Jennifer Kenneally collects first ever Echo Women in Sport award for draghunting

The Echo Women in Sport Award for June has been awarded to Jennifer Kenneally on helping to achieve a feat that has never been achieved in the 134 years of Cork’s oldest outdoor sport draghunting.

There have been many great feats since the sport of draghunting came to the fields of Cork city and county but Zodiac Jack from the Southern/Carrigaline harriers club won the Non HRA International in Cumbria on Saturday, June 20 and 20 hours later secured a second success in the Griffin United Senior draghunt at Whitechurch.

The trek to Cumbria started on Wednesday evening following a practice run at Donoughmore as the hounds departed Cork for 7am ferry trip from Belfast to Starnraer.

Arriving in Cumbria mid- afternoon on Thursday preparations were made to get their hounds prepared for the International meeting on Saturday afternoon at Edges Green.

Success on Saturday at the English venue saw the trek back to Cork in earnest getting underway for the midnight ferry at Stranraer back to Belfast.

After a 1600Km roundtrip Zodiac Jack was back on the Bandon Road on Sunday morning at 6am and after a walk around the Lough was kenneled up until 10.30 before setting off for Whitechurch.

The heat of the morning certainly affected many hounds but credit to Zodiac Jack she showed resilience beyond belief to cross the tape again in first place.

There is little doubt the resilience shown by Zodiac Jack was simply off the charts and for 38-year-old Jennifer and her father Ger this achievement is something dreams are made of as she recalled on getting involved in her beloved sport.

“As a child I had little choice but to go along with my dad and my grandfather who are lifelong members of the Southern harriers and early doors I attended weekly draghunts at various venues,” said Jennifer.

The first hound that Jennifer got involved in training was called Faultless but in a well-documented career but one hound sticks in her mind during the early years.

“Not what another Jack was a puppy All-Ireland winner with Belrose Jack, who was a serial winner with the exception of the senior All-Ireland but with too many to name we have been fortunate to have our fair share of success over the years,” added Jennifer.

The prefix Jack in the naming of their hounds is story of interest.

“I was told my dad was having a pint of Scrumpy Jack cider on the Bandon Road contemplating buying a pup of which of course he decided to purchase and he duly named the hound after the cider so all our hounds now have the the prefix Jack.” 

Presently, Jennifer and her father have Knockane Jack, Zodiac Jack in the Senior grade and Casey Jack in the Senior maiden grade but how does a lady get to love a sport as much as Jennifer does?

“You basically have to love what you are doing as we are living in an uncertain world and draghunting basically brings you solace on a weekly basis in the countryside.” 

Jennifer met her partner Damien Kidney in 2011 who is also a draghunting fanatic and they have been blessed with two children Conor (13) and Ally (6) and both are now following in her footsteps.

“My two children love getting the freedom in the countryside and for me you have got to have a passion in what you are doing as it’s a fantastic healthy sport.” 

The Kenneally family is completed by mother Theresa and brother Patrick who opted to play GAA with St Finbarr’s instead of following the sport that is central to the family activities.

“The sport of draghuting is not everybody as you need special dedication in the 365 days annually and my son Conor is playing hurling and football with St Finbarr’s and I have to be there to take him to training whilst taking in all Cork games so you could say there I haven’t a minute to blink with his commitments.” 

The participation of Women to the sport of draghunting is crucial and they are many female trainers presently in the sport.

“When I got involved you could count on one hand who was involved but nowadays there is a huge influx of ladies and the one thing, they all have in common is the love of their hounds.

“People might think that don’t understand our sport may come to the conclusion that it’s about hunting wildlife but in fact these hounds are athletes hunting aniseed oil and paraffin in a 10 mile course with the first hound to cross the finishing tape deemed the winner.” 

When Jennifer was contacted about winning this award she was rather emotional but in true sporting style she dedicated it to her family and everybody involved in the sport.

“I am honoured in getting recognised and I would like to dedicate it to my parents and my own family plus all the hardworking trainers involved in our sport.” 

On a final note, Jennifer believes the decision not to run during the warm spell shows the compassion clubs have for their hounds.

“It was the right call as these animals are superb athletes with great hearts as our Zodiac Jack proved on that famous weekend in June.”