RCÉ/GRI National Greyhound Racing Awards 2021 Brochure - Sunday 13th March 2022

NATIONAL GREYHOUND RACING

AWARDS 2021 Sunday 13th March 2022 Virtual Awards Ceremony

And the nominees are....

BROOD BITCH OF THE YEAR

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★ JAYTEE SAHARA Owner Maria Kennedy ★ JETSTREAM LYNX Owner Peter Comerford ★ WHITINGS GIFT Owner Jennifer O’Donnell

SPRINTER OF THE YEAR

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★ ELA SUPREMO Owner Alex Antoniou

P.M Bennett Trainer Peter Cronin Breeder Martin Tucker ★ GOOD CODY Owner John Kennedy Jnr Trainer Patrick Guilfoyle Breeder John Kennedy ★ TWO AMIGOS Owners Padraig Fitzgerald & Michael Griffin Trainer Jamie McGee Breeder Padraig Fitzgerald & Michael Griffin

STUD DOG OF THE YEAR

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★ DROOPYS JET Owner Blunt-Wakefield-TaggartSynd. c/o Frazer Black ★ DROOPYS SYDNEY Owner Courtmachove Syndicate

c/o Kieran Ryan ★ LAUGHIL BLAKE Owner Mary & Paul Jennings

STAYER OF THE YEAR

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★ DANA POINT Owner Mullins Curtin Synd.

c/o Eleanor Mullins Trainer Mullins Curtin Synd.

c/o Eleanor Mullins Breeder Timmy Ennis ★ GENEROUS ANGEL Owner Brian Larkin Trainer Brian Larkin Breeder Clifford Cowan ★ PRICELESS JET Owner Bryan & Kathleen Murphy Trainer Paul Hennessy Breeder Thomas O’Donovan

FUTURE STAR OF THE YEAR

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★ CRAFTY KOKORO Owner Peter Divilly Trainer Peter Divilly Breeder Shane Divilly ★ SUSIE SAPPHIRE Owner Peter Comerford Trainer Owen McKenna Breeder Peter Comerford

BITCH OF THE YEAR

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★ BILLYS DIVA Owners Maria Kennedy & John Kennedy Jnr Trainer Maria Kennedy & John Kennedy Breeder Mary Kennedy ★ SINGALONG SALLY Owner Gilbert Anderson Trainer Pat Buckley Breeder Jack Buckley

★ TWOINAROW Owner El-Moro-Syndicate ★ SUSIE SAPPHIRE Trainer El-Moro-Syndicate Owner Peter Comerford Breeder Saoirse & Michael Barrett Trainer Owen McKenna Breeder Peter Comerford

DOG OF THE YEAR

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★ EXPLOSIVE BOY Owner Peter Sutcliffe Trainer Patrick Guilfoyle Breeder Mary Kennedy ★ GOOD CODY Owner John Kennedy Jnr Trainer Patrick Guilfoyle Breeder John Kennedy ★ SKYWALKER BARRY Owner Raymond Patterson Trainer Mark O’Donovan Breeder Patrick Sinnott

★ SUPREME GREYHOUND OF THE YEAR WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE CEREMONY

Hall of Fame

DENIS LENNON

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Denis “Dinny” Lennon has been involved in greyhounds for most of his life and the man from Threecastles has established himself as one of Ireland’s most influential breeders.

His ‘Lemon’ prefix is known worldwide and has become synonymous with quality.

So many wonderful greyhounds have carried the prefix over the years, while his bloodlines can be found in numerous classic and feature event winners over the past four decades.

Special Merit

NOREEN MCMANUS

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Noreen McManus (née Kirby), along with her husband JP, are names with ties in many sporting codes but today we honour Noreen for her contribution to greyhound racing.

Noreen’s love of greyhounds was fostered by her parents, the late Con and Annie Kirby and Noreen and her husband sponsor the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial at Limerick Greyhound Stadium in their memory.

The newest Classic event, it has established itself as the starting block for the stars of our sport. Not alone is it of great significance to greyhound racing, it is also an important fundraising opportunity for Limerick GAA clubs and a wonderful marriage of two great communities. Its legacy and contribution are a fitting tribute to two much loved parents and legends of our sport

Welfare

GREYHOUND PETS OF AMERICA

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Greyhound Pets of America National (GPA National) is a non-profit corporation founded in 1987, and is the largest single non-profit Greyhound adoption group worldwide. Since opening in 1987, GPA Chapters have worked together to adopt over 80,000 Greyhounds into loving homes. From its earliest beginnings, GPA’s history has been one filled with individuals willing to pioneer the idea of Greyhounds as Pets and educating the public on the incredible nature of the breed.

GPA National, through its officers, were to the forefront of the GPA Irish Greyhounds to America Program back in 2019 and were instrumental in getting this rehoming initiative up and running. Although COVID restrictions did result in a temporary suspension in the initiative, greyhound transports to the U.S. recommenced in October 2021 and since then U.S. Receiving Groups affiliated to GPA (National) have rehomed almost 200 IRGT greyhounds with more expected to travel soon.