Thumbs up as National Meeting changes course

The Executive Committee of the Irish Coursing Club made the ground-breaking decision on Thursday to change the format for the National Meeting held annually at Powerstown Park, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

Following this year’s event the committee took feedback from coursing enthusiasts and have elected to stage the biggest coursing event in the calendar on Saturday February 2, Sunday February 3 and Monday February 4, 2013.

The decision however is huge, a major departure from tradition because for as long as anyone can remember the meeting was held on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The last decade has seen greater and greater crowds converging on Clonmel for the annual three-day festival – why change it now?

Brian Divilly, President of the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) says “It was a tough decision, but also a no-brainer. “It was a unanimous decision by the board. It all came back to the recession – everyone is being squeezed, and when it comes to taking days off in the middle of the week, everyone is under pressure.

“The kids - they’re no longer able to take days off school, Leaving Cert points now hugely important; the students - getting a good degree is now the top priority; all those who are working. Every company is now cut to the bone, can’t afford to let anyone take days off anymore.

“We also had to consider the emigrants, those who have always supported coursing, who still fly back for their own local meetings at the weekend but who aren’t able to take three days off for Clonmel – now they can come back for the weekend and maybe sneak an extra day on Monday.

“This is the reality of Ireland today and we as an executive couldn’t continue to turn a blind eye to it, we wouldn’t have been doing our job. The only problem I can foresee – if you want to call it a problem – is that going by the reaction already we might have to make the Sunday an all-ticket affair, perhaps even the Saturday also.”

Anne Quinlan of ‘Quarrymount’ fame has been going to Clonmel all her life and she agrees whole-heartedly with the change: “I’m retired, Jim (her husband) is retired, so it makes absolutely no difference to us what day it’s on but I look at the likes of Lisa (her daughter) who are lucky enough to have jobs – they’re out coursing every weekend of the winter, then it comes to the All-Ireland finals and they can’t go, they can’t get the time off work.

“A lot of good coursing people are missing out, this gives them an opportunity to get to Clonmel. I’ll say this for Brian Divilly – he gets in there and he gets things done!”

Clareman Brendan ‘Gaisce’ Hehir, one of the most respected breeders in the game, also gives the move the thumbs-up.

“They should have done it years ago. Most people are off at the weekend, the local meetings are held at the weekend, that’s the time to have it. It’s the only way to go – about time.

“You’ll get more people than ever going to it and the finals are still for the dedicated coursing people, on the Monday.”

The last word to Corkman Declan Murphy, a regular on the coursing circuit, who was also hugely enthusiastic: “I was always an advocate of the idea. It’s brilliant news and great for the working man. Times have changed and it’s nice to see the ICC having the vision to move with them.”