Not now Al shows all his class to win the senior international draghunt at Aghabullogue

The display of running given by Not now Al of Clogheen in Sunday’s Senior International success at Aghabullogue brought many plaudits from the draghunting fraternity.

Trained by Gary and Nicole Freyne in partnership with Joe Freyne this hound has taken the sport by storm this season and his presently at the summit of the Senior championship.

The winner is out of the Slievemish Spring and Mrs. Briggs litter and is a hound that drives the hunt at pace.

Last season was a difficult one for the Freyne kennel as their hounds never showed the kind of form they had produced in their Puppy season but now with the hounds back on song they are dominating many draghunts.

In the finish of the Senior International Not now Al showed an incredible turn of foot to see off last year’s International Senior champion Knockane Jack of Southern/Carrigaline harriers.

Kerry Pike member James Green and his wife Joy were enjoying the warm conditions in Tenerife when their hound Starman’s Son ran a season best to snatch third ticket but it was still in the capable hands of Susan Walsh.

It has a been a good fortnight for this hound as he also won the Connan’s Senior Maiden draghunt in Monaghan the previous week.

Reigning Senior champion Sean T of Griffin United continues to show good form and he finished fourth ahead of Not Now May from the winner’s kennel with Zodiac Jack in sixth.

There was natural elation in the winner’s camp after the draghunt as Gary Freyne praised the determination of his hound.

“We are thrilled with Not now Al this season as he is a front running hound who has run consistently since the start of the season and to win a Senior International is always a special feeling, said Freyne.

In the Senior Maiden draghunt Border Mystery produced a well- timed finish to land the honours in a tight battle to the tape.

Thomas Canniffe has given many years of service to the sport from his west Cork base and he was duly rewarded finish runner-up with Travel Star.

The day got better for Shanakiel harriers when Mexican Jet made it a 1.2.3 with Lewis Lass filling fifth ticket for Mary Barrett.

Not now Betty from Gary and Nicole Freyne’s kennel was fourth and Mayfield trainer Andrew O’Callaghan filling the final sixth ticket with Midday Rambler.

The winning trainer has been in the sport for many years starting with the Carrigaline club Owenabue harriers before having stints with the disbanded west Cork associations IHTA and ICDA.

In the company of his wife Esther and granddaughter Emily they like nothing better than attending their weekly meetings and Barry was delighted with the performance of his hound.

“It’s good to win at any meeting but when you manage International success there is a special buzz to it and I am delighted for all my family,” said Barry.

The Puppy draghunt was another good race and this time the honours went to the Kyle and Callum McCarthy Mayfield trained Mossy’s Diamond.

In another good finish the winner saw off Blue Lilly from the Trina and Ken Long Southern/Carrigaline harriers kennel with the Tristan O’ Herlihy trained Starlight in third.

The O’Herlihy Fair Hill family did better in the Puppy Maiden draghunt when landing the spoils ahead of strongly fancied Clogheen duo of One day at a Time and Slievemish Queen.

Clogheen harriers will hold their second meet of the season next weekend at Stuake with the Puppy draghunt taking place on Friday at 7.30pm.

The Senior meet has a scheduled 3pm slip on Sunday.