Garryowen Rugby Club go to the dogs this Thursday for their annual fund raising meeting to help sustain their youth development programme which provides entertainment for hundreds of youngsters on a weekly basis and also grooms some of those boys into future stars.

An attractive programme of racing has been arranged, including several sweep finals. There will be a winner's prize of €1,000 in the Crescent Shopping Centre mini-open. Just over a length separated the semi-final winners on the clock.

Pats Jack Hammer (6), owned by the P-J-H syndicate was third in the fastest heat when a total of five lengths behind the 28.72 winner.

Another of the finals tomorrow night will be over 700 yards and €800 awaits the winner. It was disappointing that only three runners took part in the opening semi-final in which the order was the same from start to finish. Shirley Dimple, owned by Geraldine Ryan, was third, beaten a total of nine lengths by the 38.93 winner.

The other heat was won in 39.11 and Shaneboy Sophia (5) was prominent all the way. Owned by Eoghan Kiely in Kilmallock, she was second, beaten a length by the strong finishing Summerfield Gift. Tarbrook State (6), owned by Michael Purtill of Croom was third in a Novice 1 Final, thanks to her very strong finish but she was seven-and-a-half lengths behind the 28.86 winner.

Joe O'Meara's Glory Munster (1) was wide at the first bend in an A1 Sweep Final and Arch Swing (3), owned by Noel and Mike Nash of Ballyneety, was one of two who were baulked. Katrola (5) made every yard, beating Banbas Vieri (2) by a length and a half in 28.73, with Miss Ashley Mangan's Banbas Premier (4) finishing third, three more lengths adrift.

The eight First Round heats of the Fr Ryan memorial sweep, eventual winner to scoop Ä2,400, were spread between Thursday and Sunday.

In the first of Saturday's heats, Blue Moon Rising (3) was third for Christy Enright of Fedamore, beaten a total of five lengths by the 29.16 winner.

Dick Gleeson's Brinkman went in as a reserve to trap three in heat six and led at the first bend before finishing second to the 29.07 winner.