 300 yard split this week was 16.19, Antigua would be only three lengths behind approaching the third turn. No leader would want that and on a circuit that can prove very tiring over five rounds, Tom O’Neill has a challenger who is absolutely relishing the task.

Tullig Footpad ran here like he knew that the Pat Buckley dream of four in-a-row was resting solely with him. I’ve put bump after his opening split and while there was nothing obvious, I’m sure there was more than the odd touch as he competed in tight quarters to the back-straight. He showed smart pace to hit the front when swinging off the second bend and we know he can post faster figures. As with any of the early pacers in the quarters, he avoided a banana skin here but his 12.34 is respectable for an early paced runner and his Kirby task is simple from here on, he must return to his best breaking form and dictate for victories.



Liam Dowling could have been forgiven for thinking that his Kirby challenge was about to come to a crashing halt here as Ballymac Syd raced in last place at the crown of the bends when bumped upon turning. He again got himself out of trouble however with powerful back-straight pace before his confirmed strong running abilities secured qualification. 12.14 is very strong coming home and that seems to be his number. When added to his first round 15.93, that amounts to the figures of a classic winner so it is very straight forward from here, he simply must get back to the better break he showed in Round One because right now, he is struggling to implement his best race from Trap 6 as he is not showing enough on the run to the bend to clear the slick early pacers that remain.

Heat 4 28.30


Herecomesdahoney
16.19
16.24
16.45 brush
12.11
12.27
12.13
Spoofer
16.35 touch
16.18
16.17 ckd
12.16
12.32
12.28 bmp
Ballymac Tas
16.39 blk
16.10
16.01
12.13
12.13
11.96

On a night where the draw proved crucial, Herescomesdahoney had the best of it and he took full advantage when reaffirming his highly plausible Kirby credentials as the sole Graham Holland survivor.

The figures clearly indicate that he is growing within the event with his best splits both starting and finishing and, while not the fastest of the Kirby in either section, the sum total amounts to an even paced runner who when left to his own devices can be a classic contender in any company because has no weak point on any part of the circuit. Yes he has benefited from the red jacket in all three rounds but he broke very well here. You would naturally have concerns when drawn further out, which he will be this week, as many can go to the bend alongside him but his strength beyond halfway means that qualification is not dependent on leading. 12.11 will see him bearing down on many early pacers close home and if you weren’t convinced before this week, you must now be certain that he is a big Kirby player!

Philip Gough would probably have hoped for Spoofer to lead the winner on the inside here but it worked out quite alright when he didn’t. He essentially missed his break and we already know that his 300 yard figure can come down. Being on the rails, a minor brush at the first turn didn’t interrupt his gallop very much and what connections will be delighted to see is the improvement in his finish. Another for whom draws will be crucial and he will have to remedy this latest break. All in all, a very similar type of runner to the winner.

A first defeat for Ballymac Tas here but I suggested to Liam Dowling that she was as good as her opening round victory on Saturday, and I stand over that assertion. Edging left on the approach to the turn, she did remarkably well to keep her legs in what could have been a fateful bump at that point. She was devouring ground along the back-straight until forced to check behind Spoofer at the crown of the closing bends so her finishing split of 12.13 further emphasises her staying ability over 525 yards. She won’t want a draw like this again but this commentator will argue that she is still top dog in the Kirby with her better draw this week adding confidence to that claim.

Tuesday 2 April 2019

Warning over potential No-Deal Brexit!


IGB:-

Owners and trainers advised to prepare for potential changes to the movement of racing greyhounds in the event of a no-deal Brexit

Greyhound owners and trainers across Ireland are being advised to prepare for potential changes to the movement of racing greyhounds between Ireland and the UK, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

The Irish Greyhound Board has been consistently engaging with the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine (DAFM) on the issue, with further consultations taking place this week. The DAFM has an information note on the event of a no-deal Brexit which can be viewed here: www.agriculture.gov.ie/brexit/preparingforbrexit/pettravel/

From these consultations, it has been established that the requirements for a greyhound to be micro-chipped and to have an EU pet passport which certifies vaccinations against rabies will not change.

Owners and trainers intending to race greyhounds in upcoming UK events are advised to ensure that rabies vaccinations, as certified on the pet passport, are in date. In addition, a rabies titration test, i.e. a blood test, at least 30 days after vaccination is required. Owners and trainers are advised to consult with a veterinary surgeon in relation to the testing procedure.

Furthermore, a greyhound returning from the UK to Ireland in a ‘no deal’ scenario will require to be treated for tapeworms by a vet from one to five days before their re-entry date. Any greyhound going to the UK will have to be treated and certified by a veterinary surgeon in Ireland before travelling to the UK, only being allowed to return to Ireland up to a maximum of five days post treatment.

Advance notification of returning to Ireland with racing greyhounds from the UK in a ‘no deal’ scenario will need to by given to the DAFM via email.

Denis Healy, Veterinary Director with the Irish Greyhound Board, commented: “There is going to be change throughout almost all sectors in Ireland in a post-Brexit scenario. The greyhound industry is no different.  Engaging with stakeholders throughout the industry on Brexit, as the IGB and the Department has been doing, is helping address the uncertainty within the industry and deliver on a workable framework should  Brexit happen. In any possible Brexit deal, a ‘lead in’ period to the imposition of any new regulations will be required for Irish greyhound owners and trainers to be fully compliant with the requirements in the short term.”

213 greyhounds raced in the UK before returning to race in Ireland in 2018.

For further information, please contact:

Josh Prenderville

Communications Officer

Irish Greyhound Board

Green Park |Dock Road,

Limerick.

V94 Y17Z
Phone: 061 448126

Mobile: 085 2542120

Email:  josh.prenderville@igb.ie | www.igb.ie