Maldini and Pixie honoured with top awards

DROOPYS MALDINI and Grayslands Pixie were last night awarded the highest accolades in Irish greyhound racing when they were named the Dog and Bitch of the Year at the National Awards Banquet at the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge.

An attendance of almost 400 acclaimed the winners as their connections picked up their trophies from Finance Minister Brian Cowan.

Droopys Maldini had been a strong favourite to take the award but had serious rivals in Tyrur Ted and He Said So. Owners Laurence Blunt and Martin Wakefield were clearly thrilled as they stepped forward in company with trainer Frazer Black and breeders Sean and Michael Dunphy to accept the trophies.

It was the second award for the team as Patsy Blunt had earlier accepted the Brood Bitch award claimed by Maldini's dam Little Diamonduk.

Grayslands Pixie was very lightly raced and the Irish Oaks was her only event during the year. But the style of her victory in the bitch classic earned her the award ahead of Cals Tonic and Golf Crazy. Pixie is owned by Des and Elliott Whyte and was trained to her Oaks success by Bill O'Hare.

Mabels Dilemma, trained by Gerry Holian for Kevin Gates and Fergus O'Farrell, was named the sprinter of the year while De Eight Wonder was named the top stayer. He was trained by Paul Hennessy for Keith Doherty and Larry O'Rourke. Both the sprint and marathon winners were bred in Croom, County Limerick by Ken and Mabel Hogan.

As previously announced, Tony Fahy and Chandre Monerawela were inducted into the Hall Of Fame.