CONGRATS TO AWARD WINNERS AND NOMINEES
Ian Fortune
It goes without saying that those that will be honoured at the National Greyhound Racing Awards on March 9th are already winners.
The human award winners were named yesterday evening and each are thoroughly deserving of the recognition.
Of course, Brendan Matthews, the Newry Maestro, needs no introduction. A legend in Irish greyhound sport, he is a thoroughly deserving, and welcome, addition to the Hall of Fame. The same can be said for the Special Merit winner Ted Collins, who served the sport so diligently throughout his life, working as the vet at Shelbourne Park for over fifty years.
The newly introduced Young Person of the Year award will go to Daniel O’Rahilly following his Kirby Memorial heroics with Knockeen Dazzler, while the latest Welfare Award winner is Brendan Rogers from Tipperary. A huge congratulations to all four.
CANINE NOMINEES
We also got to see the nominees for the various canine categories and it truly is a select bunch of names after a famous year on the track.
There were a couple of incredibly tight calls for the final nomination but, in the end, the committee did land on a decision.
Tuono Charlie is actually nominated in two categories after getting nod for Dog of the Year and Stayer of the Year, while the most high-profile omission is perhaps De Lahdedah, the English Derby champion.
Dog of the Year
Bockos Diamond
Clonbrien Treaty
Tuono Charlie
Bitch of the Year
A Lucky Julie
Crafty Shivoo
Singalong Dolly
Sprinter of the Year
Ballinakill Alf
Broadstrand Syd
Road Exile
Stayer of the Year
Ballyhooley Tejay
Jaytee Craze
Tuono Charlie
Brood Bitch of the Year
Droopys Alice
Droopys Sweet
Seaglass Shadow
Stud Dog of the Year
Dorotas Wildcat
Droopys Sydney
Pestana
Future Star
Droopys Kathleen
Lemon Joey
Untold Rufiyaa