Authority rules for Northern Hunt at exciting draghunt in Ballinhassig 

THE aptly-named Authority, from Northern Hunt, showed his class to win the Southern/Carrigaline Harriers Senior Draghunt at Ballinhassig.

Trained by John and Brion O’Callaghan, in partnership with Darren Clarke, the Northern Hunt hound found the best turn of foot to cross the tape ahead of clubmate Concord from Pat O’Leary’s Griffin United kennel.

The Joe and Gary Freyne-trained Not Now Nelson returned to his best form when snatching third ahead of Thomas Canniffe’s IHT hound Kayla’s Star.

Mayfield trainer Kyle McCarthy will be pleased with his reigning All-Ireland champion Son of Mossy who filled the fifth ticket ahead of Damien Wade’s Clogheen ace Slievemish Spring.

After watching his hound get up in the shadow of the tape, winning trainer John O’Callaghan couldn’t hide his delight.

“It was tight as Concord looked a winner a yard from the tape, but thankfully our hound showed true resilience to get up in the last stride,” said O’Callaghan.

It was close alsoin the senior maiden finish as Clogheen hound Jazzy Whizz and Killanetig Boy couldn’t be separated and a dead heat was the judge’s decision.

Jazzy Whizz had a tremendous campaign in the puppy grade last season and trainers Ryan Duffy and William Freyne will be pleased with his latest run.

Joe and Sean Hennessy of the IHT, will be delighted with the performance of Killanetig Boy as will clubmate Gerry Murphy who trained the third hound, Tiger.

In another good finish, Little Miss of Griffin snatched fourth ahead of Star Man and Comet, both running under the Kerry Pike/Fair Hill Harriers banner.

Despite the wet conditions, Ballygarvan hosted a successful puppy draghunt on Friday.

It was a good evening for Clogheen trainer Aaron Freyne whose charge Jamie’s Gem went one better than last week when taking the honours.

In a blanket finish, the winner edged out the Timmy McCarthy Kerry Pike/Fair Hill Harriers’ Sheares Park Has To Be Heard, who also filled fourth with Sheares Park Bring it On.

The Griffin United youngster Curly Sue was also part of the photo finish, but had to be content with third, with Star Boy and Guinness filling the minor places.

It’s been a good start to the season for winning trainer Freyne’s kennel.

“We went close in the first draghunt last week and she really had to dig deep in this one, but we are off the mark and hopefully its upwards and onwards from here,” said Freyne.

The Southern/Carrigaline Harriers club would like to thank the farming communities in Ballygarvan and Ballinhassig for their co-operation in the success of both meetings.

RESULTS

Senior: 1. Authority (Northern Hunt); 2. Concord (Griffin United); 3. Not Now Nelson (Clogheen); 4. Kayla’s Star (IHT); 5. Son of Mossy (Mayfield); 6. Slievemish Spring (Clogheen).

Senior Maiden: 1. Jazzy Whizz (Clogheen); Killanetig Boy (dead heat); 3. Tiger (IHT); 4. Little Miss (Griffin United); 5. Star Man (Kerry Pike/ Fair Hill Harriers); 6. Comet (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill Harriers).

Puppy: 1. Jamie’s Gem (Clogheen); 2. Sheares Park Has to be Heard (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill Harriers); 3. Curly Sue (Griffin United); 4. Sheares Park Bring it On (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill Harriers); 5. Star Boy (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill Harriers); 6. Guinness (IHT).