Authority of Northern Hunt retains his International Senior Dragnunt crown at Watergrasshill
Gerry Murphy and Sheila Cummins of Shanakiel Harriers with Penny's Girl winner of the 2024 Senior Maiden International at Watergrasshill.
IN what can only described as one the best performances for many years in the sport of draghunting reigning champion Authority of Northern Hunt retained his International Senior crown at Watergrasshill on Sunday.
When this particular International meet is debated in the coming years surely the contributions of Denis O’Callaghan and Tristan Herlihy will be commended.
The original venue at Ballinascarthy didn’t meet the standard or requirements of the executive committee and in the space of three days the Fair Hill duo managed to put this course together.
The hounds were slipped at Watergrasshill and raced in the direction of Knockraha before making their way to the townland of Leamlara.
From this vantage point they headed north to Bartlemy before making their return to the finish at Watergrasshill.
After racing for 12 miles the hounds showed on the finish and it was the winner who had a slender lead but when the trainers put the call up Authority moved up a gear and landed the spoils in style.
Trained by John O’Callaghan the kennel also filled the runner up berth with Authentic with the reigning Senior All Ireland champion Tiger’s Boy in third.
Speaking after the draghunt the winning trainer praised joint owner Darren Clark who had travelled from the UK to witness this great day.
“To Darren, my son Brion and Dave McSweeney and his daughter Ciara this day is dedicated to their loyalty and help they give the kennel as Authority showed once again he is a dog of a lifetime,” he said.
In the Senior Maiden draghunt the Gerry Murphy and Sheila Cummins trained Penny’s Girl of Shanakiel Harriers was rewarded for consistency.
The long finish was not for the faint hearted as Penny’s Girl crossed the tape ahead of William Freyne and Ryan Duffy’s Clogheen ace Not Now Ike with Denise Rall’s Mayfield hound Magic’s Pride running a great race to snatch third ticket.
In the Puppy draghunt there was joy for the Griffin United father and son training partnership of John and Sean O’Sullivan trained Ozzy T.
In a driving finish that saw four hounds in with a chance of landing the spoils the winner found an extra gear to cross the tape ahead of Ballyhooley Boy representing the INDHA Cavan based association.
Martina McGrath whose hand is presently in a sling got a bit of cheering up when her charge Buccaneer of Northern Hunt finished an eye-catching third.
In the Puppy Maiden draghunt the honours went to the Ger and Jennifer Kenneally trained Jimmy Jack who saw off Misty of Shanakiel Harriers and Clogheen ace Not Now Al.
1. Authority (Northern Hunt); 2. Authentic (Northern Hunt); 3. Tiger’s Boy (Shanakiel Harriers); 4. Naoi (Shanakiel Harriers); 5. Sean T (Griffin United); 6. Blue Lad (Southern/Carrigaline Harriers).
1. Penny’s Girl (Shanakiel Harriers); 2. Not Now Ike (Clogheen); 3. Magic’s Pride (Mayfield); 4. Chloe’s Boy (Shanakiel Harriers); 5. Huntsman’s Sunshine (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill Harriers); 6. Knock’s Boy (Griffin United).
1. Ozzy T (Griffin United); 2. Ballyhooley Boy (INDHA Cavan); 3. Buccaneer (Northern Hunt); 4. Dingo (Shanakiel Harriers); 5. Not Now May (Clogheen); 6. Texas (Kerry).
1. Jimmy Jack (Southern/Carrigaline Harriers); 2. Misty (Shanakiel Harriers); 3. Not Now Al (Clogheen); 4. Slievemish Lord (Clogheen); 5. Lady Biggs (Shanakiel Harriers); 6. Not Now Betty (Clogheen).
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