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National  Greyhound Racing Awards

2023 National Greyhound Racing Awards

Congratulations to our Nominees

The nominees for the RCÉ/GRI National Greyhound Racing Awards have been announced. The Awards ceremony will honour the stars of greyhound racing in 2023 and the nominees were voted on by the selection committee.

The winners in each of the categories will be announced at the Awards ceremony & Dinner which will take place on Friday 12th April at Limerick Greyhound Stadium.

The 2023 National Greyhound Racing Award nominees are:

DOG OF THE YEAR
⭐Clonbrien Treaty
⭐Swords Rex
⭐The Other Kobe

BITCH OF THE YEAR
Bockos Crystal
⭐Crafty Shivoo
⭐Droopys Mandolin

SPRINTER OF THE YEAR
Ballinakill Alf
⭐Carrick Aldo
⭐Gizmo Cash

STAYER OF THE YEAR
Garfiney Blaze
⭐Highjay Muzzy
⭐Kinturk Road

BROOD BITCH OF THE YEAR
Beaming Smasher
⭐Droopys Curio
⭐Mountaylor Queen

STUD DOG OF THE YEAR
Ballymac Best
⭐Droopys Sydney
⭐Laughil Blake

FUTURE STAR
Faypoint Harvey
⭐Scooby Countess
⭐Whyaye Bonnylad

An additional greyhound award, that of Supreme Greyhound of the Year will be announced during the Awards ceremony.

⭐ Hall of Fame: Denis O’Malley

The Hall of Fame award for 2023 has been unveiled as well known Drombanna, Co. Limerick man Denis O'Malley.  

Denis enjoyed a training career that spanned almost seventy years and this national accolade recognises his long history in the sport of greyhound racing and his contribution to racing at tracks across the country.  Sadly, Denis passed away just a matter of weeks ago and his wife Carmel will accept this award on his behalf.

⭐ Special Merit: Finbarr Coleman

The Special Merit award recipient for 2023 has been announced as Finbarr Coleman, a man who is a familiar face in tracks across Munster, having worked in many of them since the early 1970's.  Finbarr is being honoured for his over four decades of service primarily as a Racing Manager but in latter years was a reliable stand-in for Control Stewards across the South.

⭐ Welfare Award: John & Patricia Nash 

The recipient of the Welfare Award for 2023 has been confirmed as husband and wife duo John & Patricia Nash of Monard, Co. Tipperary.

John & Patricia have over the past number of years assisted numerous owners with the rehoming of their retired greyhounds through their association with Italian Rehoming Organisations.  They facilitate the transition of retired greyhounds from racing to their Italian families by providing interim care, comprehensive socialisation  and preparation for rehoming at their Monard Kennels.  

Since 2020 they have successfully facilitated the rehoming of approximately 60 greyhounds to their new families in Italy.

The National Greyhound Racing Awards 2023 will take place on Friday 12th April in Limerick Greyhound Stadium.

Celebrating the achievements in 2023

The date and venue for the National Greyhound Racing Awards have been announced.

Date: Friday 12th April 2024
Venue: Limerick Greyhound Stadium 

Honouring the achievements in Irish Greyhound Racing in 2023, the nominees will be announced in coming weeks.

Stay tuned for further updates and announcements regarding the nominees and event details.

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2022 National Greyhound Racing Award Winners

Our 2022 Awards Cermemony took place at Curraheen Park this May. Full list of winners & photos are available below.

A huge congratulations to all of our well-deserving award winners, as seen below. 

⭐ Supreme Greyhound of the Year - Born Warrior 
⭐ Dog of the Year - Born Warrior 
⭐ Bitch of the YearRaha Mofo 
⭐ Sprinter of the Year -  Gizmo Cash 
⭐ Stayer of the Year - Crafty Kokoro
⭐ Brood Bitch of the Year - Mountaylor Queen
⭐  Stud Dog of the Year - Droopys Sydney
⭐ Future Star of the Year - Clona Duke
⭐ Hall of Fame - Sheila Spillane
⭐ Special Merit - Jimmy Maguire
⭐ Welfare Award - Lisa Dail 
⭐ Welfare Award - Janet Diehl

PHOTOS: 2022 National Greyhound Racing Award Winners

PHOTOS: ENJOYING THE AWARDS

Photos: Enjoying the 2022 National Greyhound Racing Awards

Video: 2022 National Greyhound Racing Awards

If you cannot see the embedded video above, click here to watch on our Youtube channel. 

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Celebrating the Greyhound Racing Stars of 2022

Venue: Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium, Cork

Awards Ceremony: Friday 5th May

2022 National Greyhound Racing Award Nominees

DOG OF THE YEAR

⭐Born Warrior
⭐Romeo Magico
⭐Swords Rex

BITCH OF THE YEAR

⭐Bobsleigh Dream
⭐Crafty Kokoro
⭐Raha Mofo

SPRINTER OF THE YEAR

⭐Flashing Willow
⭐Gizmo Cash
⭐Hawkfield Ozark

STAYER OF THE YEAR

⭐Crafty Kokoro
⭐Hello Hammond
⭐Magical Poppy

BROOD BITCH OF THE YEAR

⭐Ballymac Petsy
⭐Bobsleigh Jet
⭐Mountaylor Queen

STUD DOG OF THE YEAR

⭐Ballymac Best
⭐Droopys Sydney
⭐Laughil Blake

FUTURE STAR OF THE YEAR

⭐Ballymac Johnjo
⭐Clona Duke
⭐Up The Style

SUPREME GREYHOUND OF THE YEAR

⭐TO BE ANNOUNCED AT THE AWARDS CEREMONY

Congratulations to all of our nominees and we wish them continued success in their careers. 

HUMAN AWARD CATEGORIES

⭐HALL OF FAME - SHEILA SPILLANE

The Hall of Fame award for 2022 has been unveiled as Killeagh, Co. Cork woman Sheila Spillane.  Sheila is well known far and wide in greyhound circles as the "Burgess Woman".  Sheila and her late husband John, enjoyed some great success in the world of greyhound racing and more recently her partnership with her son-in-law JJ Fennelly has produced plenty of winners.

⭐SPECIAL MERIT - JIMMY MAGUIRE

The Special Merit award for 2022 has been announced as Jimmy Maguire.  The Portlaw man is well known for his connections with Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium.  Having previously served as Chairman, Jimmy continues to a fantastic supporter of the venue.

WELFARE AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED

 The recipients for the Greyhound Welfare Awards at the RCÉ/GRI National Greyhound Racing Awards 2022 have been announced by RCÉ.

There are two worthy recipients for 2022.

⭐MS LISA DAIL ON BEHALF OF GOLD COAST GREYHOUND ADOPTIONS

Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions (GCGA) is based in the Tampa Bay, Florida (USA) area and has been in operation since 2003.  This all-volunteer organisation is dedicated to finding loving qualified forever homes for retired racing greyhounds and other related sighthounds.

Lisa Dail is the President of GCGA resides in Florida with her 11 hounds, 2 tortoises and 2 macaws.  After several years educating others on both greyhounds and racing, Lisa now heads up this fully volunteer organisation, helping to co-ordinate all aspects of greyhound adoption.  Lisa has partnered with the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust since 2021 as part of the Greyhound Pets of America Adoption Programme.

⭐MS JANET DIEHL ON BEHALF OF ADOPTABLE GREYHOUNDS OF FLORIDA

Adoptable Greyhounds of Florida was founded in 2017 by Janet Diehl, Bob Diehl and Diane Melvin.  There are a non-profit completely operated with the support of their fantastic volunteers.  Their mission is to rehome ex-racing greyhounds while educating the public on the care they received as racers, and what wonderful pets they make on retirement.  Janet and her husband Bob adopted their first greyhound in 2001 and they currently have 4 greyhounds sharing their couch – Dougie, Mimosa, Smoochie and Max.

Janet has also been a partner with the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust since 2021 as part of the Greyhound Pets of America Adoption Programme.

Both ladies and their organisations will be honoured at the National Greyhound Racing Awards 2022 ceremony on Friday 5th May which will be hosted in Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium, Cork.

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Watch the 2021 Greyhound Racing Awards

Congratulations to the winners in each of the categories of the RCÉ/GRI National Greyhound Awards, which took place on Sunday 13th March 2022. 

 If you cannot see the embedded video above, click here to watch on our Youtube channel. 

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Photographs: Award Winners

As our ceremony was hosted virtually this year, trophies are currently being delivered to our Award Winners and we'll share photographs as they are. 

Watch the 2020 National Greyhound Racing Awards

If you cannot see the embedded video above, click here to watch on our Youtube channel.

Video: 2019 National Greyhound Racing Awards

Photo: 2019 National Greyhound Awards 

Video: National Greyhound Racing Awards 2018

A look back at the 2018 National Greyhound Racing Awards 2018, held on Sunday 24th March 2019. 

Video: Supreme Greyhound of the Year 2018

 

Video: IGB National Greyhound Racing Awards 2017

Highlights of the awards ceremony on Sunday 29th April 2018. 

Photos: IGB National Greyhound Racing Awards 2017

 

Video: National Greyhound Racing Awards 2016

Video: National Greyhound Racing Awards 2015