Limerick and Clare officer’s of GOBA Tommy Hegarty, Corona Ryan and Seanie McMahon presenting the Hall Of Fame award to JP McManus.
A PACKED Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night last saw the 2025 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial come to a head as the night belonged to Faypoint Ranger as he completed a clean sweep in the classic with what can only be described as a demolition job.
By Michael Maher
This was the third Kirby triumph in four years for trainer Graham Holland, the winners time was 28.05.
On the night, officers from the Limerick/Clare GOBA presented JP McManus with the hall of fame award. McManus and his wife Noreen are the sponsors of the Con and Annie Kirby Memorial.
It was a good night for the VHR syndicate from Kilmaley as their charge Highview Ben was the winner of The Jonbon Mini open Race worth €2,000 to the winner, the trainer is Paraic Campion from Thurles while syndicate members include Garry and Damien Pepper from Feakle, Clarecaste’s Tommy Hegarty and Seanie McMahon of Newmarket-on-Fergus.
At the same venue last Thursday afternoon, Aqua Bolt took the honours in an A6 graded contest with a 29.44 victory, owned by Tulla’s Michael McNamara this was career win number eight for this son of Malachi and Rockalong Aqua.
Fresh from a hat-trick of victories last week, Myles Cummins and Breda Casey from Newmarket-on-Fergus recorded a double, Snuggie Jasper made it two wins on the bounce and a remarkable twenty first career win with a 29.11 victory and the double was complete with Tiermana Sky, a daughter of Ballyhimkin Jet and Tiermana jetty who recorded her first career win in 29.53.
In the finale of the day, Inislosky Edwin took the honours for Mary Crotty from O’Briensbridge in a time of 28.89, this was career win number three for this son of Malachi and Tiermana Jetty.
In the opening semi-final of the Bet on the Tote Novice Stake at the Galway Track on Friday night last there was plenty of chat about virtually every runner but in the end the Keating Syndicate of Ennis owned Kilwest Diva made sure the Banner County had the bragging rights as the daughter of Ballymac Anton and Burgess Millie proved seven and a half lengths to good for Annaghdown Zita in 29.58. The winner was headed from traps by Blueskyangel but between the opening two bends the Gerry Holian trained lady switched inside the leader to take command racing towards halfway. Clear leaving the back straight Kilwest Diva powered up the straight all alone for a convincing victory.
Narrowly denied in the top graded A2 contest the Declan McDonagh kennel of Liscannor gained some compensation in the S8 graded sprint contest as the Paul Reid & Paul Horig owned Plagiarism (Ballyhimikin Jet-Galadriel) came through along the inner up the home straight to claim a length and a half success over Burnpark Maestro in 19.96. Blaze Banter led early before Burnpark Maestro took over approaching the opening bend. Turning for home though the leader drifted off the fence and this was enough to allow Plagiarism to sweep through and claim her maiden success at just the second attempt.
All six runners were away on terms for the S4 graded affair with the Harper Ward of Spanchill owned Mirabel the first to break rank on the run towards the opening bend. At the bend Mirabel held a narrow advantage over Hollywell Jaguar on the wide outside but as they straightened for home Mirable (Droopys Sydney-Cactus Sapphire) began to assert as she edged her advantage out to a length and a half at the line in 19.51.
Saturdays nights card at the Collage Road venue featured the W.G.O.B.A A5 525 Final which saw former Clare residents John Collins and Albert Long take the lion’s share of the prize money as they enjoyed a one-two curtesy of litter sisters Brickhill Rosie and Brickhill Aurora from the Ballymac Bolger-Twentylittletoes litter with Aurora proving three and a half lengths too good for her sister in 29.19. Racing towards the opening bend Creevy Bird showed pace along the rails but at the turn the striped jacketed Brickhill Rosie ran right round her rivals to join issue turning down the far side. Racing past halfway Brickhill Rosie went to the head of affairs and kicking clear exiting the back straight drew clear for an authoritive success.
The finale was also an A3 graded contest and in the early strides Donies Wood led along the inner from Burnpark Layla out wide with Laois Lighting also in contention as they approached the opening bend. Rounding the bend Donies Wood held his ground well but turning down the back the Gordon Vaughan owned Laois Lightening was now almost on terms. Racing down the back the Donie Duggan of Tulla trained Laois Lightening gradually took command of the contest and nearing the third bend the son of Ballymac Anton and Old Treasure led Burnpark Layla by two lengths. Maintaining the tempo Laois Lightening stayed on well to defeat Lissatouk Dave by two lengths in 29.63.
