The eagerly anticipated opening round of the 2023 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial took centre stage at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday Night last and it certainly didn’t disappoint with a number of top-class performances on show.
By Michael Maher
This was the tenth hosting of the Con and Anne Kirby Memorial Stake at the Track with 72 greyhounds starting in the first round on the night for what is one of the world’s richest juvenile events in the world.
What makes this prestigious contest that is kindly sponsored by JP and Nooreen McManus unique is its partnership with Limerick GAA and the prize fund that the McManus family have put in place for the GAA clubs of Limerick, each of the starting greyhounds will be allocated a nominated hurling, football, camogie, ladies football or handball team and the overall winning greyhound will earn its club a jackpot of €10,000.
A twelve race card greeted patrons at the same venue on Thursday night last where there was further training success for Myles Cummins of Newmarket-on-Fergus, he recorded a quick fire double with litter brothers Two Pints and Snuggie Jasper. Owned by the Duggan brothers from Quin, Seamus and Aiden, Two Pints who is a son of Paddys Magic and Miles Girl, recorded a personal best to land a sixth career win in 29.03, Snuggie Jasper finished strongly in an A2 contest to land the spoils in 29.32 to record his fourth career success.
The opening contest of the evening went to Malabar Jack for the Clarecastle pairing of Terry Moloney and young Damien Reidy who recorded his first career win, a son of Ballymac Anton and Cabra Laura, he finished well to claim the honours in 29.74.
Portdrine Magic made no mistake for Cratloe’s Liam Carroll with a 29.33 victory for an A3 contest, this was this son of Clonbrien Hero and Clona Lass third career win.
The journey back to Cooraclare was a sweet one of Ann and John Carey after Gower Pam entered the winners enclosure for a seventh time with her 29.91 victory, Pam is a daughter of Droopys Roddick and Clounanna Pam.
Last Thursday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium was headlined by the A2 garden ninth contest over 525 yards and from traps Mounvoor Lad led in the centre of the track and racing towards the opening bend he led form Pats Angela. The contest was in little doubt form an early stage as the Damien & Gary Pepper of Feakle owned Astro Kevin(Droopys Roddick-Teecee Clipper) made all to defeat Annadown Loki by five and a half lengths in 29.36. The winner trapped well in company with Annadown Loki and Larchill Echo but rounding the opening bend the winner opened up a two length advantage along the inner. Racing down the back Astro Kevin extended his advantage to over three lengths a lead he gradually extended from the crown of the home bend to the line.
Friday night’s card at the College Road venue was headlined by the Final of the Galway Greyhound Stadium A3 525 Yards Stake which carried a winner prize of €4000 supported by a high quality A1 525 with the First Round Heats of The Ann Cheevers Memorial A5 Stake dominating the remainder of the race card.
In the opening heat of The Ann Cheevers Memorial Stake all six runners were away on terms with Shesanicelady just holding a narrow advantage along the inner as they rounded the opening bend. Turning down the back Shesanicelady held a two length advantage over Menmal King with Rockmount Mia beginning to make progress from rear as the leaders neared the third bend. Between the final two bends the pack began to close on Shesanicelady and off the home bend the Shane Flanagan of Rockmount, Ennis owned Rockmount Mia (Droopys Jet-Rockmount Royce) sweet down the wide outside to lead close home and score by half a length in 29.89.
