EAST CLARE had reason to celebrate on the greyhound front with wins for Gary Pepper and Donie Duggan.
Feakle man Gary Pepper’s Splendid Fellow trained by Paraic Campion won the Simons Bar Clounoulty A2 Final in a time of 29.08 in Thurles on Saturday
Tulla’s Donie Duggan had a treble in Limerick last Thursday. Droney Said No won the first in 29.47. Owned by The Donttellpettyciatgovernment Syndicate. The second leg of the treble was brought up with Four Fitz Cara in race four, the Talking Dogs A4 in a time of 29.06, owned by Shannon man Timmy Keane. The treble was brought in by the Peter Russell owned veteran and great servant Amys Jack in a fantastic time of 28.91. The four year old is a son of Skywalker Rafa and Notimetotalk.
Thursday night’s Galway card was headlined by the A3 graded eighth contest over 525 yards and from traps Jayden’s Lady began well along the inner and racing towards the opening bend the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained runner was chased by Lisk Robin and Guideys Bullet. Tracking well along the rails the Little Man Syndicate owned Jayden’s Lady set Saul for home racing towards halfway where she led by five lengths from Guideys Bullet but the bird had well and truly flown out front as Jayden’s Lady (Burgess Bucks & Crokers Wish) scored by five and a half lengths in 29.32.
Approaching the opening bend in the A6 graded contest Aulton Dana and Ballygarry Marie disputed the lead with Aulton Dana taking definite advantage rounding the opening bend. Racing along the back the Pat Hogan of Ennis owned Aulton Dana(Ballymac Anton and Springwell Pearl) led from Banter Buzz who closed to within a length at the third bend but the Vincent McKenna trained Aulton Dana went clear again to score by three lengths in 29.90.
The two semi-finals of the Ann Cheevers Memorial A4 525 Yards Stake were the twin features on Friday night’s card at Galway Greyhound Stadium.
In the second semi-final all six runners were away as one with Fast Fit Pennie just about shading the issue approaching the opening bend with Drombeg Max and Lissatouk Peggy in close attendance as they rounded the bend. Racing along the back Fast Fit Pennie continued to show the way to Lissatouk Peggy and exiting the back straight the John Quinn of Gort owned Fast Fit Pennie (Doratos Woo Hoo & Fast Fit Maeve) began to assert as she eased clear to defeat Lissatouk Peggy by four and a half lengths in 29.37.
In the A3 graded ninth contest Thisisthelife was best away in the centre of the track and racing towards the opening bend she led Cloneyogan Sydny by two lengths with Larchill Echo in third place. Racing down the back Thisisthelife continued to show the way until the Donie Duggan of Tulla trained Cloneyogan Sydney (Droopys Sydney & Tiermana Rum) closed on the outside between the final two bends and the Siobhan Garrahy of Lahinch owned runner eased away to defeat the dead-heating pair Thisisthelife and Larchill Echo by three lengths in 29.10.
The opening contest of then night was an A7 graded contest and from traps Cragataska Blue was away smartly in the outside as Hotana and Flyers Tornado also showed up well approaching the opening bend. At the turn the Michael Fitzgerald of Kilrush owned Flyers Tornado grabbed the converted rails berth and the son of Slippery Robert and Hopefull Catch opened a three length advantage on his rivals approaching halfway. Clear exiting the back straight Flyers Tornado kept on well to defeat Hotana by two lengths in 29.86.
In the early strides of the A5 graded 525 Bumblebee Hayley and Shanakyle Sally both showed pace to lead the charge towards the opening bend where Shanakyle Sally just about led as Bumblebee Hayley switched inside entering the back straight. Racing along the back the Shanakyle Syndicate of Parteen owned Shanakyle Sally opened up a three length advantage over Hollywell Flash and Bumblebee Sally but off the home bend that pair closed on either side with Shanakyle Sally (Maloachi & Aarons Sensation) lasting home by half a length from Hollywell Flash in 29.67.
