Draghunting is still a special sport for the people of Cork 123 years after first official meet

It was day to savour for the connections of Griffin United hound High Miss when she romped to an impressive win in the All-Ireland Senior Draghunt at Glenville on Sunday.

Credit to all concerned, they produced a wonderful course, witnessed by the biggest crowd for many years at this event and all hounds did their trainers proud.

The records show that the sport of draghunting was actually run late in the 18th century but looking through the archives, the first official draghunt took place in 1902.

Incredibly, 123 years later, the oldest outdoor sport in Cork has survived decades and the qualities of draghunting hounds was brought home to me standing at the vantage point of Sunday’s draghunt by a landowner.

I tried my best to explain what these hounds do on a weekly basis and with a wry smile the lady commented: "These are incredible animals". As I departed the road crossing to get into my car, there was a touch of satisfaction that a person who had never seen a draghunt before was actually praising the attributes of these hounds.

On Sunday, the hounds raced and hunted aniseed oil mixed with paraffin over 15 miles jumping ditches and crossing roads before coming on to finish over a tape.

Educating people about the wonderful aspects of the sport would maybe help keep it going for another century.

Positivity is a must and whoever is on the executive committee in the coming years must be prepared to do what Pat O’Mahony and Gary Freyne did in the space of two weeks in producing this magnificent course. 

Former chairman of the Cork City and County Harriers Association Frank Quinlan was a leader among men and ensured that he and his executive were respected at all times.

Draghunting is a unique sport but it’s only the attitude and work-rate of its membership will ensure its survival.

Winning trainer Donal O’Donovan followed in the footsteps of his grandfather Jerry ‘Fox’ O’Donovan, amazingly, 87 years later by winning the Blue Riband draghunt.

To all the winning hounds and their trainers congratulations well done and to the dedicated people that failed to fulfill their ambitions remember there is always next season to look forward to.

Senior champion: Sean T (Griffin United); runner up: High Miss (Griffin United).

Champion bitch: High Miss (Griffin United).

Senior maiden champion: Hannah Bawn (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill harriers).

Puppy champion: Slievemish Duchess (Clogheen); runner up-Mossgrove Rodger (Shanakiel harriers).

Puppy maiden champion: Tiger’s Belle (Shanakiel harriers).

Home Bred hound: Sean T (Griffin United) Puppy club champions: 623pts.

Senior club champions: Griffin United 262pts.

Maiden club champions: Mayfield 181pts.

Overall club champions: Shanakiel Harriers 696pts. 

Senior championship: 1. Sean T (Griffin United) 106pts (champion); 2. High Miss (Griffin United) 101; 3. Wolfe Tone Lady (Northern Hunt) 67; 4. Knock’s Boy (Griffin United) 66; 5. Wolfe Tone Lass (Northern Hunt); 34; 6. Ashcroft (Northern Hunt) 32.

Senior maiden: 1. Hannah Bawn (Northern Hunt) 55pts (champion): 2. Don’t Panic Lad (Northern Hunt) 53; Tadgh’s Lad (Mayfield) 53; 4. Slievemish Lord (Clogheen) 52; 5. Rodman (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill Harriers) 45; 6. Not now Betty (Clogheen) 44.

Puppy: 1. Slievemish Duchess (Clogheen) (champion) 110pts: 2. Mossgrove Rodger (Shanakiel harriers) 79; 3. Mexican Jet (Shanakiel Harriers) 73; 4. Kempest (Shanakiel harriers) 53; 5. Starman’s Son (Kerry Pike/Fair Hill Harriers) 49; Casey Jack (Southern/Carrigaline Harriers).

Puppy maiden: 1. Tiger’s Belle (Shanakiel Harriers) 70pts champion); 2. The Dreamer (Shanakiel harriers) 51: 3. Guinness Boy (Shanakiel Harriers) 44; Mossgrove Dodger (Shanakiel Harriers) 44; 5. Blue Rose (Southern/Carrigaline Harriers) 34; 6.Danganmore Tommy (Mayfield) 30.