O’Brien ready to banish those Welsh World Cup ghosts *

image: joe.ie

WITH three provinces safely through to the quarter finals, the Heineken Cup is benched and attention switches to the Six Nations. First up for Ireland is Wales. Four months on from that devastating World Cup exit at the hands of the Welsh, a rematch in the Aviva offers a chance for catharsis perhaps.

That’s how Sean O’Brien sees it. The Tullow man who was Europe’s best rugby player last year is focusing on the positives and not dwelling on the past. He, and the Irish team, have to move on from the pain of that defeat and focus on the task at hand. It’s a new year and a new competition.

“I think it’s an exciting time for Irish rugby because we are really hurting from the World Cup exit and I think we did let ourselves down a little bit that day against Wales. The lads will want to put that right so it’s an exciting time ahead and we will look forward to it all over again,” he says.

image: holyschmoke.com

His first World Cup wasn’t an entirely bad experience despite ending in the bitter taste of defeat which lingers. He feels that they didn’t do themselves justice and had so much more to offer in the competition.

Good experiences count for nothing in sport. Drive and ambition ensure that winning is what counts and there is a sense that the World Cup quarter final is the one that got away.

“It was a brilliant experience over there and we played some brilliant rugby and we really showed what we can do at times but having said that we went over there and we didn’t really achieve anything. When you go over to a World Cup you go over to win it,” O’Brien states matter of factly.

Bitterly disappointing as that may have been, O’Brien isn’t one to dwell on the past and banishes negativity. The victory over Australia was one of the greatest moments in recent Irish rugby history and it and other positive aspects of Ireland’s time in New Zealand are what he prefers to think about.

“We didn’t really go over there to get to a quarter final and get beaten so that’s disappointing but we can take positives out of it and take some of the good stuff we did over there and build on it now for the Six Nations,” he adds.

Getting back to playing with Ireland and the challenge of focusing on a new competition is something that O’Brien is relishing. “It will be good to get in to camp with each other and start working on the different aspects of what we want to do for the Six Nations.”

image: telegraph.co.uk

He has been starring for his province in their march towards the Heineken Cup quarter finals, in their quest to join the elite of European rugby and win back to back titles. Now he has to make the transition to the national team and change from playing one style of rugby to Declan Kidney’s game plan. It may be a little difficult at first but, as he explains, it’s part of what playing rugby at the highest level is all about.

 “The transition is a little difficult because Leinster have a different game plan than Ireland have but that’s just you as an individual getting your head wrapped round those things and getting the knowledge right on both fronts.”

Ireland began their preparations for the Six Nations last week and that time is vital for getting reacquainted with the Irish way of doing things. “It is a little bit of a task for your mind to know all the different line outs and calls but that’s all part of it and you have lots of time to readjust when you go into camp and it gives you plenty of time to get your head sorted for that.

The preparations, not just for the game against Wales, but for the entire tournament, mean that training camp is intense and hard work but there is a little time off to get rest and perspective but what exactly will the next few weeks entail for Sean?

“You are training so much and you have meetings and video work so you never really have a dull day. You get a day off, one day out of the five, as well so you can do what you like. I’ll probably come back home here for those days but different lads do different things and some lads stay up here.

You’re not moping around the hotel for six or seven hours a day, you’re out training all the time and working hard. As well as that you’re getting you’re head right for all these games coming up.”

image: independent.ie

Many accolades have some Sean O’Brien’s way over the last two years but what does the man who was Ireland’s player of the year in 2011 and one of the tournament’s top five star players believe are his best attributes?

“I think my ball carrying is probably my strength. I think in defence I’m good at organizing hopefully…well I’d like to think I am anyway! I’d always pride myself on my workrate and on not being lazy.”

However despite all the accolades and hype he believes he still has room to grow and improve. His work ethic, so evident on the pitch, is a huge part of his life and training regime and his appetite for improvement. “There is so much stuff that I’m working on in training. I’m working on the ruck area at the moment. I try to improve the whole time.”

The pain of that Welsh defeat hasn’t gone away and it will be to the forefront of so many minds, inside and out of the Irish camp, over the coming days. That hurt is a powerful motivational force and something O’Brien and Ireland will use to their advantage when they front up against the Wales team on Saturday. Another powerful motivation is being a team and winning for each other and the fans.

“Sitting in a changing room after winning a big game is one of the best feelings. The whole part of being a team and being together and winning things and listening to 40 or 50 thousand people cheering you on and putting a smile on their faces as well is a real big motivator.”

With all these aspects coming together Sean and the Irish team are determined to put right what went wrong in Wellington. Wales have been warned.

* This article first appeared in The Nationalist 31 January 2012

Ireland's Rich Cheltenham History *

 THE history of the Irish at Cheltenham is a rich one, reaching back through the generations. Countless stories abound of legendary feats, both on and off the hallowed Cotswolds’ turf. The heroes and villains, horses and humans and triumphs and tragedies of the past hundred years each have their own story to tell.

Cheltenham Festival Centenary 1911 -2011 An Irish Tribute, the latest book by noted racing author and historian Guy St. John Williams collates the stories of the exploits of the Irish at Cheltenham over the last hundred years. The author Guy Williams explains, “It’s a potted history of 100 years of the Irish at the Cheltenham Festival since it settled permanently at its present site. The book is written with a distinctly Irish slant and settles on the Irish horses and humans.”

This latest tome is the tenth racing book that Williams has worked on and he has brought to bear his experiences in the racing world on it. Through his career as a racing columnist and historian he acquired the store of knowledge and the stories that became the foundation of his latest book.

“I would have accumulated a lot of the stuff through the years and it was there if I knew where to look. I felt with the passage of time there were a lot of scattered references to the Irish at Cheltenham and that with the anniversary it was timely to try and pull the whole thing together and have it all there in one book.”

Over the course of the last one hundred years there have been many thousands of races run and a myriad of stories to tell. Naturally only a selection of the stories that illustrate the history of the Irish in Cheltenham could find their way into the book. “To tell them all would take many volumes so I cherry picked the stories and tried to get a mix of serious and light between the covers,” Guy adds.

His own personal Cheltenham highlight encompasses the quintessential nature of the Irish relationship with Cheltenham and with racing itself. Arkle, the greatest steeplechaser of all time, provides Guy Williams with his most enduring memory of the Festival.

“The outstanding memory of Cheltenham for me is when Arkle and Mill House met in the Gold Cup of 1964. It was the biggest and most hyped steeplechase. It was Ireland and England coming head to head to definitively sort out who was the greatest.”

After studying Business Studies in Trinity College and embarking on a career in marketing his present career seems a departure from that path but it was hinted at by his genes. “My parents decided I was a throwback to my great grandfather who had horses, one of which was Red Prince who won just about everything he started for on the flat and over fences.”

He is well qualified to tell this tale, having a long and varied involvement in racing, beginning a twenty year career as an amateur jockey in 1986.  Guy Wiliams has also owned and trained racehorses as well as working as a racing official. He published his first book History of the Irish Derby in 1980 and since then has published fourteen more titles.

The love and interest in writing also has a familial origin, as one of his ancestors was the inspiration for Buck Mulligan in Ulysses. “My maternal grandfather was Oliver St. John Gogarty so you could say it is in the genes.”

It could also be said that racing and Cheltenham are in the Irish genes and in his book Guy Williams not only tells the story of the history of Irish involvement in a sporting event also but of Ireland itself.

* This article first appeared in The Nationalist 31 January 2012 

Hurricane blows them away at Leopardstown *

Hurricane Fly jumps the last in the rain at Leopardstown image: telegraph.co.uk

LEOPARDSTOWN witnessed the return of the king on Sunday as brilliant hurdler Hurricane Fly retained his Irish Champion hurdle crown with a scintillating performance. Willie Mullins’s eight year old gelding hadn’t been seen on the track since adding the Punchestown title to his Irish and Cheltenham champion hurdles last May but he was worth waiting for.

Setbacks meant that Hurricane Fly missed his seasonal debut at Punchestown two months ago and his reappearance was eagerly anticipated by race fans, anxious to see the champion. Reports from Closutton suggested that Mullins was finally happy with Hurricane Fly’s homework and all week excitement had been building about his return.

This excited anticipation ensured that a large crowd gathered around the parade ring in the pouring rain to catch a glimpse of Hurricane Fly for the first time in eight months. The relentless rain turned the ground heavier as the afternoon wore on and concerns about the champion’s ability to handle conditions saw his price drift to 4 / 5 favourite.

Mullin’s Thousand Stars, who had profited in the champion’s absence, took the field along at a good gallop in the hands of Paul Townend and Hurricane Fly settled in third as the field galloped their way through the mud. Hurricane Fly emerged from the gloom rounding the final bend cruising on the outside of long time leader Thousand Stars. Ruby Walsh sat motionless aboard as he glided past his stablemate and left a field of good hurdlers toiling in his wake.

image: skysports.com

Oscars Well put in an excellent performance to stay on strongly for second but he was six and a half lengths adrift of the imperious winner with Thousand Stars back in third. It was the performance of a champion and people rushed from the stands to acclaim him as he returned to a rapturous reception.

Afterwards a beaming Willie Mullins spoke of his delight. “He completely surprised me! I don’t know what the handicapper thought but it must be his best performance. They went a right good gallop and I’m not sure that he was enjoying the ground early on but Ruby said that once he put him into the race he just came alive. I was delighted with him, I couldn’t be happier.”

Mullins had some concerns over Hurricane Fly’s demeanour prior to the race. “He was very quiet in the parade ring before the race. Maybe he’s maturing but he was going round for Gail on the end of the lead rain and normally we have two people leading him up as he’s quiet tight. Early in his career we were worried about him coming into the parade ring and we were worried about how he would handle Cheltenham. Today he went round like a handicapper and I was a bit concerned that he might flop as my first two runners were disappointing.”

His fears were unfounded as Hurricane Fly put up the best performance of his amazing career so far to win his tenth Grade One and a return to Cheltenham in six weeks to defend his crown is next up and he should even come on for today’s win, according to his trainer. “I didn’t think so at home but to me that looked better than I’ve seen him before I’d be hoping that the race would bring him forward.” It’s a thrilling prospect for all racing fans.

Boston Bob clearing the last ahead of Lyreen Legend image:irishracing.com

Hurricane Fly’s victory was the highlight of yet another fantastic weekend for Willie Mullins. The Bagnelstown trainer seems in unstoppable form at present and he added another five winners over the weekend.

Just half an hour after Hurricane Fly he was back in the winners’ enclosure when Boston Bob was a hugely impressive winner of the Grade Two Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle. Given a clever ride by Ruby Walsh, Boston Bob moved stealthily through the pack as the field turned for home led by Lyreen Legend. Boston Bob jumped the last well and powered away from Lyreen Legend to win by four lengths. The second horse kept going well in the mud and Make Your Mark kept up to his task well in the horrendous conditions to take third for Mullins.

Afterwards Mullins revealed that Boston Bob was suffering in the heavy ground and his victory in those conditions is a sign of his class and potential. He couldn’t hide his pleasure at the horse’s performance and is looking forward to Boston Bob running at Cheltenham, either in the Neptune or Albert Bartlett novice hurdles, but more excitingly going over fences next year.

“Ruby reminded me of the day we galloped what we thought were top horses down at Thurles and next thing one of the young lads who was riding Boston Bob just wheels up between them and I thought this fella was a bit better than he’s supposed to be. We said we have a racehorse here and so he’s proved. I thought with his size and scope, that he could carry the ten pounds penalty today however at the third last I didn’t! He’s just a big strong chaser and we are really looking forward to him over fences.”

Sir Des Champs, Hidden Cyclone and Fists of Fury jump the last image:joe.ie

Mullins had a treble on Saturday with Sir Des Champs getting the better of a tussle on the run in with Hidden Cyclone and Fists of Fury to land the Grade Two novice chase over two and a half miles. Despite making a slight mistake at the last he remains unbeaten and Cheltenham bound, where he holds entries in the Jewson and RSA novice chases. He was making it three winners in a row for his trainer who took the first two races with Darroun and Aupcharlie.

Mullins wasn’t the only trainer to have multiple winners at Leopardstown with two Kildare trainers getting in on the act. Moone based Jessica Harrington trained the winners of three races including the weekend’s big handicap, the Boylesports.com hurdle.

It was a dramatic victory for Citizenship and Robbie Power and Jessica Harrington had given up on her horse’s chance as the race had gone so badly for him. “Everything went wrong. He nearly came down at the first. Robbie said that he’s never won a race where everything went so wrong. He was stone last passing the stands and I had given up on him when they turned out the back because I thought he’s never going to get into it and then he started picking up. He stayed on really strongly and was almost pulling himself up at the end.”

Citizenship image:irishracing.com

She also trained the winner of the last race on Saturday and the first on Sunday. Jezki was a good winner of the bumper and Burn and Turn proved her class and ability when staying on well in ground she hated to win the opening maiden hurdle. The filly needs good ground to be at her best but she won’t be making the trip to Cheltenham with Aintree or Punchestown on the horizon for her.

RTÉ presenter Ted Walsh landed a quick fire double on Saturday. There were joyous scenes in the parade ring as daughter Katie steered Seabass to victory in the Leopardstown handicap chase and the Kill trainer indicated that Aintree may be on the agenda for him.

“He jumped great and travelled well. I was bit concerned about the ground but he handled it well. If he stays he'd be an ideal horse for Aintree. He'll probably get an entry and there's the Irish National as well,” said Walsh.

He didn’t have long to wait for another winner as Mark Walsh partnered Colbert Station to victory in the very next race,  the Ryan’s Event Cleaners Beginners Chase, for owner JP McManus.

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist  31 January 2012

Wilkinson Gets Ireland Call Up

Brett Wilkinson image: irishrugby.ie

CONNACHT prop Brett Wilkinson was named in Declan Kidney's 32 man panel training panel today ahead of Sunday's opening Six Nations clash with Wales. He is one of four uncapped players who featured for the Irish Wolfhounds on Saturday whom Declan Kidney has brought into the squad for training this week.

Kidney was in Exeter on Saturday evening to cast a discerning eye over the Irish hopefuls and despite the weightier English scrum proving superior to the Wolfhounds, the Irish coach was suitably impressed with Connacht’s loose head prop to call him into the senior training panel.

The 28 year old Galwegians man moved to Connacht in 2005 and has played over 100 times for the province. He earned his first call up to an Ireland squad for the Autumn internationals in November 2009 but didn’t play. During that Autumn series he earned his first Ireland A cap and enjoyed the perfect debut, scoring a try. Wilkinson was also called into the Ireland squad for the 2010 November internationals to provide cover for Marcus Horan.

Wilkinson was born in South Africa and starred for the University of Cape Town before taking up a professional contract with Connacht. He is qualified to play for Ireland through the residency rule.

The other players hoping for the chance to earn their first full Ireland caps at the weekend are Leinster’s Dave Kearney, who joins his brother Rob in the panel. Their Leinster team mate Eoin O’Malley has also earned a call up along with Simon Zebo, who launched himself into the public consciousness with three tries for Munster against Northampton in the Heineken Cup last week.

Kidney will whittle the 32 man squad down to the match day 22 and announce his decision at lunchtime on Wednesday. Wilkinson and the other players called up today have a race against time to prove to the Irish coach that they are worthy of a place in the squad to take on Wale

Mullins Magnificent Seven *

Mikael D'Haguenet winning at Naas on Saturday image: irishracing.com

WITH the Cheltenham festival just seven weeks away, the Willie Mullins express train to Cheltenham gathered even more speed at the weekend with the Bagnelstown trainer recording an astonishing seven winners between the two meetings.

Even more incredibly five of the winners run in the colours of Susannah and Rich Ricci. All of their winners have Cheltenham entries as Mullins explained. “The main reason Rich has horses is to go across to Cheltenham.”

First up was Naas on Saturday. The highlight of his treble there was the victory of Mikael D’Haguenet in the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle. The former festival winner was on a recovery mission this season, having bitterly disappointed as a novice chaser last year. However Mikael D’Haguenet was notching up a hat trick of his own on Saturday and he looked to have all of his old swagger back as he easily brushed aside his rivals and sauntered to victory.

Afterwards Mullins said that Mikael D’Haguenet’s festival target was undecided. “He's getting his confidence back, and the conditions of the race suited him well. He's in the Champion Hurdle and the Stayers Hurdle and there's not a lot for him between now and then.”

Marasonnien gave a taste of what was to unfold over the next twenty four hours or so by winning the opening maiden hurdle at the Kildare track. His festival target will be one of the novice hurdles over a longer trip.

Gigginstown House Stud’s Midnight Game completed the afternoon’s success with victory in a competitive novice hurdle. He will have the chance to get the festival off to a flying start in the opening race. “He didn't enjoy jumping out of that ground, and I'd be hoping for plenty of improvement on dryer ground. I would imagine with his gears that he'll go for the Supreme Novices Hurdle.”

Blazing Tempo leads home Tranquil Sea image: racingpost.com

The unstoppable force moved on to Fairyhouse on Sunday where Vesper Bell’s opening race victory set the tempo for the day. Like Marasonnien twenty four hours previously he too will be stepped up in trip at the Festival and the Riccis will hope to run him in the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle.

The star of the show was undoubtedly Blazing Tempo, dubbed the ‘Iron Mare’ by her trainer. The Galway Plate winner has been on the go since that Ballybrit victory and she showed tremendous determination and tenacity to turn over odds on favourite Noble Prince in the day’s feature event, the Grade 2 Norman’s Grove Chase registering her first success at this level.

“She is holding her form and that was nice to win, given the ground conditions. I was very pleased with that but not sure where we’ll go She doesn’t have to go any where at this stage as she’s done more than enough. She’s an iron mare and has been on the go since Galway and been doing it in all sorts of ground. She’ll get an entry for the Ryanair Chase but I’m not sure if she’s good enough,” said a thrilled Mullins.

Another mare showed battling qualities as earlier on the card Ceol Rua had to dig deep to see off the persistent Shadow Eile in the listed mares’ hurdle. Fiona McStay’s mare will be aimed at graded race at Fairyhouse and Punchestown.

Champagne Fever comes home clear image: irishracing.com

Bumpers are synonymous with Mullins, especially the Cheltenham version, and he looks to have unveiled his leading contender Champagne Fever. Rich Ricci’s fifth winner of the weekend, was due to go hurdling after Sunday’s race but the manner of his victory has forced Mullins to rethink his plans and the grey now heads the betting for that race.

The express rolls on to Leopardstown this weekend. Expect it to gather more speed as Hurricane Fly is set to be unleashed. 

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist 24 January 2012

Colm Murray MND - The Inside Track

Colm Murray image:rte.ie

I’M sitting in front of my computer screen, streaks of mascara staining my face. I can’t write anything because every time I try to read my notes, my eyes well up with tears. I’ve just watched Colm Murray’s documentary MND – The Inside Track and seeing his battle with this incurable disease is emotionally charged. I remember so clearly my shock and sadness upon hearing that Colm Murray had MND at Punchestown in November 2010.

The documentary tells two stories. It is the story of Colm Murray and his battle against this devastating disease and it is the story of the fight against MND. The two are intertwined, inseparable from each other. The various trials and experimental treatments he participates in are as much about the war as about his personal battle.

There is no self pity on show here. His sense of humour is though. MND is progressive, incurable and terminal. Using a black humour and these words he refers to the disease as the pit because it sums up perfectly.

He removed himself from the air to try and deal with the diagnosis but a visit to Willie Mullins’s yard and some wise words from the champion trainer bought him a few precious months behind the microphone.

The scenes in RTÉ are some of the most heart wrenching and poignant in the entire programme. Lou Gehrig, the outstanding baseball player who gave his name to the disease in America, decide to bench himself when the progression of MND meant he could no longer perform at an acceptable level. Colm Murray benched himself on 2 October 2010 and his last words on air are played. They are poignant and loaded with emotion as he recounts the defeat of Goldikova at Longchamp as she bows out of a glorious racing career.

The footage of him doing a job he adored, sprinkled throughout the documentary, brings into sharp relief the contrast with his role now. He dictates his report on Born to Sea’s Leopardstown report to Joe Stack, who then records the voice over. As this footage is played he says that being on air was the part of the job he loved and it is then that I can’t hold back the tears any longer.

At times, and sometimes all at once, this programme is heartbreaking, poignant, painful, terrifying, hopeful and, despite my tears, uplifting.

Colm Murray is a fantastic broadcaster whose reports from the Cheltenham festival are legendary, though sadly now consigned to history because of this terrible disease. Above all this he is an inspirational and truly remarkable man, whose courage and determination to make a difference for others in the face of such a terrifying and devastating disease is astounding.

Connacht Save the Best Till Last

Thrilled Connacht plaers react to the final whistle image:zimbio.com

Connacht’s Heineken Cup destiny is in the hands of the rugby gods but last night they showed Europe what it will be missing without them. In the build up to the match, coaches and players spoke of their desire to go out of the competition in glory for their supporters as much as themselves. If this was to be their last game in the competition they were determined to win

Right from the start they brought passion and intensity to the match. The fight and spirit which burns inside this province, was illuminated by their courageous and defiant performance from the moment Nigel Owens blew the first whistle. The hits went in hard and determined. They fought for possession on the floor with the wind swirling all around them, driving the rain across the pitch. The Heineken Cup finally experienced what rugby in Connacht is all about.

The score was nine points to eight with ten minutes to go. As the clock slowly moved towards 80 minutes the tension levels all around the ground rose ever higher. Every second seemed like an eternity. Supporters yelled out instructions to the tired players to stick it up their jumper and play for the corners. The referee was encouraged to blow the full time whistle with five minutes still on the clock.

Everyone had been here before. The story of Connacht in the Heineken Cup has been dominated by agonisingly close defeats. Another one last night would have left them bereft and heart broken. Surely the rugby gods would spare them this agony.

When the shrill blast of the referee’s whistle pierced the air with thirty seconds to go everyone held their breath anxiously awaiting his decision. Penalty Connacht! The deafening roar of the crowd greeted this pronouncement as if it were the final whistle. This had to be it. Hang on to the ball for a few seconds and then boot it out over the greyhound stand but there was to be one last piece of nerve shredding drama.

The ball was lost and Harlequins scrambled to engineer a winning drop goal but the referee spotted a knock on and this time there would be only ecstasy for the team and supporters. A full scale pitch invasion was launched. The stadium announcer futile pleas to keep off the pitch were barely audible over the ecstatic crowd.

Rarely will success in a pool game, let alone a final, have been celebrated so joyously. It felt like Connacht had won the final to the players as much as the fans.

Afterwards John Muldoon remarked: “ We are just waiting for the Cup to arrive downstairs. It’s like we’ve just won the Heineken Cup and we are waiting for them to deliver it!

The victory that the team, the city and the province had craved so desperately was theirs at last.

Elwood Rallies the Troops

Connacht Coach Eric Elwoo image:rasset.ie

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood has issued a rallying cry to supporters as the province bid to end their first season in the Heineken Cup on a high. The western side goes into the final pool game against Harlequins on Friday night without a victory in the competition so far and is desperate to put that right in front of a passionate and loyal home support.

“This could be our last Heineken Cup match for a while and that gives us huge motivation to go out and get that performance and result. We are determined to set the tone on Friday evening with a win and that all four provinces make this a memorable weekend for Irish rugby,' said the Connacht legend.

At the moment Connacht rugby is not sure what European competition it will be playing in next season and it’s destiny lies in the hands of others. So Friday night could be the players’ last chance for some time to come to experience the ecstasy of victory in Europe’s premier rugby competition.

“At this stage of the season, we are not afraid to admit that we are up against it in terms of qualification for next seasons Heineken Cup. That doesn't mean we'll stop trying and our supporters are assured we'll fight to the very end of the Rabodirect Pro 12,” Elwood added.

The players are determined to grasp the opportunity Friday night offers and captain Gavin Duffy echoed his coach’s clarion call and added that the team to give the fans the victory they deserve and so desperately crave.

'Everyone in the squad is looking forward to the match this Friday. We know the result didn't go our way last weekend even though our performance was much improved on the week before and after 2 weeks on the road everyone is itching to get back out in front of our home support and show we're in this competition for a reason.'

This uncertainty is an enormous motivating factor for the province and they will be going all out to ensure that if Friday night’s game is to be their last in the Heineken Cup, they will go down in a blaze of glory.

GAA offers Graduates Jobbridge Opportunity

image: wicklow gaa online

THE GAA is offering unemployed graduates the opportunity to work with the country’s largest sporting organisation. The GAA is participating in Jobbridge, the national internship scheme, and is offering 126 internships across the organisation and throughout the country. The first phase of work placements will begin in February but the GAA is hoping to expand the scheme to accommodate 200 interns at any one time.

“The one thing we emphasis in our internships is quality. The route we have gone down is to ensure that our internships offer the best quality possible and to ensure that the interns are fully supported and not thrown in at the deep end,” says Caoimhe Ní Néill, GAA Jobbridge Co-ordinator

The internships are focused on the areas of games development and administration and will be available in various departments in Croke Park and with the Provincial Councils and County Boards. “The internships will be a great experience working with our games development officers who are great guys and girls,” she adds.

Every intern will be assigned a supervisor who is a member of the GAA’s games development personnel. They will meet on a day to day basis. The interns will also have a mentor who will meet them every month.

“The mentors will be members of or volunteers with the association and they will discuss professional development issues, such as communication skills, with them,” explains Caoimhe.

Applicants don’t necessarily have to come from a GAA background as experience in other sports is something the GAA is keen to investigate and learn from as it feel this will enhance the organisation.

The internships are not just in the areas of games development as there are also opportunities in the administration side of the sport with placements available in IT, marketing and PR. One of the most interesting placements on offered is in the fixtures programming department.

Interns who take the opportunities offered by the placement and shine, will also have the chance to gain employment with the GAA. “It is a great opportunity and if someone stellar stands out during the programme there will be opportunities for further experience and employment with the Association,” she adds.

The closing date for applications is 20 January 2012. Information on the scheme and application forms are available at www.jobbridge.gaa.ie

Ipsos du Berlais earns his Cheltenham ticket *

Ipsos du Berlais leads WEster Leader over the last image: Healy Racing

One of Saturday’s winners who will be getting a Cheltenham entry is Ipsos Du Berlais who was a somewhat surprising winner of the Noel Farrelly Memorial Hurdle. The race was named in honour of the late Garda Noel Farrelly. A proud Tipperary man, originally from Templemore, he loved horseracing and GAA and was a member of Naas Golf Club. He had a great love for Punchestown where he enjoyed being on duty at the National Hunt Festival each year. Noel Farrelly  died suddenly on 17 February 2008.

The pre race chat focused on Willie Mullins’s latest French newcomer Sergent Guib’s who was making his Irish debut and two horses on the comeback trail from serious injury – Western Leader who was having his second start at Punchestown since suffering a life threatening tendon injury almost two years ago and China Rock who was running a huge race until suffering a serious tendon injury in last year’s Gold Cup.

The Noel Meade trained Ipsos Du Berlais had put up a good performance last time out, coming third in the a Grade One novice hurdle at Navan before Christmas and he really made jockey Davy Russell work hard for every cent of the prize money.

Russell was hard at work throughout the race to keep his horse up to his job but his persistence was rewarded as Ipsos du Berlais steadily made headway to join pace setter Western Leader on the home turn. The two horses fought it out to the final hurdle with the younger horse just getting the upper hand. HE stayed on well to the line for a six and a half length victory. Sergent Guib’s finished third with China Rock taking fourth on his comeback.

Trainer Noel Meade admitted to being a little underwhelmed by his lazy winner. “I was a little disappointed with the way he ran. Davy said they went very fast and he is only a novice so it was probably a good performance. If he had traveled through the race better I’d be happier with him. He is dog lazy but he has an engine anyway.”

Ipsos du Berlais will be entered at Cheltenham but when he runs next is undecided. “He wants three miles and he will learn a lot from today but he had a hard race on heavy ground so he won’t run for a while.”

The Mighty Milan finally got off the mark at the third time of asking in the bumper. He had been placed in both his visits to the racecourse and started favourite for this on the back of the form of those two races. Katie Walsh never had a moment’s difficulty and he ran out a comfortable 14 length winner from A New Day.

Trainer TJ Nagle said, “He was entitled to win that but we will take our time with him now. Katie likes him. He is very genuine and will go on any ground. It was horrible ground out there but Katie said he kept plugging on for her. He is more of a jumper than a bumper horse so hopefully he is one for the future.”

Jury's Still Out on Ut de Sivola *

Ut de Sivola jumping the last image: Healy Racing

Triumph Hurdle ambitions were on the line at Punchestown on Saturday in the day’s feature event, the Grade 3 visit punchestown.com juvenile hurdle. The Willie Mullins trained Ut de Sivola was already among the early favourites for the Cheltenham race after a facile success at Clonmel on his Irish debut and the French import was the hot favourite to follow up on that victory here and book his ticket to the Festival.

Ut de Sivola did eventually justify his prohibitive odds of 1 / 4 but he was a slightly fortuitous winner and the jury is still out on whether he is a genuine Triumph Hurdle contender. He raced keenly early on under Ruby Walsh but was travelling well as he and Hisaabaat took over from long time leader One Cool Shabra two flights from home. Paul Townend appeared to be working harder on the Dermot Weld trained gelding but Hisaabaat responded to his jockey and battled back and Ruby Wash had to get to work on board Ut de Sivola. It looked set to be a  battle to the line but a bad blunder at the last by Hisaabaat handed the race to Ut de Sivola.

After the race Willie Mullins said, “His better jumping probably won it for him. He was very keen early on and was caught on the outside. He raced very fresh and keen but I’m hoping he will improve for that.”

Bookmakers responded by shortening Ut de Sivola to 10/1 for the Triumph Hurdle but his trainer believes that he needs more experience and he will probably go to Leopardstown on Hennessy Day (February 12) next.

Ut de Sivola was one of three Willie Mullins trained horses with huge chances on the card but he proved to be his only winner of the day. The Bagnelstown trainer may have benefitted from some good luck in the main race but his Allure of Illusion could be classed as an unlucky second in the two mile maiden hurdle.

Allure of Illusion and Ruby Walsh were tracking the favourite Joxer and Bryan Cooper when Downthesacd came down three flights from home right in the path of Walsh’s mount. Allure of Illusion had no chance of avoiding the faller and was badly impeded. Joxer managed to avoid all the drama and took over the lead on the run to the second last. Allure of Illusion showed his class and courage to chase down Joxer who had just a length to spare over him at the line.

Winning trainer Bill Harney was delighted with the win. “He’s not too bad and he did it very well. Bryan (Cooper) said there is plenty more to come. He’s still very green but has loads of ability.”

Plans for Joxer remain fluid with the trainer quipping, “There is plenty of time to make plans and if I go to my local pub tonight they will all be telling me what to do with him!”

* This article first appeared in The Nationalist 17 January 2012

Monksland books his Cheltenham ticket at Naas *

Monksland winning the Grade Two Slaney Novice Hurdle courtesy of irishracing.com

Monksland launched himself onto the Cheltenham scene at Naas on Sunday with a hugely impressive victory in the Grade Two Slaney Novice Hurdle, the feature event on the track’s first fixture of the New Year. Dig outs are not popular in this country right now but Dedigout proved the exception having given punters a helping hand on his last two runs. They were expecting him to make it three dig outs in a row so made him 11/10 favourite. Meanwhile Monksland was friendless in the market but that didn’t concern jockey Paul Carberry.

Monksland was always traveling well in the closely bunched field. Rounding the home turn Dedigout took over in front from long time leader Mart Lane, but under a typical Carberry ride Monksland was moving stealthily closer and arrived on the leader’s outside going to the last. He jumped that flight well and cruised home by four and a half lengths, with Lyreen Legend pipping Dedigout for second on the line.

Meade admitted he was confident beforehand despite all the attention and money being focused on the favourite and the Dessie Hughes trained Lyreen Legend. “That went exactly to plan! I thought that he would win to be honest as he is a very good horse.”

Monksland’s homework had fueled his trainer’s pre race confidence. “He was involved in that famous piece of work at Fairyhouse with Bog Warrior where he finished second to him and I think he had a bit up his sleeve.”

Bookmakers reacted by making him 16/1 for the Neptune Investments Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and that race is firmly in his sights. Whether he runs between now and then is undecided. “The two and a half mile is what we have in our heads and he may not run before then. He is very easy to get fit so he may not need a run before Cheltenham. He has done everything right and jumps well. He shows a bit of boot so he should handle better ground,” Meade added.

Another Naas winner going places is Flemenstar, who was an impressive winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase, over two miles. In form jockey Andrew Lynch had the grey gelding in a prominent position during the early part of the race and he took up the running a mile from home. Rounding the home turn Ruby Walsh pushed the favourite Lambro to join him and it looked set for a battle over the last two fences to the line. Flemenstar always had enough to keep Lambro at bay however and he landed the odds by a comfortable three and a half lengths.

Immediately afterwards trainer Peter Casey nominated the Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown on 29 January as Flemenstar’s next target. “He’ll go for the Grade One at Leopardstown next. He was hanging a little bit so he should be better going left.”

The trainer was pleased with Flemenstar as he thought the ground would have been against him. “He probably doesn’t like the ground but he done it well when the other horse came to him. It’s grand to have a good one. They come along once in your lifetime.”

Willie Mullins had a double on the day with Hats and Heels justifying her odds on favourtism in the two mile and three furlongs maiden hurdle. The little mare was settled near the pace by Ruby Walsh and, turning for home, she moved ominously closer to the front. Hats and Heels took over the lead on the run to the last hurdle and stayed on strongly on the run in for an easy five length victory.

Her trainer was especially pleased with the mare’s jumping. “She looks an exciting sort and is well able to jump for her scope and size. She looked a natural over the first four or five but was a little green over the second last but she looks to have plenty of ability.”

Hats and Heels will probably step up in class on her next outing with both mares’ and open races under consideration for her. “She is certainly improving and we might look at open races and get the mares allowance for her,” mused Mullins.

The Gigginstown House Stud owned Un Atout was all the rage for the concluding bumper, going off the 2/9 favourite, and he lived up to the pre race hype, winning in a stroll by an impressive twenty four lengths in the hands of the trainer’s son Patrick. His stand out performance had everyone present scrambling for their notebooks thinking this could be Willie’s Champion bumper horse but afterwards the trainer indicated that Un Atout will be giving the Festival a miss this year, with a promising hurdling career beckoning.

“He looks a racehorse. We will try and win another bumper with him and I would like to win two if I could. We will put him away for next season and go novice hurdling with him. He’s a cool customer, very relaxed, which will help him in the future. He jumps well at home and we are really looking forward to next season with him.”

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist on 10 January 2012

Hidden Cyclone gives Hanlon Christmas cheer*

Hidden Cyclone and Andrew McNamara on their way to victory at Leopardstown image: independent.ie

Tuesday

There was an exciting finish to the end of Tuesday’s feature race, the Grade One Paddy Power Dial a Bet Chase with three horses jumping the last together. The race had been billed as a clash of the generations between former Champion Chaser Big Zeb and young pretender Noble Prince and these two fought out the finish with Forpadydeplasterer. Big Zeb had too much speed for Noble Prince on the run to the line and secured back to back victories in the race by a length and a quarter.
Afterwards delighted winning trainer Colm Murphy said,” It was always going to develop into a bit of a sprint from the second last and luckily enough he met the last two spot on. I’m delighted with the manner that he did it in even at this stage of his career. He still has enough pace and he seems to have plenty of his old sparkle.”
Bi Zeb will probably follow the same route to Cheltenham as last season in his attempt to wrestle back his crown from Sizing Europe and despite his age he appears to be right back to his best. “I would imagine he would go for the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown and we’ll see how we go from there. He deserves another crack at the Queen Mother Champion Chase. He looks better this season. His coat is better and he seems a better horse,” added Murphy.
But the thoughts of everyone at Leopardstown, including the winning connections, were with Golden Silver and Paul Townend who had a horrific fall at the fifth. Sadly Golden Silver, the former winner of this race, lost his life and Townend was stood down for the rest of the day.
Cash and Go caused an upset when winning the other Grade One on the card, the Future Champions Novice Hurdle. Cash and Go had too much speed for Sous les Cieux, who looks to be more of a stayer, and galloped past him on the run to the last flight. However he had to work hard to repel the late challenge of the Paul Carberry ridden Dylan Ross, who had been held up in rear but flew home.
Winning trainer Edward O’Grady had been quietly confident beforehand and is looking to Cheltenham with Cash and Go. “That wasn't a big surprise to us, we were very hopeful coming here today and the race worked out a little bit like we hoped. We'll have one run in between now and Cheltenham where I'd be leaning towards the Supreme Novice with him."
The day ended with a glimmer of hope for Mullins as Ballycasey took the bumper in the hands of his son Patrick but the trainer’s thoughts were on the sad loss of Golden Silver. Paying tribute he said, “He will be sorely missed in our yard because he was one of our great servants. He was a character too and all the girls in our place loved him and anyone could ride him. He was very classy, as all those big-race victories showed."

Wednesday

Synchronised and AP McCoy image:static.guim.co.uk

Sychronized, in the colours of JP McManus and ridden by AP McCoy sprung a surprise victory in the Grade One Lexus Chase, the highlight of day three at Leopardstown. The stage was set for a showdown between two of Ireland’s leading Gold Cup hopes, Rubi Light and Quito de la Roque, but the 2010 Welsh National winner, who ran here instead of attempting a repeat in that race, hadn’t read the script and he ran out a very convincing eight lengths winner from Rubi Light who got the better of the battle with Quito de la Roque

Frank Berry, JP McManus’s racing manager was delighted with Sychronized’s victory. “That’s brilliant, I couldn’t be more delighted. Jonjo has done a fantastic job and he got a great ride. I was a bit worried about the ground but we decided to take our chance. I thought the ground might be too quick for him but he handled it really well. In fairness he ran well in his two hurdle races on good ground.”
Synchronized may have dented the ambitions of Ireland’s Gold Cup hopes but his own ambitions have been raised and that race is now on the horizon.“He’ll get an entry in the Gold Cup. We’ll leave it to Jonjo and we’ll wait and see. He had a hard enough race there and more than likely will go straight to Cheltenham. He’ll also get an entry in the English Grand National.”
Willie Mullins had a treble to lift a little of the gloom from Tuesday. Make Your Mark looked to be a horse of enormous potential when winning a bumper at Punchestown  in November and he confirmed that impression with a facile victory on his hurdling debut here. With a superb jump at the second last he took several lengths out of the field and cruised to victory.
The trainer was impressed with Make Your Mark and his performance has pushed him up in Mullins’s estimation. “Davy (Russell) was very pleased with him. I told him not to worry if there was no pace as could make his own way home. He’ll go the novice hurdle route. We were afraid earlier in the season that he would be too keen but he does seem to settle in his races. He’ll move up the pecking order after that. He doesn’t do anything flashy at home but when you ask him a question he answers it. I thought he might be more of a stayer but he shows more class than I thought.”
Quiscover Fontaine, who brought up a quick fire double for AP McCoy and JP Mc Manus, in the Star Best for Racing Coverage hurdle, and The Bosses Cousin in the bumper were his other two winners.

Thursday

Star Neuville and Brian Hayes image: irishracing.com

John ‘Shark’ Hanlon had a day to remember at Leopardstown as he enjoyed two visits to the winners’ enclosure and appears to have two exciting prospects on his hands.

Hidden Cyclone was a top class novice hurdler last season and he looks to have translated that ability to fences. He was an impressive winner of the Ballymaloe Country Relish Beginners’ Chase in the hands of Andrew McNamara. He sat in second place throughout and put in a good round of jumping and when McNamara sent him on going to the second last he responded well. He appeared to idle in front after the last but when Hold the Pin came to him, Hidden Cyclone powered away again to record an easy two length victory on his chasing debut.

His trainer was happy and relieved afterwards but both Hanlon and McNamara feel Hidden Cyclone will need to improve if he is to go to Cheltenham. Hanlon admitted “He wasn’t 100% and will improve a good bit from this. His jumping was good but Andrew said it would have to improve to move up to graded class. He idled halfway up the straight and met the last wrong. There’s a winners of one at Fairyhouse at the end of January and he’ll go there.
Hidden Cyclone was given a quote of 12/1 for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham but no decision has been made about his participation yet. “We haven’t made our minds up about Cheltenham. That was a fair race and he did it well but he’ll have to improve to be a Cheltenham horse. You’re always a bit afraid first time over fences. Cheltenham is a long way away and we’ll talk to the owners but he'll have three or four races this season.”

Star Neuville is turning into a Leopardstown Christmas specialist for Hanlon. He won a bumper here last year and was an all the way victor for Brian Hayes in the Ryans Event Cleaners Maiden Hurdle. The trainer was full of praise for his jockey after the race saying, “He’s the best seven pound claimer in the country! I have to give him full praise. Brian gave him a savage ride because other jockeys might have come off at two or three of those hurdles. We said to go on and make it as we knew nothing else would.”

Star Neuville might be Cheltenham bound. “We will try and find a winners of one for him in three weeks and he might be a Cheltenham horse. He’s much better going left handed.”

The horse had a very hard time of it in the Champion Bumper at the festival last year and that showed on his reappearance at Naas in November. “We were lucky to get him back. He had a hard race at Cheltenham and he flipped in his first race back. Sometimes they don’t come back from that so we were very lucky.”

Unaccompanied jumps the last at Leopardstown image:thejournal.ie

Unaccompanied turned Thursday into Ladies’ Day as the high class filly beat the boys to win the day’s feature event, the Grade One Istabraq Festival Hurdle. Her victory has pushed her right into the Champion Hurdle picture and that race could be on the four year old’s agenda.

Winning trainer Dermot Weld was thrilled with the filly’s performance. “She was fabulous and I’m delighted with her. She is a very good race mare for a four year old. That was a lovely performance from her and a brilliant ride from Paul.”

Weld was concerned that Unaccompanied’s inexperience would tell against her rivals but his fears proved to be unfounded as she took the step up in class in her stride. “I was just concerned that we were throwing her in the deep end, especially taking on Thousand Stars who is a high class solid horse.”

Unaccompanied is also high class on the flat and beat subsequent Breeder’s Cup winner St. Nicholas Abbey in a listed race at the Curragh in April. The Moyglare Stud owned filly enjoys jumping, according to her trainer, but will continued to mix top level flat and hurdles races. “She jumped super and has learned to jump well. She really enjoys her jumping and loves to jump and she answered the call today.”

Unaccompanied will continue her love affair with the winter game back at Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Hurdle at the end of this month and the logical step after that is the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham where she will bid to beat the boys again.

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist  on 3 January 2012

The doc who became a jock *

copyright Healy Racing

SPORT is all about dreams. Whatever the sport and whatever the level, everybody starts off with a dream. The hope of fulfilling that dream is what drives people through the long nights, the pain and the sacrifices. For amateur jockey Paul McMahon he realized his childhood dream at Cheltenham last weekend when he rode Clondaw Warrior to victory in the bumper. Sometimes dreams really do come true.

“It was a dream come true, a childhood dream fulfilled” says a delighted McMahon. “I have thought about it since I was a child but I never thought I would do it.”

For the thirty seven year old doctor the opportunity to ride his own horse in a race on the hallowed Cheltenham turf was a dream come true in itself, but to win the race on his first ride there was an extraordinary experience. Unsurprisingly he finds it difficult to find the words to express the pure elation he felt at the victory. “It’s hard to find the words to describe it. It was a very emotional experience when I pulled up. It was a dream come true to do it and it’s only when you pass the line that you realize what you’ve done. It’s pretty special.”

Receiving congratulations from two of the greatest jockeys of all time, who he beat in the race was also a special moment for Paul. “Ruby (Walsh) and AP (McCoy) congratulated me after the race. To win against them was pretty surreal. To ride against these guys who are idols of mine is surreal. I know some of them from the weighroom and to get their heartfelt congratulations made it even more special and says a lot about them.” 

This praise is not just reserved for the champion jockeys who played their part in his dream. He is effusive in his genuine praise of everyone involved in racing who have contributed to his dream becoming a reality. “A lot of people have played their part in making my dream come true - The Irish Turf Club, the other jockeys in the weighroom, the trainer John Hanlon, his partner Rachel and everyone in the yard – they all helped me to keep my dream alive.

That dream started as a child learning to ride and in showjumping and he had the best possible education under the expert tuition of Iris Kellet before moving on to racing. “Parts of my family were always interested in racing and through my uncle and Charles O’Brien that’s where I caught the bug.” 

Owner riders like Barry Connell were an inspiration to him though they are a diminishing presence on the racetrack now. “Barry Connell and JP Magnier were a huge influence on me and I aspired to do what they were doing. I saw the support they got  and the time and support they’ve give me has kept me going but there are very few of us owner riders left now.”

Combining a busy job as a doctor with the hours he needed to put in if he was going to fulfill his ambition to ride was difficult and something had to give. He was fortunate that he was able to take up a consulting role with a pharmaceutical company that allows him to give racing the dedication it needs. “Racing was one of my passions in life and I had to give it a try so it was part of the reason I took the job. I had bee riding since the early 90’s and working in the hospital but it was difficult and I decided that I wanted to put the time and effort into it.”

His observations in the weighroom showed him that to have any chance of making his racing dream a reality he had to be able to dedicate himself to riding. His success hasn’t been without sacrifices though. “Somebody always suffers and it’s hard on my family. They haven’t seen much of me. I have to say thanks to my wife and children who put up with all the times I’ve been off down the country riding horses.”

The horse who helped make Paul McMahon a Cheltenham winner was found for him by trainer John Hanlon. “Colin Bowe had Clondaw Warrior in training for point to points and John had seen him in a point. He spoke to Colin before he told me about the horse and on their recommendation I ended up with a very nice horse. It’s a testament to them that I got such a nice horse and they have both played their part in fulfilling a childhood dream so a lot of thanks must go to them.”

It’s a dream that he never has to wake from as he relives it daily, watching the video of the race, to enjoy the memories again and again and to learn from it. “I’d say that I’ll be watching the video everyday for the next few weeks and reliving the race for the rest of my life.”

His experience shows that dreams do come true and he has some advice for everyone who has a dream. “It goes to show that if you have a dream don’t give up on it. Keep persevering and trying and anything can happen and enjoy the journey of trying to achieve your dream.”

With one dream fulfilled, there is another dream on the horizon. A return trip to Cheltenham for the Festival in March is a possibility for Clondaw Warrior. “I haven’t decided yet if he will go to Cheltenham. There is a lot to consider but John Hanlon is very keen to go for the Champion Bumper with him.” If the horse will have the same jockey on board is another question. “Whether it will be with me or not,” he adds, “We will have to think about it and see how things pan out.”

Hearing the pure joy in Paul McMahon’s voice as he relives passing the Cheltenham winning post in front one thing is clear: in sport, and in life, we should all dare to dream. 

*This article first appeared in The Nationalist on 25 October 2011

A Breed Apart: The Amazing Story of Dolores Ruth *

IT’S just a week since his thrilling Irish Derby victory and Razldazl George is enjoying a relaxing afternoon off. His brindle coat glistens in the September sun and as he poses for photographs, basking in the sunshine and the glory he looks every inch a champion greyhound.

His trainer, Dolores Ruth, has not been afforded the luxury of relaxation. Two nights before, her broodbitch whelped. In the kennel block across the paddock there are seven tiny puppies, all being cared for by their mother. Among the seven there is perhaps another Derby winner to add another illustrious chapter to the stunning success of Dolores Ruth and her dazzling dogs.

“I was born into it,” Ruth explains. “My father had greyhounds and when I left school my father was sick at the time and I helped him out for a bit. I came to Kildare and set up on my own. I came to Kildare through Ger Canty, the optician. He had a friend who wanted me to train a few dogs and that gave me the enticement to move to Kildare and move out of Dublin. I didn’t end up training for him and I went solo. It was daunting enough but every minute of every day was taken up with my dogs. I put my head down and got soaked up in the dogs.”

A pioneer in so many ways, 20 years later Ruth is still swimming against the tide.

“There are still very few women training dogs. It’s difficult for women. Training greyhounds is a huge commitment. There are loads of women out there who would make great trainers,” she says.

But every trainer needs a big race winner to set them on their way and for Ruth a match race with a Dublin-Kildare spice got her going.

“Paddy Cross from Rathangan had a really good sprint bitch and he put up a challenge to take her on in a two dog match so I did. There was a really good owner of mine who was involved in printing and he did a lot of profile on the race and we filled the place in Newbridge. I was the Dub taking on the locals and after we won people sat up and said ‘Who’s yer wan?’ and that’s how I got started.”

Major success came early in her training career.

“I started out in 1991 and I won my first group race, the Tipperary Cup in 1994 and two years later I won the English Derby with Shanless Slippy who was undefeated in 13 races. He won the Produce Stakes in Clonmel before he went to England.”

Although she was continuing to be successful, things were tough personally and she gave it all up in 2004.

“I was in an unhappy relationship and I had a tough time and I ended the relationship. I had worked too hard for too long and taken no time out. I took at bit of a sabbatical and moved back to Dublin. I kept the house in Kildare but all the dogs left. I was so worn out at the time, it was the best thing to do. I needed to recharge my batteries. I came to a crossroads in my life and had to decide what road to take. I decided to take the road heading for the motorway and I’ve been on cruise control ever since!”

It has been one of the most remarkable sporting comebacks. The success that Dazzling Kennels has had in the last five years is incredible with Billy’s Irish Derby and Pearl’s Puppy Oaks victories just the start of an amazing run of victories. Their son Makeshift is one of the best dogs in the country and has won the Champion Stakes and Easter Cup. Pearl is also the dam of this year’s Derby hero George. The road to Classic glory started with two amazing greyhounds – Pearl and Billy.

“I ended up getting a few puppies. One turned out to be (Razzldazzl) Pearl and the other was (Razzldazzl) Billy who won the Irish Derby in 2006.”

Pearl won the Puppy Oaks to crown a spectacular comeback but the motorway to success hasn’t been a free flowing one. A horse riding accident left Ruth with serious injuries but her passion and belief kept her going.

“Personally it has been very satisfying and I am very proud of what I achieved. When I got into breeding it could have taken many years to be successful but I did it in a short time. I have had great success with Liam Marks, who was into breeding. We bought Billy and Pearl and that was the start of everything that has happened in the last few years. It’s a real team effort.”

After seeing the musical Chicago in London, Ruth decided that the names of her dogs would reflect the fact she ‘wanted (her) dogs to put on a show.’

Razldazl George’s sire, Kinloch Brae, was brought to Ireland by Michael Dunne in Portlaoise, from America.

“As Kinloch Brae is American I had to call the dogs after something famous in America so I chose President’s names for that litter, George, Jayfkay and Barack.”

Kinloch Brae is also the sire of Dundooan Diva’s first litter and the American themed names continue with Dmagio, Monroe and Marilyn ones to look out for.

And what of the dogs that started this amazing comeback?

“Pearl (7) lives in the house and has taken over the sofa and enjoys bread and butter pudding and ice cream!” Sadly Billy is no longer around. He dropped dead from a heart attack.”

Razldazl George’s dramatic last gasp triumph in the Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park last week was the culmination of all her work since she came back into racing.

“To have bred George and watch him being born and have him at home right the way through is incredible. I was right on the line at Shelbourne Park and I had a feeling George was up but I said nothing. It was the longest time of your life just waiting but it was a super feeling, just a great sense of wow!”

When legendary GAA commentator Michéal Ó Muircheartaigh announced his retirement The Irish Geryhound Board knew just what to give him as a gift. He was presented with a greyhound Razldazl Rioga, bred by Dolores, on the Late Late Show.

Seeing Ruth with her dogs it is abundantly clear that they mean the world to her.

“I’m not in it for the money. It’s what you get out of it and no money could buy what we’ve got out of dogs. You need a lot of luck and the right person behind the dogs to be successful and if you don’t have that you could end up with nothing, but you need a lot of luck. I have a great belief in going forward. I’m always positive and I believe in my dogs.”

Her deep faith has been richly rewarded.

This article first appeared in The Nationalist 20 September 2011