Hunter makes history

HISTORY was made yesterday when Marshals Hunter, owned by Billy Roche from Clonmel, trained by his wife Marie, and nominated by Mrs Ann Flaherty from Clonmel became the first greyhound to win the Freddie Warrell Memorial Ladies 40th International for the second year in succession.

The winner, a 5-1 chance before coursing, defeated Market Protected by four lengths in the final to take the €3,000 prize.

The big disappointment for punters was the elimination of the 5-2 long odds favourite Oroko, who went unsighted in his opening buckle with Helens Girl.

Oroko’s elimination then handed the advantage to Market Protect, who had a a fair bit in hand over his opponents in the top half of the draw and Marshals Hunter, who looked good in his opening two runs and then had his semi-final opponent, Howya Princess, go off-line in the run up.

In the decider Marshals Hunter was smartly away from slips to have a four length advantage for the opening turn, and although he cramped after a further score, the tired loser never looked like working off the advantage.

It proved third time lucky for the Campbell family from Clonaklity, Co. Cork when Lady Tullamore, jointly owned by Michael and Club Secretary Trina Dorgan, was an impressive winner of the Ann Power Memorial Champion Two Course Duffer Stake.

In the final, against a very tired Princess Ash, she took the opening score by a wide margin and had nearly every score afterwards.

Marion Campbell had a runner-up in the stake ten years ago and five years ago divided it with Micky ‘Jilly’ Ryan, so yesterday’s success was not out of turn.

The first course, at a well attended and well run meeting, went up after a heavy snow shower at 11.43.

Despite mixed weather afterwards, he meeting was completed by 3.56.