WEST CORK, IE – Road trotting holds a special place in the hearts of people in West Cork, Ireland and at Durrus on New Years day the harness racing crowds flocked to this tiny hamlet on the Sheeps Head Peninsula.
Those that attended were treated to some fantastic racing and it was jockey Matthew O'Reilly who stole the headlines riding thrtee winners on the day.
As it was last day out in Drimoleague, O'Reilly kicked off his treble aboard Captain Morgan in the Novice Pace. This well bred type was away in front early doors and had too much in hand for Fire Fly Z who again had the bridesmaid tag as there was six lengths the winning margin.
The meeting of The Red Rebel and last weeks winner Splash The Cash was well touted as a match race .Kentucky Finale, who was friendless in the market almost caused a huge upse,t but Matthew O'Reilly was not to not to be denied sending The Red Rebel to the front in the final eighth of a mile and ran out a three length winner.
O'Reilly completed his treble in the second division of the Grade E.
Punters waged into Coalford Bruce and the smart money seemed to be well invested as Coalford Bruce led early and was three lengths in front at the turning point, but as in previous races Matthew O'Reilly played it cool on Diplomatist and got up on the line to collar Coalford Bruce by a short head.
Matthew O Reilly may have stole the headlines but the lady jockeys wer not to be out done .
Firstly Deirdre Goggin followed up on her win in Drimoleague aboard Sunders Picasso to land another win in the Grade C & D.
Billycoan Colt tried to make all and looked a winner but Goggin produced the victory in the final 150 yards and was a 2 length winner.
Chelsie O'Driscoll, another of the female brigade, is as good as any one and was seen to her brilliant best in the top Grade Pace on Ghengis Pride. Rhyds Solution and Im Impartial set out the running but at the final turn in a true run rave Kestrels Dot Sammy and Ghengis Pride had overtaken the front running pair.
As like in Drimoleague the pair slugged it out for the last half mile with Ghengis Pride prevailing again.
Great credit is due to the local committee for staging the event which was well planned and this scribe met visitors from the UK, Florida, West Virginia, San Diego, Nova Scotia, Canada, Sweden, Germany and Thailand.
Many were amazed by this unique sport and were also taken aback by the welcome they got in Durrus. Next on the Winter season is in Ballingurteen on Sunday 12th Jan.
by Tim Kelleher, for Harnesslink
RESULTS
Race 1: Grade Novice / E Trot.
1st: Captain Morgan, M. O' Reilly
2nd: Fire Fly Z, D. Goggin
3rd: Cool Direct, T. Moloney
4th: Hint of Mist, C. O' Driscoll.
Race 2: Grade E Trot Division 1.
1st: The Red Rebel, M. O' Reilly
2nd: Kentucky Finale, C. O' Driscoll
3rd: Splash The Cash, J. Hurley
Race 3: Grade E Trot Division 2.
1st: Diplomatist, M. O' Reilly
2nd: Coalford Bruce, T. Moloney
3rd: Lyons Super Nova, D. Goggin
4th: Newtown Amber, M. Moloney
Race 4: Grade C / D Trot.
1st: Saunders Picasso, D. Goggin
2nd: Billycoan Colt, M. O' Reilly
3rd: Lets Party, A. Mc Carthy
4th: Garths Sharegar, T. Moloney
Race 5: Grade A / B Trot.
1st: Ghenghis Pride, C. O' Driscoll
2nd: Kestrelsdotsammy, J. O' Driscoll
3rd: Blue Top Gun, T. O' Leary
4th: Rhyds Solution, J. Hurley.