OMEY Beach near Clifden in Connemara is always one of the best attended meeting on the circuit and last Sunday’s renewal was no exception as a large crowd witnessed the action.
Fourteen-year-old Adam Ellis will have fond memories of the day as he made his first ever trip to the winner’s enclosure, while the Craughwell, Co. Galway-based Gilligan family had a good day as Danny took the leading rider award with a treble while younger brother Ollie had earlier taken the 14hh race for his mother Natalie.
Adam Ellis who rides out for trainer Liam Cusack, teamed up with the Shanahoe-based owner/trainer Seamus Bergin to take the 14.2hh race with Waratah.
After a furlong, you wouldn’t have fancied their chances as Waratah blew the start but Adam never panicked and they came through to win by a couple of lengths.
Racing opened with a 14hh race and Bubbalicious won this in convincing style, making all in the hands of Ollie Gilligan.
Elder brother Danny then made his mark starting with the two-mile race where Non Postive ran out an easy winner for Athy, Co. Kildare owner Barry O’Sullivan.
Mr. Grey took the 12-furlong race for the Finnerty’s with Gilligan having to keep him at full stretch to see off the challenge of the Philip Byrnes-ridden Silver Dollar. The treble was completed in the 10-furlong race as Stormforce repeated his win of 12 months previously for another Athy owner, Tom Fennelly.
Philip Byrnes made another trip to the midlands region and he added a double to the treble of the previous week.He first took the mile race for P.J. Donnelly on Keeperhill as he dictated affairs from the front quickening clear when challenged.
He then went on to win the 15hh race on Never Say Die. Things didn’t go as smoothly here as he found himself further back than ideal but Byrnes picked his way through the gaps to win.