Norris' Laurels delight: 'For the last five weeks, I’ve had two ladies in my life: my wife and Shivoo'
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: Pat and Helena Norris celebrating 38 years of marriage with their Bar One Racing Irish Laurels champion, Crafty Shivoo. Pic: Curaheen Park stadium
Crafty Shivoo became the first bitch in more than 30 years to land the Bar One Racing Irish Greyhound Laurels when producing a performance of star quality in Saturday night’s decider at Curraheen Park.
Ending that drought since Lisglass Lass won the classic in 1993, the daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Sanjose set herself on the road to history with a decisive move at the first bend.
Quite easy to back on the track in light of sustained support for the other local runner, Droopys Polish, she had what looked like a potentially tricky draw in trap four. When she had company racing into the opening bend, something a little special was required, and unsurprisingly given her record, she proved up to the task.
With grit, determination and an abundance of class, all attributes which have been a facet of her entire career, she accelerated sharply to lead around, and in a matter of strides established a clear advantage. Even in the prevailing conditions, it was quite evident that lead was all but unassailable.
Hazelhill Bucko emerged as the nearest pursuer going down the back but, in truth, the bitch was in complete control and, in difficult racing conditions, posted a fine 28.52. Hazelhill Bucko ran a great race to take the second spot, with Romeo Taylor denying Droopys Polish third spot.
“Absolutely thrilled – there are no words for it,” said an emotional trainer Pat Norris. “For the last five weeks, I’ve had two ladies in my life: my wife and Shivoo. We have a small team, and we’re so proud to get this bitch, privileged to get her.
“Starting out, everything was going well but then in the second round, on the night she won, she collided over at the second bend with Evolution and, my God, if you saw her leg. But she came back and qualified the next night, and we were so thrilled to get out of that situation. She has the heart of a lion.
“I was a small bit worried about the trap in the final as we’d have preferred to have been a small bit closer to the rails, but she did a sprint here and did 17.35, but not too many people knew that she did 5.03 down - that is something else – so we knew she had it in her. On the night, she did everything right.”
The bitch ran her last race in the UK as late as June 29 and so there was time pressure from the outset. Having had such good form prior to going to Britain, continuing in that rich vein across the water and coming back in the same form and delivering for a third trainer says a huge amount about the constitution of this lady.
Explained Norris: “She was sent to me with the intention of running in the Derby but then we decided that she might be in season for the Derby - and we were hoping she mightn’t come in while this competition was on, and lucky enough she didn’t.
“I hadn’t had her for long and I thought we were caught for time for the Laurels, but we said if she could get over a round she’d be getting better, and that’s what she did. This bitch is incredible.
“She settled in. Never an issue with her, any night. When she goes up to bed, she goes up to bed and that’s it.
“She has nothing else to prove, even if we have to pull the plug now. She’s a dream bitch to have.”
