Sky’s the limit on Night of Champions
The question is though – is Sky taking over the Kingdom for the night, or is the Kingdom taking over Sky? A bit of both says Liam Lynch who, along with track manager Declan Dowling, is the guiding light behind the night.
“When we saw the level of expertise they bring to things it was a bit of an eye-opener for us but once Sky saw for themselves the ideas we had for making this a different kind of a night, I think it opened their eyes a bit as well.
“They are the very pinnacle of sports broadcasting and greyhound racing forms a strong element of their programmes – they have 29 shows through the year, all in the UK as it turns out, none in Ireland. Their normal arrangement is to just show the eight races, go from one race to the next, promote greyhound racing in that manner and they do a great programme on that. But we wanted to make this a unique event, even on Sky.”
And unique it certainly will be, Sky’s vast audience introduced to a new spectacle entirely. “We wanted to show that the tentacles of sport can reach very deep into the fabric of a people, and also that sports can be intertwined.
“Here in Kerry it’s gaelic football and greyhound racing, and there’s a much broader social context to all this in that it helps to give us our sense of identity. We want to highlight how strong the two sports of greyhound racing and gaelic football are in Kerry, how important they are to those at home but also how important they remain to those who emigrate to the various places around the world.
“This is part of who we are in Kerry, it’s part of our identity.”
Gaelic football is the sport everyone in this country most closely identifies with the Kingdom, and it’s set to benefit on the double. “Firstly, because it’s used as a key fundraiser for Kerry GAA with up to €100k raised depending on the year, and secondly because Kerry GAA and its stars are being promoted right across the globe.”
That involvement of the Kerry county board and of the players has been an integral part of the Night of Champions for the last two years (Liam himself was the main sponsor of the main race for the last four years) but this year, with Sky’s involvement, there’s a new twist again – the overseas dimension.
“As soon as I suggested the diaspora angle to them they took their cameras down to Kilburn in London to interview Christy Kissane in his pub and to involve the Kerry people over there. We’ll be linking up on the night with Kerry associations at six different venues around the world, in Kilburn, Dublin, Bermingham, New York, Boston, Sydney. This is their night too.”
Okay, so what’s the card like on the night? Top class, says Liam. “It will be the best card of canine stars seen in the south for a long time. There is a very strong UK contingent headed by next year’s derby favourite Bubbly Phoenix for the main Race of Champions, a prize of €15,000.
In addition, well-known local breeder Liam Dowling is giving a very well bred pup to the Sky crew with any prizemoney going to the Ireland and UK retired greyhound trusts.
This pup's progress will then be followed and shown by Sky, the Racing Post and the IGB (Irish Greyhound Board) via their websites, Facebook, twitter etc on a monthly basis over the next 12 months, bringing a whole new potential audience to greyhound racing.”
All in all then, says Liam, a big night not just for Tralee but for the country generally.
“From a tourism viewpoint it’s a major PR boost. The largest UK greyhound syndicate for example, ‘The Champagne Club’, is bringing up to 100 of its members; on top of that we’ll have an audience of hundreds of thousands on TV. Tourism Ireland have come on board and is using the event to highlight how sport will form a major part of their ‘gathering campaign’ for 2013.”
And for the ladies there’s a Best Dressed competition, with a €1,000 prize.
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