IT must have been a close call but from a very strong field — where his main rival must have been Champion Stakes winner Windfarm — the Greyhound & Pet World coursing dog of the year award has gone to the courageous puppy Eoin Rua (Handsome Billa – Eoin Og), winner of the very competitive JP McManus Irish Cup at Patrickswell and the Keen Laddie Stakes at Clonmel.

WHY YOU MONTY, winner of the Local Stake at Rathcormac last season, was a decisive winner of the Ballyarthur Stake, the All-Aged event, at a well run Fermoy & Grange coursing meeting yesterday.