Short putts

(News from local golf clubs)

On Thursday, the featured Grade A Guinness Galway Handicap Hurdle was won by that man again, Willie Mullins, with Zarak The Brave, second favourite, ridden by Paul Townend beating Jesse Evans and My Mate Mozzie. The winner is only a 4-Y-O, the first since to win Perugino Diamond in 2000.

Friday opened with a blow for punters as a shock outsider Ifiwerearichman won the 2m Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle at 28/1 for Paul Nolan ridden by Sean O’Keeffe.

The James’s Gate Irish EBF Auction Maiden was won by Captain Maverick with Chris Hayes aboard for Dermot Weld at 100/30. The Galway Blazers Handicap Chase was won by Henry de Bromhead’s Toss Again ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe from Quantum Realm at odds of 11/2.

In the featured Guinness Handicap, there were 17 runners and Brazil trained by Padraig Roche and ridden by Niall McCullagh denied Teed Up, winner of the amateur on Monday, a double feature win by a head at 14/1. Paddy Twomey and Billly Lee combined to win the Guinness Irish EBF Fillies Maiden with Countess Of Tyrone at 11/4f.

The Arthur Guinness Handicap was won by Fratas trained by Michael Mulvany at 11/2 and the Rockshore Irish Lager Race went to the Shanroe trained by Karl Thornton, at 15/8f.

Last up on the day was The Hop House 13 Handicap also won by the favourite, Peter Fahey’s Sign From Above, ridden by Ronan Whealan. Saturday opened with a maiden hurdle won by Shark Hanlon’s Enfranchies ridden by Danny Gilligan at 100/30.

The Listed Handicap Hurdle went to the Peter Fahey trained Ambitious Fellow at 14/1 and the opening flat race, the 2-Y-O maiden, was won odds on favourite Navy Seal trained by Aidan O’Brien at 1/4.

The Bathshack Maiden was won by the Ciaran Murphy-trained Bottler’secret ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle from Donegal.

In the 2-Y-O Gra Chocolates Irish EBF Handicap the favourite Jakajaro was beaten by Portland giving Aidan O’Brien and Seami Heffernan a double on the day.

The Ardilaun Hotel Handicap went the way of the favourite Dragon Of Malta ridden by Colin Keane for Pat O’Donnell and the McDonagh Capital Investments Handicap also went to the favourite Joe Murphy’s Mon Coeur ridden by Gary Carroll.

Racing ended with a bumper win for the Ray Barron ridden Charles Byrne trained Fortunate Lighting at 7/2.

The 2m Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle provided Emmet Mullins’ Teed Up with a second win of the week under Conor Clarke.

The following, the Kenny Galway Handicap Hurdle, was won by 14/1 My Design under Ray Barron for Declan Queally.

The Eileen Kelly Memorial Chase went the way of the layers as 4/7 shot Saint Sam won for the Mullins/Townend combo. The Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Chase provided a shock result as 33/1 Fighting Fit proved he was just that for trainer Philip Dempsey and Gavin Brouder.

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Ahonoora Handicap, the centrepiece of the card, was won by the favourite Dunum for trainer Natalia Lupini ad Billy Lee.

Joseph O’Brien’s odds-on favourite Stromberg won the 2-Y-O Irish

Athlone

Marion O’Shea won the Women’s Open last week with 40 points, just ahead of Brid Kenny while Orlaith Reidy was third and Deirdre Connolly fourth.

The Mellotte O’Carroll Solicitors competition last Thursday was won by Sandra Feary with 39 points, just one ahead of Maeve Holmes and Ann Geoghegan while the ProGolf Fourball Better Ball saw Sylvia McInerney and Nuala Hamilton emerge victorious.

The competition on August 5th saw Nuala Hamilton top the leaderboard with 37 points, just ahead of Deirdre Connolly in second place.

Carrick

The overall winner of last week’s senior competition was Damien Duignan with a score of 41 points.

Other results: Cat 1 Leo Kavanagh (40); Cat 2 Pascal McGuire (40); Cat 3 Seamus Mulhern (37). The front nine was won by Brendan Lynch with 20 points and the back nine was won by Chris Lowe, also with 20 points. Golf as usual next Thursday.

Roscommon

Unfortunately, the Captain’s Prize to the Men had to be changed to a 18-hole strokeplay on Sunday last, with over 130 men taking part in what was a great testament to Captain PJ Moran.

David Kearney was declared the deserved winner with a score of 68 nett. Other prizewinners:

2nd Brian Feeley (69);

1st Gross Enda Daly (67);

2nd Gross Richie Evans (71); 3rd David Farrell (69); 4th Andy Lawlor Snr

(70); 5th Jim Casey (70); 6th Mark Kearney (70); Past Captain’s prize Michael Connaughton (72).

Kay Condon won the ladies’ 9-hole competition with 22 points while Jackie Kilroy won the senior competition with 38.

Other winners this week included: R O’Brien (Ladies’ 18-hole); T Ray (Ladies’ 9-hole); P Finneran (Senior Men’s); P Keane (Senior Ladies’).

The Club Classic takes place this Friday and Saturday with lots of prizes on offer across the two days. Team of four costs €200 which also includes a meal. For an entry fee of €10 you also have a chance of winning a car kindly sponsored by Dermot Hughes Cars for a hole in one on the ninth hole. Please support this fundraising event for our club. Timesheets are filling up fast so if you can support this classic then please see the timesheets in the clubhouse or contact Brian on 087-6355249 to book a slot.

The TJC O’Keeffe Men’s Fourball matchplay competition is well under way with the second round

EBF Auction Series Maiden at 1/5.

The Ireland West Airport Knock Handicap went to Malbay Madness for Emmet Mullins and Colin Keane at 6/5 and the festival ended with another favourite winning the Fr Breen Memorial Flat Race, as Willie and son Patrick won the bumper at 4/9, three winning favourites bringing the festival to a winning end for punters.

Willie Mullins ended the week with 10 winners and the champion trainer’s crown. Dylan Browne McMonagle was in the winners’ enclosure on five occasions and won the flat jockeys’ championship and Paul Townend won the jumping crown with four winners.

Competition Time

To win tickets for Roscommon on August 22nd, we want to know which horse won the Galway Plate in Ballybrit?

Answers as usual please on a postcard to The Roscommon People, Abbey Street, Roscommon or by email to phone number tomred17@ gmail.com by 5 pm, on Wednesday, August 16th and as always do not forget to include your name, address, and a contact with all competition entries. As usual all tickets will have to be collected in the office in Abbey Street.

matches to be played by August 12th. Our Mixed Foursomes matchplay competition is also progressing with the quarter-final matches to be played by August 16th. There have been some great matches so far and best of luck to everyone still left in both competitions.

You are invited to participate in a 9-hole scramble on Friday, August 25th to raise funds for our Ladies

Senior Foursomes team who will be participating in the All-Ireland finals in Dún Laoghaire in early September. Team of three, any combination. Your support would be very much appreciated.