Just getting there is an achievement

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

Sixty four bitches and sixty four dogs go to slips for the first round of the Hotel Minella Oaks and the Boylesports Derby, the culmination of a season’s dreams. Just getting there is an achievement - “they’re all winners already,” says well-known trainer John Condon from Conna - each flying hound having won a Trial Stake to reach coursing’s holy grail.

But, having got there, no-one wants to fall at the first hurdle. Many will have turned down big money for their dog, in the hope that with a few wins in Clonmel, it could be worth a hell of a lot more.

First loser then, on the first day, Swanky Kim in the Oaks, and the disappointment was etched in the downcast features of Eamonn Hanlon, trainer for owner J.P. Prenderville, as they walked back to the holding area. “We had expectations, thought a lot of her after Glanworth. But we were beaten by our next-door neighbours, Liam Foley from Tarbert, so it’s not too bad.”

“It doesn’t matter who you bate, it’s all the same to you, as long as you win,” reckoned a relieved Liam. “We got past the first day anyway, that’s a big thing, get that over. Everything after that is a bonus.” Their expectations now for Lone Hyland? Reasonable, that’s all. “She’s fair, had a few problems, injuries, hasn’t a whole pile of work got.” At least JP has the consolation that Swanky Kim is a bitch, worth a few bob anyway later for breeding.

The dogs? “A dog is useless unless it wins the Derby,” reckoned one sage; the unwanted honour of being first to fall in that competition went to Earlyonemorning, beaten by Beyond Flashy, to set up another neighbour’s quarrel today. Flashy is owned by Tim O’Driscoll, Erin’s Own supporter from Glanmire; he will face Fawn Head in the second round, owned by the Head-The-Ball syndicate, also from Glanmire.

It’s an incredibly diverse occasion, this National Meet, accents from Kerry to Derry and all points in between, accents even from cross-channel, distinct London Cockney (“Go on my son!”) to flat-cap North of England. It has a cast of the most colourful characters imaginable, but on this day, none was more colourful than the man on the horse, Walter Dick. Truly resplendent in his red jacket and bejewelled silken cravat, horse turned out to Olympic dressage standard, decisions announced with a flamboyant flourish of the red or white flag, Walter is The Judge, in capital letters, the final arbiter of who wins or loses, and his call, especially in a close buckle, can make or break the dream. Day one may be seen as the shake-up day in Clonmel, a long way yet to the big-money finals on day three, but to the man on the horse, there is no easy call.

“Every day is serious, every course is serious. They’re all Trial Stake winners, they’re earned their ticket to Clonmel, this is where it’s sorted out, the best of the best,” said Mr Dick. Many would see the same of the man himself. Now in his early 60’s, Walter has been judging coursing for 39 years, including a decade of the Irish Cup. This is his first time getting a shot at the National Meet however, and he’s thrilled. “A hell of a buzz. Early on, it’s like the start of an All-Ireland final, everyone is a bit hyped, there’s a lot of noise, but eventually everyone settles. I’d be chatting to the lads at the top of the field, take a drag of a fag every now and again as well. I go up there, I’m just myself, talk to any tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, that’s me. I don’t make meat of one man, fish of another, there’s no big man, no small man, they’re all the same to me, all these owners and trainers.”

Down at the other end of the field, where another veteran, Tom Murphy, is also proving his fitness with a series of near-faultless slips, before any dog is allowed take the field, they must first pass muster with Michael Lonergan, at passport control. “Begod you’re a hard man to get to meet,” the wry comment of PJ Galvin (a reference to how difficult it is to get to Clonmel), as Michael, official title Control Steward, checked out the papers of Beaufort Flyer.

Like Eamonn Hanlon, like Earlyonemorning, PJ and Beaufort Flyer didn’t make it past the first day, though the Flyer did press his case right to the wire against Kilty Rover. “Stick it out, you fecker!” roared Kilty’s handler at the monitor in Michael’s hut, and Kilty duly did. So, good news, bad news, mixed news for others.

Young Suzanne Lynch, daughter of trainer Barry Lynch, showed a fine turn of foot after one buckle to catch Cuban Boss, one of the favourites for the Derby and a winner yesterday, but that was quickly followed by disappointment, as another of her father’s runners, Baron Express, was beaten three courses later. “I’d say he got up,” Suzanne sportingly conceded to the handlers of Murty’s Blaze, even before Walter flourished the flag, and she was right.

Such are the fluctuating fortunes of the participants, as the 80th running of this magnificent event hits its stride.