The 2015 Road trotting season concluded in Old Chapel Bandon in West Cork, Ireland and it was a day of “Firsts”.
Meadowbranch McCoy announced himself with his first win in the featured Grade A. First season jockey Jamie Hurley recorded his first double and Meadowlands Falcon secured the coveted Horse of the Year award and his trainer Jerimiah O Mahony secured his first trainers championship.
Jamie Hurley secured his first double on the tarmac in the opener aboard Lakeview Allstar who ran his rivals ragged in a manner that would suggest that a top class career is in store for this talented type.
Hilton Sprinter who Hurley rides for his father James was another who employed “catch me if you can “ tactics and this win cemented the talents of the up and coming rider.
Meadowbranch Mc Coy a winner of the grade B in Ballydehob stepped up to the plate in the Grade A to deny Stan The Man a winning departure to the retirement paddocks.
McCoy under Ciaran Brickley had to do it the hard way setting a relentless pace which in the end proved the measure of his rivals.
The meeting of “Horse of the Year” Meadowlands Falcon and the unbeaten Camden Jimmy in the Grade C was looked upon as a classic match but Rhyds Ponder with Deirdre Goggin in the plate made a mockery of the script with Goggin giving the winner a master ride and wining easy.
After another successful season the turf season is set to begin at Inchadoney Beach on Sunday May 17th a week later than originally planned due to tidal conditions and the ITHRF have organised a novel sweepstake called “Grab A Grand “ with tickets on sale from club members.
by Tim Kelleher, for Harnesslink.com
RESULTS
GRADE E (Brian Wilson Cup)
1. G Hegarty LAKEVIEW ALLSTAR J Hurley
2. S & T O Reilly RINGO LADY Deirdre Goggin
3. C Brickley MILLERS BOY D Brickley
DIST 3l 1l SP 4/5 3/1 6/4 4 Ran
GRADE D DIV ONE (Paddy Desmond /Jerry O Mahony & Pat (PJ)Collins Cup
1. O Reilly / Hurley BEAUTYS HARMONY J O Reilly
2. C O Leary SEODEEN Deirdre Goggin
3. D O Callaghan LITTLE BENJIO M Goggin Jnr
DIST 6l 4l SP 4/6 6/4 3/1 4 Ran
GRADE D ( DIV TWO )
1. J Hurley HILTON SPRINTER J Hurley
2. J Manning LAKEVIEW WALTER M Aherne
3. F & S Brickley LAKESIDE ALERT D Brickley
DIST 3l 6l SP 6/4 6/4 4/1 4 Ran
GRADE C (Noel Ryan Trophy )
1. N Forbes RHYDS PONDER Deirdre Goggin
2. Marie Moloney CAMDEN JIMMY Owner
3. J O Mahony MEADOWLANDS FALCON T O Leary
DIST 6l 2l SP 4/1 5/4 5/4 4 Ran
GRADE A (Mick Twomey /Donie Barry & John D Crowley Cup)
1. Meadowbrach Stables MEADOWBRANCH MCCOY C Brickley
2. Marie Moloney STAN THE MAN Owner
