Cork Draghunting: Hannah Banana lands the big prize at Whitechurch
Ava O'Mahony with Hananh Banana of Mayfield, Champion Puppy of 2023 and joint winner of the Puppy All-Ireland Draghunt.
THE rise of the Mayfield hound Hannah Banana continued at Whitechurch on Sunday when she won the Michael and Noreen McCarthy Senior Memorial Draghunt hosted by Griffin United.
After winning the Puppy championship last season that included the Puppy All-Ireland crown she then came out in this campaign to win four consecutive Senior Maiden Draghunts that culminated in her promotion to the Senior top tier grade.
In the style of a promising young hound in her debut in the top tier she passed the acid test in style as she came from fourth on the finish to win going away from the Jamie Power Northern Hunt trained Gypsy King.
The ultra-consistent Tiger’s Boy of Shanakiel Harriers snatched third for his delighted trainers Gerry Murphy and Sheila Cummins.
For the winning trainer Troy O’Mahony it was time to reflect on a wonderful journey with his promising hound.
“I suppose when you end up as Puppy champion there is always a challenge for trainers whether their hounds will make the Senior grade and to be honest I was one of them as they are no guarantees in this sport but this is a great day for my family and I,” he said.
In the Senior Maiden draghunt there was joy for Tristan Herlihy and Timmy O’Callaghan when their charge Huntsman’s Sunshine landed the honours finishing narrowly ahead of the fast-finishing Jamie’s Dream trained by Aaron Freyne of Clogheen.
The William Freyne and Ryan Duffy trained Not Now Ike finished third with Riley, Penny’s Girl and Faye’s Lad the minor ticketing hounds.
The Puppy draghunt at the same venue proved to be a test of stamina for the hounds with the honours going to the Ger and Jennifer Kenneally trained Knockane Jack who notched up her second win of the season in style.
Recently the Kenneally family have added Ian Freyne to their training partnership and the winner certainly knows how to race to the finishing tape.
In another good finish, the winner saw off clubmate Samantha’s Dream from the Dave and Damien Kidney kennel with Mary Barrett’s Showtime Star finishing best of all to snatch third ticket.
Joe and Gary Freyne’s Not Now Betty of Clogheen led the remaining ticketing hounds Travel Star and Samantha’s Meg home.
The Griffin United club would like to thank the McCarthy family for their kind sponsorship in paying homage to their late parents Michael and Noreen.
There will be Puppy draghunt on Friday at Timoleague with a 6pm slip with the Michael O’Mahony memorial draghunt at Blackpool on Easter Monday.
1. Hannah Banana (Mayfield); 2. Gypsy King (Northern Hunt); 3. Tiger’s Boy (Shanakiel Harriers ); 4. Authority (Northern Hunt); 5. Blue Lad (Southern/Carrigaline Harriers); 6. Jamie’s Gem (Clogheen).
1. Huntsman’s Sunshine (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill Harriers); 2. Jamie’s Dream (Clogheen); 3. Not Now Ike (Clogheen); 4. Riley (Shanakiel Harriers); 5. Penny’s Girl (Shanakiel Harriers); 6. Faye’s Lad (Mayfield).
1. Knockane Jack (Southern/Carrigaline Harriers); 2. Samantha’s Dream (Southern/Carrigaline Harriers); 3. Showtime Star (Shanakiel Harriers; 4. Not Now Betty (Clogheen); 5. Travel Star (Shanakiel Harriers); 6. Samantha’s Meg (Southern/Carrigaline Harriers).
1. Sean T (Griffin United); 2. Zion (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill Harriers; 3. Eagle T (Griffin United); 4. Jamie’s Gem (Clogheen); 5. Tiger’s Boy (Shanakiel Harriers); 6. Naoi (Shanakiel Harriers).
1. Hannah Banana (Mayfield); 2. Huntsman’s Sunshine (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill Harriers); 3. Slievemish Bounce (Clogheen); 4. Penny’s Girl (Shanakiel Harriers); 5. Jamie’s Dream (Clogheen); 6. Not Now Ike (Clogheen).
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