Irish Coursing Club

The following greyhounds have been officially withdrawn from the 2012 National Coursing Meeting.

BOYLESPORTS.COM DERBY
Montalto King
Capfield (res)
Charlemont Mills
Serene Dilemma

GREYHOUND & PET WORLD OAKS
Listowel Lady (res)
Kingsmill Eve
Alainn

CLASSICS CLUB CHAMPION STAKES
High And Mighty

Never did we need such help to pick a winner !!!.

The Powerstown Preview. Hotel Minella. 9.30pm this Sunday.

Admission Free.

Followed by Light Refreshments and Heavy Hors d’oeuvres

Lovely and bright day at Powerstown Park. Great sense of anticipation about the place.
The Powerstown Park staff and local committee have the place looking superb. The new boxing shed worked really well at the trials. It is now almost parallel with the Slippers Hut. Hares run a straight line into it from the back run. Before they had to do a full right hand turn into the old boxing shed.

The field on the right as you drive into the Owners & Trainers car park is back in action too for handlers to walk and exercise their dogs. Big drainage job done on it during the summer. New addition is a bridge that brings you right into slips from this field. It will be well signposted on the day.

Came across Nigel Quinn cleaning the windows in the Club Stand. No doubt he was thinking of what might have been. Had a comrade of Cuddly Man, Cassiebeag, Laughing Lady and Let Me Call but alas he will be watching the action from the stands. However himself and his great friend Christy Browne will celebrate on Wednesday if Maughera Times throws a Classic winner.

As I’m chatting to Nigel a tractor and trailer pass by the Club Stand with a huge load of sallys. If the hares manage to get through all of these they will give the greyhounds a mighty run for their money next week. They are eating hay this year too. Top quality hay. The lads tell me it smells so nice you would eat it yourself. It is a nail biting time though for the local committee. They won’t relax until every hare makes it home safely under the escape.

Down below the vans from the catering company are moving in. Stocking up the shelves. Fair play they are doing a really good deal on the Soup and Sambo this year. Only €7, was €8.50 last year. Fine big mug of homemade soup too. Their Hot Steak Baquette with sautéed onions & relish goes down a treat at Thomond Park so if it’s good enough for Munster it should be well worth a try.

Back in the office we get word that Charlemont Mills is out of the Boylesports.com Derby. Heartbreak for Kevin & Carol Rooney. They bought him after his trial stake win at Crohane. He was known as Battstreet Tiger then. Bad news for them but good news for Wood Hyland who comes in as reserve.
Not long later Michael O’Donovan is on the phone. The rumours about the local hope Serene Dilemma are true and he is unable to take his place in the Derby. A few days ago Liam Dowling rang to know what time on Monday he would get his trial for the reserve D Ballymac Bex. Now he is in the Derby.
And then the first big casualty of the Greyhound & Pet World Oaks. 10/1 shot Kingsmill Eve ruled out through injury. Many pundits thought she could give Michael Fitzpatrick & the Roches an Oaks trophy to go beside the one from Dynamo’s Derby win in 2009. The reaction of John Scully owner of Reserve A Volga Flow on hearing the news spoke volumes about how genuine coursing people are. “Kingsmill Eve gone ?. That is very sad for the connections. I was so looking forward to her meeting Fiery Sunset on Tuesday morning, two great bitches”.

As I leave the office I see the Presentation Jackets which Kathleen from Greyhound & Pet World sent up last week. DJ has already reminded me not to forget them on Wednesday. He was in Kilsheelan last November when I had a panic attack after realising I had left the jackets at home. I will have them in Powerstown ok but who will be wearing them ????

If you are in receipt of an Admission Ticket for the National Coursing Meeting please ensure the authenticity of it’s origin.

Any forgeries detected will be confiscated and reported to the Gardai.

If advance ticket sales are any indication then there should be a huge crowd at Powerstown Park next week for the 87th National Coursing Meeting.

There was a huge uptake on the facility to book tickets on-line and the ticket centre at Davis Road report that ticket sales are way up on the last few years.

The special 3 Day Admission Tickets will remain on sale up to close of business tomorrow but must be booked through and collected from Davis Road.
Normal Admission will be taken at the turnstiles on all 3 days.

It is expected that tickets for the Lodge Gate Car Park will be sold out by lunch time tomorrow (Friday) as less than a handful remain. Once again these must be collected from Davis Road by close of business.

Local hoteliers and guest houses also report that bookings are very heavy and the No Vacancy sign has gone up on most establishments.

The draw for the 87th National Coursing Meeting took place in Clonmel tonight in front of a huge attendance. A big thank you also to Lar Sutton for the live stream.

There is always one course that gets a reaction from the crowd and in tonight’s case it was the pairing of Updown Abu and Solid Monk in the Boylesports.com Derby. Both greyhounds qualified on December 27th and are on most short lists.
However that was just one of many coincidences on the night, not all of which will have made connections happy.

Tilt Your Skirt was drawn out second in the Oaks. Her dam Tilt Your Kilt also ran on the white collar in the first course of the 2009 Oaks.

UK based Irishmen Patsy Byrne and Brendan Keogh will do battle in the second quarter of the Derby with Wise Call and Prime Example. And then they have to do it all again in the third quarter with Path Of Peace and Offshore Eoin.

With three runners in the Oaks, John Flynn was able to guard only two. And yes, unfortunately his guarded runner Awe And Wonder got drawn against his unguarded Naughty Lady.
Likewise Paul Matthews will be bringing both runners to slips for the second last course in the Derby. He trains Ashmore Master for the Derby sponsor and Here Comes Harry for Neil Herbert.
At least John and Paul are guaranteed a runner on Tuesday morning.

So now the stage is set and with the draw one night earlier than usual everyone has even more time to study it. Don’t forget to buy your Sporting Press this Thursday, it’s the special National Meeting edition with all the build up to the big event.

CLONMEL & DISTRICT OPEN
Sunday 29th January
Judge: Liam Kelly
Slipper: Richard Brannigan
Meet in Ballyclerihan Village at 9.30am
First Brace in Slips at 10.00am sharp.

NATIONAL COURSING MEETING
Monday 30th Jan, Tuesday 31st Jan and Wednesday 1st Feb.
Start 11.30am each day.
Judges: Liam Kelly and John O’Connell
Slippers: Martin Murphy and Richard Quinn
Monday: Commence with Oaks. Interval. Derby. Spirit of Mischief Stakes.
Tuesday: Oaks, Derby. Interval. Oaks, Derby, Kitty Butler Stakes, T.A Morris Stakes and Keen Laddie Stakes.
Wednesday: Complete Card.

The following are the Classics Club 600 numbers which were drawn last night.
These members must wait now until tomorrow night (Sunday) to find out which greyhound they will have running for them at the National Meeting.

The first number drawn in the Oaks i.e 400 will have the greyhound that is No 1 on the card in the Oaks and the last number drawn i.e 482 will have the greyhound that is No 64 on the card. Same for the Derby.

GREYHOUND & PET WORLD OAKS
400,51,130,386,327,416,306,119,326,504,
447,46,85,519,405,104,505,380,406,489,
216,321,190,297,198,59,261,263,52,5,
514,115,8,502,41,388,375,433,222,452,
37,32,358,60,304,404,89,129,315,125,
348,439,144,238,550,410,221,17,341,114,
496,469,376,482.

BOYLESPORTS.COM DERBY
95,578,372,84,494,428,288,148,193,525,
270,243,49,290,412,484,126,556,409,170,
286,244,156,2,211,384,282,13,251,134,
583,200,78,194,442,72,549,413,86,597,
117,557,27,454,374,26,323,561,137,446,
441,535,301,392,503,544,71,534,347,289,
277,191,7,285

A big thank you to all 600 Members for supporting this year’s draw and Best of Luck now to those who drew a runner.

Finally, the Classics Club 600 Committee would like to sincerely thank the Waterford Coursing Club for being wonderful hosts of the draw in Portlaw last night.

The Irish Coursing Club Awards Night is moving out of Clonmel for the first time in 10 years.
The first Gala ICC Awards and Dinner Dance was held in Clonmel in 2003 and this popular end of season event has been held there ever since.
Multibet was crowned Coursing Greyhound of Year in 2003 following his back to back victories in the Champion Stakes.

The beautiful 4* Charleville Park Hotel in Charleville, Co Cork is to be the venue for the 2012 Awards Night on Saturday 24th March.
Full details of ticket prices etc will be available around the time of the National Meeting but for now the message is to book your hotel room quickly as there is sure to be a big uptake on same.

We are delighted to announce that Kevin’s Gourmet Trail Award will be presented once again this season.
The Award is kindly sponsored by Kevin Smith and will be presented at the ICC Awards Night in the spring.
Previous winners include the ladies from the Lixnaw and Listowel coursing clubs.

The Award is for a Ladies Committee which has gone the extra yard to provide refreshments at their coursing meeting for patrons.
Already this season we have been hearing of some excellent examples of this and no doubt there will be more likely candidates as the season progresses.

Anyone can nominate a Ladies Coursing Club Committee for the Award.
Simply write to the Irish Coursing Club, Davis Road, Clonmel stating the name of the Club which you wish to nominate and give a couple of reasons as to why that Club would be a worthy recipient of Kevin’s Gourmet Trail Award for 2011/12.
Include your own name and contact number also please.

And remember it’s not only about the food. Items like layout and cleanliness of the dining area, friendliness of the serving staff and the price of food and beverages are all taken into account when the judges decide on a winner.

So if you were impressed with the fare provided at some meeting you attended since 1st October then please get your nomination in right away !!!.

FURTHER ADDITION TO ORIGINAL NOTICE
Will owners and handlers please note that the correct muzzle and collar MUST be fitted before presenting your greyhound to the Control Steward.

ADDITION TO ORIGINAL NOTICE
Please note that Judges may request to examine a muzzle at the end of a course if it gives cause for concern. Please comply with this request to ensure the safety of the greyhound and most importantly the hare.

ORIGINAL NOTICE
It is the duty of the Control Steward and Slip Steward to ensure the appropriate coursing muzzle is fitted correctly prior to each course. It is not intended to cause offence to owners while undertaking this duty.
Owners/Trainers are advised to ensure the correct size muzzle (Bitch muzzle or Male muzzle) is fitted sufficiently tight to prevent a muzzle becoming dislodged on impact with the ground or other object.
The condition of the muzzle and in particular the webbing should be noted.
The implementation of this procedure is to protect the welfare of the greyhound and most importantly the hare.
Thank you for your co-operation.

D.J. Histon,
Secretary I.C.C.

Please note change to Rule.
What was THREE courses is now FIVE for the new season.

2011/12 Season
President: Brian Divilly
Treasurer: John Egan

Executive Committee:
Chairman: Brendan Purcell; Vice Chairman: Tom Mulcahy
Members: Berkie Browne, Brian Divilly, Liam Drennan, John Egan, Brendan Farrelly, Paddy Holohan, Pat Loughlin, Fran Mangan, Lexie Marmion, Damien Matthews, Tony McNamee, Gerry Meehan, Tom Murphy, Tim O’Donovan, Jimmy O’Regan, Eamon Quinn, Des Tighe.

Provincial Committee Chairmen:
Connacht: Lexie Marmion
Leinster: Tony McNamee
Munster: Jack O’Rourke
Ulster : Charlie McDaid

‘The Executive Committee at its meeting on September 22nd 2011 made the following appointments to the respective committees.

Finance and Management Committee
Chairman: Brian Divilly
John Egan (Treasurer), DJ Histon (Secretary), Fran Mangan, Damien Matthews, Gerry Meehan.

General Purposes Committee (Chairman to be appointed)
Liam Drennan, Pat Loughlin, Lexie Marmion, Tom Mulcahy, Tom Murphy, Jimmy O’Regan, Des Tighe, DJ Histon (Secretary)

Northern Sub-Committee (Two additional members to be co-opted)
Damien Matthews, Des Tighe, DJ Histon (Secretary)

AI Administration Committee
As General Purposes Sub Committee (except Secretary)
Chairman appointed by Executive Committee

AI Appeals Committee
To be selected by President and Chairman Executive Committee
Limited to five members.

€20,000 REWARD ...for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the injury and suffering of the hare released on video by Association of Hunt Saboteurs, alleging to be at Powerstown Park, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary on February 2010.

The hare in this video, which was released on the youtube website eight weeks following the National Meeting, is clearly restrained with a wire or thin cord, and appears to be convulsing. Closer inspection will show the hare is trying to escape from being restrained, and is possibly partly sedated or poisoned. Claims are made this video was taken during the third day of the National Coursing Meeting, February 3, 2010, but due to the constant presence of paddock stewards/other personnel, and other related details, this is extremely unlikely. A break-in to the hare park prior to the National Meeting was previously reported to the Gardai. The Gardai at Clonmel are currently investigating this act of cruelty. The Irish Coursing Club unreservedly condemns the maltreatment of this hare. We strongly urge anyone with relevant information to come forward on whoever perpetrated this act of cruelty to discredit coursing. Please contact the Clonmel Detective Branch Office *052 6122222* or the Garda Confidential number *1800 666111*

Bitch and litter inspections, both track and coursing, will take place on a continuous basis going forward. This practice is in keeping with maintaining the integrity of the Stud Book and to assist in verifying breeding data for all industry stakeholders. The format will entail inspection of bitches prior/post whelping and will be conducted by dedicated inspection staff.
The success of this activity is dependent on full co-operation by all.

Signed: Keeper of the Stud Book, D.J. Histon

In recent years, a neurological condition of greyhounds has been observed at University College Dublin (UCD).
This condition occurs in young dogs aged between four and 18 months, of both sexes, and often affects multiple animals in the same litter. The clinical signs vary in severity and type, but include any combination of dullness, weight loss, head tilt, unsteady gait, circling, blindness, aggression and vocalisation. The condition is invariably fatal despite treatment, and can be confirmed only by post-mortem examination.
Although the occurrence of this disorder in multiple animals of the same litter is suggestive of an underlying infectious cause, exhaustive research to date has failed to implicate the standard agents likely to be responsible. University College Dublin has examined cases over a number of years, indicating that the disorder continues to exist within the Irish greyhound industry.
UCD has recently obtained funding to undertake further investigations and would appreciate your help in identifying new cases. If you observe any of the above clinical signs, or have any greyhounds in which you suspect a brain problem, we would be grateful if you could contact us, in confidence, at the numbers or emails listed below. Individual cases can be discussed, and if warranted, clinical assessment and initial screening tests performed free of charge.

Robert Shiel:
Telephone 01 7166000; or email robert.shiel@ucd.ie

Sean Callanan:
Telephone 01 7166152; or email sean.callanan@ucd.ie