Irish Coursing Club

It is with great sadness that we bring news of the sudden death of John Moloney, Knockgraffon Coursing Club.
John will be fondly remembered by everyone who came in contact with him on a coursing field, at a greyhound track or at the ICC Munster Provincial meetings and AGMs which he loved to attend with his great friend Jimmy Kelly.

John was Chairman of Knockgraffon Coursing Club for over 45 years which must make him possibly the longest serving Club Chairman in the country.
He gave tremendous service to his Club and it was therefore very fitting that he should win this year’s Inter Club Champion Working Members Stake at the Irish Cup meeting with his greyhound Under Achiever.

Our sympathy to his wife Mairead, daughter Irene, sons Don, PJ, Alan and Paul (National Hunt Jockey). Also to the extended Moloney Family and to the members of Knockgraffon Coursing Club who have lost their ‘Captain’.

Reposing at his home in Lagganstown, New Inn on Friday 18th May from 4pm to 8pm.
Removal to New Inn Church on Saturday afternoon for Funeral Mass at 3pm.
Burial immediately afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
House Private on Saturday.

May he Rest In Peace.

IRISH COURSING CLUB NOTICE TO ALL COURSING CLUBS

Attention is drawn to Rule 135 of the ICC whereby “a report of the annual meeting and a list of the officers and committee appointed shall be sent to the Secretary of the Irish Coursing Club not later than May 1st each year”.

CONNACHT: Monday 28th May at 8pm in the Oranmore Lodge Hotel, Galway.

ULSTER: Tuesday 29th May at 2pm in Quinns Corner, Dungannon.

LEINSTER: Wednesday 30th May at 2pm in the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge.

MUNSTER: Thursday 31st May at 2pm in the Charleville Park Hotel.

All nominations for election to the Executive Committee (proposed and seconded) and motions must be submitted to the ICC, Davis Road, Clonmel no later than close of business on Friday 11th May.

The Sporting Press is advertising for a Business Manager.
This person will be expected to manage and co-ordinate all aspects of the paper to ensure we provide our readership wth high quality content, up-to-date news both National and International, coupled with an enhanced web based presence to accomodate the changing profile of the greyhound public.

The full advertisement will appear on this week’s edition of the Sporting Press.

Closing Date for applications is Friday, May 11th.

FURTHER ADDITION TO ORIGINAL NOTICE
Will owners and handlers please note that the correct muzzle and collar MUST be fitted before presenting your greyhound to the Control Steward.

ADDITION TO ORIGINAL NOTICE
Please note that Judges may request to examine a muzzle at the end of a course if it gives cause for concern. Please comply with this request to ensure the safety of the greyhound and most importantly the hare.

ORIGINAL NOTICE
It is the duty of the Control Steward and Slip Steward to ensure the appropriate coursing muzzle is fitted correctly prior to each course. It is not intended to cause offence to owners while undertaking this duty.
Owners/Trainers are advised to ensure the correct size muzzle (Bitch muzzle or Male muzzle) is fitted sufficiently tight to prevent a muzzle becoming dislodged on impact with the ground or other object.
The condition of the muzzle and in particular the webbing should be noted.
The implementation of this procedure is to protect the welfare of the greyhound and most importantly the hare.
Thank you for your co-operation.

D.J. Histon,
Secretary I.C.C.

Please note change to Rule.
What was THREE courses is now FIVE for the new season.

2011/12 Season
President: Brian Divilly
Treasurer: John Egan

Executive Committee:
Chairman: Brendan Purcell; Vice Chairman: Tom Mulcahy
Members: Berkie Browne, Brian Divilly, Liam Drennan, John Egan, Brendan Farrelly, Paddy Holohan, Pat Loughlin, Fran Mangan, Lexie Marmion, Damien Matthews, Tony McNamee, Gerry Meehan, Tom Murphy, Tim O’Donovan, Jimmy O’Regan, Eamon Quinn, Des Tighe.

Provincial Committee Chairmen:
Connacht: Lexie Marmion
Leinster: Tony McNamee
Munster: Jack O’Rourke
Ulster : Charlie McDaid

‘The Executive Committee at its meeting on September 22nd 2011 made the following appointments to the respective committees.

Finance and Management Committee
Chairman: Brian Divilly
John Egan (Treasurer), DJ Histon (Secretary), Fran Mangan, Damien Matthews, Gerry Meehan.

General Purposes Committee (Chairman to be appointed)
Liam Drennan, Pat Loughlin, Lexie Marmion, Tom Mulcahy, Tom Murphy, Jimmy O’Regan, Des Tighe, DJ Histon (Secretary)

Northern Sub-Committee (Two additional members to be co-opted)
Damien Matthews, Des Tighe, DJ Histon (Secretary)

AI Administration Committee
As General Purposes Sub Committee (except Secretary)
Chairman appointed by Executive Committee

AI Appeals Committee
To be selected by President and Chairman Executive Committee
Limited to five members.

€20,000 REWARD ...for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the injury and suffering of the hare released on video by Association of Hunt Saboteurs, alleging to be at Powerstown Park, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary on February 2010.

The hare in this video, which was released on the youtube website eight weeks following the National Meeting, is clearly restrained with a wire or thin cord, and appears to be convulsing. Closer inspection will show the hare is trying to escape from being restrained, and is possibly partly sedated or poisoned. Claims are made this video was taken during the third day of the National Coursing Meeting, February 3, 2010, but due to the constant presence of paddock stewards/other personnel, and other related details, this is extremely unlikely. A break-in to the hare park prior to the National Meeting was previously reported to the Gardai. The Gardai at Clonmel are currently investigating this act of cruelty. The Irish Coursing Club unreservedly condemns the maltreatment of this hare. We strongly urge anyone with relevant information to come forward on whoever perpetrated this act of cruelty to discredit coursing. Please contact the Clonmel Detective Branch Office *052 6122222* or the Garda Confidential number *1800 666111*

Bitch and litter inspections, both track and coursing, will take place on a continuous basis going forward. This practice is in keeping with maintaining the integrity of the Stud Book and to assist in verifying breeding data for all industry stakeholders. The format will entail inspection of bitches prior/post whelping and will be conducted by dedicated inspection staff.
The success of this activity is dependent on full co-operation by all.

Signed: Keeper of the Stud Book, D.J. Histon

In recent years, a neurological condition of greyhounds has been observed at University College Dublin (UCD).
This condition occurs in young dogs aged between four and 18 months, of both sexes, and often affects multiple animals in the same litter. The clinical signs vary in severity and type, but include any combination of dullness, weight loss, head tilt, unsteady gait, circling, blindness, aggression and vocalisation. The condition is invariably fatal despite treatment, and can be confirmed only by post-mortem examination.
Although the occurrence of this disorder in multiple animals of the same litter is suggestive of an underlying infectious cause, exhaustive research to date has failed to implicate the standard agents likely to be responsible. University College Dublin has examined cases over a number of years, indicating that the disorder continues to exist within the Irish greyhound industry.
UCD has recently obtained funding to undertake further investigations and would appreciate your help in identifying new cases. If you observe any of the above clinical signs, or have any greyhounds in which you suspect a brain problem, we would be grateful if you could contact us, in confidence, at the numbers or emails listed below. Individual cases can be discussed, and if warranted, clinical assessment and initial screening tests performed free of charge.

Robert Shiel:
Telephone 01 7166000; or email robert.shiel@ucd.ie

Sean Callanan:
Telephone 01 7166152; or email sean.callanan@ucd.ie