WEST CORK, Ireland – Down one day, up the next" commented harness racing jockey Deirdre Goggin, and that statement echoed by also by jockey David Brickley, who after their spills in the Grade A in Dunmanway, both bounced back to ride winners at the rescheduled Durrus Road trotting meeting on Sunday.
Despite the New Year's Day traditional date for this famous meeting being a wash out, there was a large attendance Sunday and all were basked in spring sunshine on "The Boggy Road" on the eastern side of this tiny hamlet in the heart of West Cork .
Goggin looks certain to take both the female and overall jockey of the year homors and once again teamed up with Rhyds Ponder (who edged closer to Horse of the Year) to win another Grade B. As always the pair set the pace and were too good for stable companion Mountain Dew Lad and Rhyds Trixter .
David Brickley, who drew a blank in Dunmanway, rode a double on the day .
Maithi Buachaill, having his first outing in the Grade A, seemed to have lost his chance at the second turn and showed his true class, battling back to beat Lakeside Dragon and Conway Tiger in another thriller.
This sets the scene for The All Ireland Road Championship in Old Chapel Bandon in three weeks where the runners today will be joined by 2015 winner, Dream Maker and Rhyds Ponder, for a chance to be crowned the 2016 winner .
Ringo Kid was Brickleys initial winner on the day . This son of Timon Del Sol won the Grade E and it was a real family occasion as "Kid " is owned by his wife Jennie and daughter Shelley looks after this versatile veteran .
"Funsize" Marie Moloney notched another winner for the ladies in the opening Novice Pace .
Lakeview Romeo and See You Later battled out a storming finish but Romeo and Moloney prevaile by half a length .
Lakeview Walter was a popular winner in the Grade D for Bandon based C & R Joyce .Matt O reilly had to be at his best on the winner to hold off Meadowbranch Kiki and Talavary Songster .
Tactician Du Lys made the step up to Grade C an easy one and despite almost slipping up at the turn was too good for Rhyds Artist .
Next Meeting is the All Ireland Championships at Old Chapel Bandon Sunday 20th March.
by Tim Kelleher, for Harnesslink
RESULTS
NOVICE (Jan Goregrimes Cup)
1. M Kelleher LAKEVIEW ROMEO Marie Moloney
2. S Crowley SEE YOU LATER J O Reilly
3. N Forbes THE HATCHET LADY M O Reilly
DIST 1/2l 6l SP 4/6 6/4 3/1 3 Ran
GRADE D (John O Sullivan Memorial Cup)
1. C & R Joyce LAKEVIEW WALTER M O Reilly
2. Shanahan/ Brickley MEADOWBRANCH KIKI D Brickley
3. J O Sullivan TALAVARY SONGSTER Deirdre Goggin
DIST 1l 1l SP 3/1 EV 5/2 6 Ran
GRADE C (PJ Barry Memorial Cup)
1. G Kane TACTICIAN DU LYS T O Leary
2. L O Brien RHYDS ARTIST Marie Moloney
3. C Caverley EASTER LILY D Brickley
DIST 5l 5l SP 1/2 5/2 3/1 3 Ran
GRADE E (Charles Cremin /Jack Connolly Memorial Cup)
1. Jennie Brickley RINGO KID D Brickley
2. C O Sullivan HILLSIDE DARTANIAN Deirdre Goggin
3. H Bennett WELLFIELD DAMIAN Marie Moloney
DIST 3l 3l SP EV 3/1 5/4 8 Ran
GRADE B (Timmy Daly Memorial Cup)
1. N Forbes RHYDS PONDER Deirdre Goggin
2. N Forbes MOUNTAIN DEW LAD T O Leary
3. Deasy/Hurley/Keohane RHYDS TRIXTER J O Reilly
DIST 20l 1l SP 1/3 3/1 3/1 3 Ran
GRADE A (The Cottage Tables Cup)
1. P Kane MAITHI BUACHAILL D Brickley
2. M Ahern LAKESIDE DRAGON Owner
3. Deirdre Goggin CONWAY TIGER Owner
DIST 1l 1l SP 4/5 2/1 5/2