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Myself and Ernie set off at 3.30 on the long 160 mile trip to Enniscorthy yesterday.
It was my first visit and we only learnt about the racing taking place there on Friday evenings at last weeks show in Portlaoise.
As you can see from the pictures, they have it well organised and a good crowd were on hand to witness the racing over 200 yards.
There were very strict rules regarding the height of dogs competing and Ernie was over the allowed 21` limit for whippets, so he had to go in with the under 23` Lurchers. There was also classes for under 25` and over 25`, plus a terrier race !
2 six dog heats in Ernies class were first up, but just as the last dog in his heat was being loaded the traps opened and all six of them tore up the track with no lure ! All of them turned around at the finish and promptly came back at full pace ! Not a great start ! Anyway straight into traps, which was a bit much, but Ernie handled one of the fancied local runners handily !
3 heats of the under 23` and 2 heats of the overs were next run with no problems ! The 2 heats of the whippets were run and they looked very moderate speed wise, but the racing was close. Then all 7 winners went into the hat for a 3 and a 4 dog race `semi-final`. The whippets were not included. Ernie drew the 3 dog heat which contained the other under 23` winner and one of the under 25` winners.
Ernie had the race quickly sewn up, but with 20 yards to go the line snapped and a re-run was declared ! I took my time walking back to traps and kept them waiting.
The bigger dog, around 55lbs, made a race of it this time, however the lads at the top said that when he challenged Ernie at the half way mark, they couldn`t believe how Ernie changed up a gear to win by 3 lengths !
The little fellow was tired now and I declined to run-off with the other dog which had had just two straight runs, which was a shame as it would have been a good test for him, as she is one of the top dogs at the club. Perhaps next time !
We headed off at 9.30 and it was good to get home at 1 am.
A great nights sport, pity it`so far away from me.
I`ll go down to their `big` end of season meet where there are hotly contested trophies up for grabs, and a BBQ to finish off the season !
A good bunch of lads that have no interest in racing Greyhounds, but all hunt during the winter and keep their dogs fit during the Summer with this racing.
It was my first visit and we only learnt about the racing taking place there on Friday evenings at last weeks show in Portlaoise.
As you can see from the pictures, they have it well organised and a good crowd were on hand to witness the racing over 200 yards.
There were very strict rules regarding the height of dogs competing and Ernie was over the allowed 21` limit for whippets, so he had to go in with the under 23` Lurchers. There was also classes for under 25` and over 25`, plus a terrier race !
2 six dog heats in Ernies class were first up, but just as the last dog in his heat was being loaded the traps opened and all six of them tore up the track with no lure ! All of them turned around at the finish and promptly came back at full pace ! Not a great start ! Anyway straight into traps, which was a bit much, but Ernie handled one of the fancied local runners handily !
3 heats of the under 23` and 2 heats of the overs were next run with no problems ! The 2 heats of the whippets were run and they looked very moderate speed wise, but the racing was close. Then all 7 winners went into the hat for a 3 and a 4 dog race `semi-final`. The whippets were not included. Ernie drew the 3 dog heat which contained the other under 23` winner and one of the under 25` winners.
Ernie had the race quickly sewn up, but with 20 yards to go the line snapped and a re-run was declared ! I took my time walking back to traps and kept them waiting.
The bigger dog, around 55lbs, made a race of it this time, however the lads at the top said that when he challenged Ernie at the half way mark, they couldn`t believe how Ernie changed up a gear to win by 3 lengths !
The little fellow was tired now and I declined to run-off with the other dog which had had just two straight runs, which was a shame as it would have been a good test for him, as she is one of the top dogs at the club. Perhaps next time !
We headed off at 9.30 and it was good to get home at 1 am.
A great nights sport, pity it`so far away from me.
I`ll go down to their `big` end of season meet where there are hotly contested trophies up for grabs, and a BBQ to finish off the season !
A good bunch of lads that have no interest in racing Greyhounds, but all hunt during the winter and keep their dogs fit during the Summer with this racing.
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