Divis View laps it up at Drumbo’s big night

Divis View won the 2014 Caledonia Smooth Gold Cup at Drumbo Park Greyhound Stadium at the weekend. Owner Dessie Gilroy (centre) received the winners trophy from Annemarie McDonagh, Territory Manager, Tennents NI, along with (from left) handler Joe Taggart, Caledonia Smooth promotional girl Anna Henry, breeder Erwin Birkmyre and John Connor, Drumbo Park Racing Manager.

The battle of the best featured the five elite greyhounds which sped to victory in the heats of the three week Festival of Racing which culminated in the Caledonia Smooth Gold Cup final.

The festival is one of the biggest and richest events in Northern Ireland’s greyhound calendar, with a total prize pot of £10,000.

Second place and £1,250 went to Taepot Hill owned and trained by Harry Benson from Moira.

Third place and £750 went to Swift Iniesta owned by Scotland’s Alex Callachan and trained by Martin Lanney from Dundalk.

The other two unplaced dogs who made the final each received £400. They were Kincraig Rory, owned and trained by Allen Agnew from East Belfast and Nalps Crash, owned and trained by Helen Morrison from Ballymena.

Attitboy, handled by Hillsborough’s Ronnie McKeown for Exeter owner Dudley Wilmott, was a non-runner in the event.

Sarah Shimmons, Beer Marketing Manager for Tennent’s NI, is delighted at the success of the continuing relationship with Drumbo Park.

“We’re delighted to have partnered with Drumbo Park once again to support an event which has long been recognised as a highpoint of the sporting year and which is also a fantastic social occasion,” she says.

“We enjoyed a superb turnout for the gala final night with a thrilling finish to the headline race. The Grandstand Restaurant also enjoyed a full house which added to the electric atmosphere and general air of excitement and fun.

“Race-goers obviously enjoyed getting into the party atmosphere and we were thrilled that Caledonia Smooth has once again been an integral part of the craic that makes greyhound racing at Drumbo Park such a fun night out for newcomers as well as dyed in the wool ‘doggie men.’”