College Causeway after his Irish Derby win, which helped him become the top tracker in Ireland of 2009

  PICTURE: Imelda Grauer  

College Causeway named Irish dog of the year

THERE was no surprise when the National Greyhound Awards were presented in Limerick on Sundayafternoon with College Causeway gaining his anticipated accolade as Dog of the Year.

The awards were presented by Minister for State Peter Power and there was a huge cheer from a large group of Kerry supporters when College Causeway was named as the supreme male tracker.

He had been an unbackable favourite for the honour after his sensational victory in the Paddypower.com Irish Derby final last September.

The son of Go Wild Teddy is owned by Mike and Vincent McKenna from Kerry, was bred close by in Killarney by Frank Culloty and was trained by Pat Buckley. Connections confirmed that the plan still is to bring the champion back from stud to defend his Derby title.

There was also no surprise when Skywalker Queen was named the Bitch of the Year. This daughter of Razldazl Billy and Nifty Princess won the Irish Oaks and then beat the top dogs in the Dundalk International and is trained by Frances O’Donnell for Ray Patterson from Devon.

Sean Mulcahy’s Corporate Attack, a winner at Shelbourne on Saturday night, was named the Marathon Racer of the Year while James Gibney’s Inny Blue was crowned the top sprinter. Maybe Baby got the nod as Brood Bitch of the Year.

There was a tremendous reception when the two Hall of Fame inductees were honoured. Don Cuddy was present to accept his trophy and completed an unusual double as he is already a member of the American Hallof Fame.

Phil O’Connell, wife of the late IGB Member Frank, accepted the posthumous Hall of Fame award for her husband.