The annual Drimoleague Road Trotting Meeting on St Stephens Day adds another chapter to a long standing tradition in West Cork, part of the heritage of the region which dates back over 143 years. Having ever only been cancelled on two occasions, in 1918 as a result of the English embargo on crowd events and in 1967 due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. All other cancellations due to weather conditions were re scheduled within the given season.
A large attendance turned out this afternoon in Drimoleague to ring in the new road racing season after a twelve months enforced lay off. Thirty five runners faced the starting flag for the afternoon where quality rather than quantity has become the order of the day. British imports took the two top grade events of the card with the local bred pacers taking the remaining four events, Stoneriggs Chris recorded his first Irish win in the feature Grade A event for owners Kieran McCarthy and John Joe O’Sullivan with Matthew O’Reilly in the plate, favourite in this one Matts Romeo had to settle for the runner up slot denying jockey David Brickley a four timer having earlier recorded victories on Rokocoko, Cams Decision and Lakeview Lobell. Road Trotting’s newest recruit Brywins Speedy recorded an easy victory for owner / trainer Sean Buckley in the Grade B and looks set to stamp his mark on this discipline with considerable ease, a replacement for the great Magical Mancini it remains to be seen if he can match or better the latters record.
Next outing will be the annual New Years Day festival meeting in Durrus followed by Ballygurteen on January 20th and Skibbereen on January 27th.
