2014 top greyhound performances honoured at awards ceremony
The top greyhounds of 2014 were honoured on Saturday 2nd May at the Irish Greyhound Board’s Annual Awards Ceremony hosted in Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium. The event which was kindly sponsored by Galway Crystal, The Irish Independent & 96FM was attend by over 200 guests. This was the first time the awards were hosted during racing at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium and guests had the added thrill of watching the semi-finals of the Irish Independent Irish Greyhound Laurels!
The coveted awards for each individual category were presented by Minister of State, Tom Hayes TD to the associations of each of the following:
Dog of the Year: Laughil Blake
Owners: Ms Mary & Paul Jennings, Rathcormac, Co. Offaly
Breeder: Ms Mary Jennings, Rathcormac, Co. Offaly
Trainer: Michael O’Donovan, Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary
Bitch of the Year: Velvet All Jam
Owner: Mike Buckley, Doon, Co. Limerick
Breeder: Tadgh Buckley, Doon, Co. Limerick
Trainer: Owner
Sprinter of the Year: Crokers Champ
Owner: Jim Tracey, Butlerstown, Waterford
Breeders: David & Michael Power, Butlerstown, Co. Waterford
Trainer: Peter Cronin, Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny
Stayer of the Year: Sidarian Lisa
Owners: Sidarian Syndicate, Woking, England
Breeder: Shane O’Gorman, Portlaw, Co. Waterford
Trainer: Graham Holland, Golden, Co. Tipperary
Brood Bitch of the Year: Laughil Lass
Owner: Ms Mary Jennings, Kilcormac, Co. Offaly
Stud Dog of the Year: Kinloch Brae
Owner: Michael Dunne, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
Newcomer of The Year: Lenson Sanchez
Owner: Leonard Ponder, England
Breeder: Mrs Pauline Ryan, Knocklong, Co. Limerick,
Trainer: Pat Buckley, Cappawhite, Co. Tipperary
Noel Mullins from Gort, Co. Galway & Jerry Meila a native of Robertstown in Co. Kildare were both inducted into the IGB Hall of Fame.
Pat O Donovan, formerly of RTE & Harolds Cross Greyhound Stadium was awarded The Special Merit Award for year.
Brigid Franks, a member of the Retired Greyhound Trust who is based in Galway and Lillian Mazolla of the Italian re-homing agency GACI were both awarded the inaugural Greyhound Welfare Award.