FOLLOWING the completion of voting, officials for the National coursing meeting in Clonmel at the end of the months have been named.

CATUNDA Ashmore, who won his trial stake at Galbally last season and was beaten in the semi-final of the Boylesports Derby by Sandy Sea, returned to the Limerick venue yesterday and looks poised to take the Galbally Stakes, judged on his showing in the opening round yesterday.

REPRESENTATIVES of animal protection groups will today protest at the finals of the national coursing meeting in Clonmel.

CHASING Glory, jointly owned by Seamus Maher from Claremorris, Co. Mayo and Michael O’Donovan from Kilkee, Co. Clare, who won his trial stake here last season, but was surprisingly beaten by 50-1 outsider Be Over Quick in the first round of the Boylesports Derby, returned to Newcastlewest yesterday to take the Munster Cup.

IT’S a winter sport with a challenge, for spectators.

FOR the doggy men and women of the four corners of Ireland, this is their All-Ireland, their Cheltenham, their Heineken Cup, their Superbowl.

THERE was a major upset in the final of the all-aged Ballyarthur Stakes at Fermoy and Grange yesterday when the Bill Toomey trained Carraignagour took the prize.

GEORGEENA and Beyond Tivoli are two high profile absentees from the Hotel Minella Oaks, while 33-1 shot Murty’s Destiny misses the Boylesports Derby at Clonmel this morning.

FOR THE participants, day one of the annual National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel is the worst.

HISTORY repeated itself at the opening stage of the Clonmel Festival yesterday to provide one of the three big surprises in the first round of the Boylesports Derby.

AFTER a three year absence the J. P. McManus Irish Cup returns to Limerick with this year’s renewal getting underway at Limerick Racecourse this morning (11.30) and continuing until Sunday.

MICHAEL O’DONOVAN’S Derby hoodoo struck again yesterday when the Tipperary trainer’s Judicial Castelu was turner over by Danaghers Best in the Boylesports Derby final in Clonmel.