Classic tales of joy and despair
Over 10,000 people scoffed at the worst of the snow and ice as they trekked religiously to Powerstown Park, Clonmel for Day Two of the National Festival.
They were not to be disappointed as the Oaks and Derby lurched a little closer to their conclusions with a few shocks and loads of personal dramas unfolding, as is ever the case.
Smiles and throaty cheers greeted the winners while the type of faces that would give depression a bad name lay in wait for those defeated.
And with such things, the subplots were often more exciting than the main tale. Take for example the clash of a non-flying Dutchman and a Kerry isle, when Derby hopefuls Bergkamp and Skellig Rock clashed soon after 3pm. Ironically, the owner of the dog bearing the name of Arsenal great, Jimmy Roberts, resides in Tottenham while a Cork contingent are behind the ‘Rock.’ But such is the magic of the affair. In the end, the va-va-voom so loved by the Gunners, was sadly lacking, as the dreams of Bergkamp perished painfully on the Rock.
For those who wonder about the dedication and love of the game, then a word in the ear of the likes of Robert Ferguson comes highly recommended. Ferguson is one of the thousands of northerners who annually make the trip to Clonmel .
“I come down every year for the Derby and Oaks. We keep dogs back at home in Belfast, we race them around the North, around Lifford, Shelbourne Park and Harolds Cross but this is something else. We came down on Monday afternoon and we will go home today.
“The entire atmosphere here is amazing and has been since I started coming here in 1981. It is getting better ever year, the facilities are better, the class of dogs are no better, they are faster but they are not as genuine though. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Judicial Castelu in the Derby and Departing South in the Oaks.”
But Ferguson and a couple of thousand others had a little scare late in the day as Judicial was forced to draw on every ounce of power and strength to pip Cool Blues for the best course and the loudest applause of the afternoon.
With competition delayed until 12.30 due to the inclement weather conditions, many availed of the additional time to wander to the world of wonder that is the tented village at the rear of the stand.
Only 40 would buy you a rather fetching wax jacket, a welcome addition for many on this day. For those furthering the education of bookmakers' offspring, then a 5 stopwatch was probably the extent of the purchasing power. But the winner of the opportunist business of the year must go in the ladies targeting those gangs of men who had been forced to receive extended shore leave for this three day trip.
The stall in question, offered a ‘there and then’ engraving service on a variety of chains, necklaces and bracelets. And with Valentine’s Day looming large, the sizeable gathering of romantics grabbed the opportunity gleefully.
Mna Na hEireann, you will not be disappointed.
Sadly the same cannot be said for a group of Kerrymen whose enjoyment of Clonmel has been somewhat dented by the loss of a favoured watering hole. Sean Carr, was one man bemoaning the loss of and old friend.
“We are awfully disappointed as every year when we come up, we have our own Kerry bar under the edge of the stand. This year it is a bookies office. And all the North Kerry people meet there year after year and this year we are all spread out under this new bar. I think it is awfully wrong.”
Murty McMahon, the maestro from Ennistymon, was robbed through injury of a runner but lacked nothing in enthusiasm.
“There’s been two terrific days coursing, we couldn’t ask for anything better especially the showing. The coursing game is growing stronger,” said the Clare publican.
“The Monday crowd was the biggest I have ever seen and we have a huge crowd here today. It was a good day today with terrific coursing what more do we want.”
What more indeed.
