Whoever is responsible for the further upgrading of the Markets Field as a fast surface must have a keen sense of humour. It is a total joke to think that a greyhound who goes round the 525 in 28.70 is officially rated as having returned 29.00.

The going for 300 yards is now rated to be .15 fast, for the 525 and 550 contests it is rated .30 fast and over 700 yards the going is deemed to be .60 fast.

A whopping nine and a half lengths separated the winners of the two semi-finals of an A5 sweep on Saturday and by far the best run was that by Lazerus (Droopys Scholes-Quanns Lady) in the first semi-final.

Owned by Michael and Eamonn Duggan of Newmarket-On-Fergus, Lazerus flew out of trap four, led round the first bend, and went clear for a six lengths win in 28.74 which becomes 29.04. Suntini (2), owned by Mark Cussen of Rathkeale was second when two lengths in front of Seven Magpies (3), owned by Jack McGann in Mungret.

There was no local qualifier in the other heat. That was the only sweep action.

In a tight finish to an Open 550, the Pat Conway-trained and Michael O’Donovan-owned Kilbreedy Vieri (Droopys Vieri-Fleetfoot Shadow) hit the front early from trap five. He made all, having his eight win from thirteen starts and then held on to win by a head in 29.97.

Barney and Ian McMahon from Abbeyfeale sent in the winner of the opening A9 when their Webbie (Droopys Vieri-Durham Lass), trained by Denis Hayes, made all, scoring by five lengths in 29.31, beating Patrick Keogh’s Kilfinny Rumble (3), who finished a length in front of Gifted Flame (2).

Fastaway Teddy (Go Wild Teddy-Lifes Serenade) went clear from the second bend in the S3 over 300 yards to win for Percy Ryan and Robert Bedford by six lengths in 16.27 for trainer Denis P O’Malley. Gortglass Mal (Droopys Maldini-Middle Honcho) was a two lengths winner of the A3 in 29.08 for Martin and Michael Kennedy.

The annual Limerick Civic Trust fund raising night was again a big success and Marazion Queen (Droopys Kewell-Killacolla Lady) was fastest of the night over 525, going clear of her rivals in the A1 Bitch race for a seven lengths win in 28.58 for Aoiffeann and Una Fitzgerald.

The first three in the A4 Sweep Final were all locally owned. Inislosky Curlew (Hotshow Ben-Countrywide Star) made all from trap two for a four lengths win in 28.91 for Mary Crotty of O’Brien’s Bridge, from Fiona Harnett’s No Fee, who was a length in front of Nibble Me, owned by Bobby Burton of Croom.

Elaine O’Reilly from Kilmallock must have been pleased that her Alaskan Princess (Droopys Scholes-Hidden Path) went in as reserve to trap two in the A8. She made all for a four lengths win in 29.52 from Mary McCormack’s Knocklong Sally.

Sheaintalady, owned by Declan Murphy, led at the first bend in the Novice 2 but was second for the rest of the trip, and beaten half a length by the 29.88 winner.

Robert Peter Williams from Rathkeale enjoyed a sixth win from nine starts when his Natural Disaster (Tucks Mein-Shaunas Flash) led from the third bend in the final of the A3 over 550 yards, and went on for a two lengths win in 30.10. Denis O’Malley took the Open 700 when Banker (Hondo Black-Savana Woods) made all for the Keep It Country syndicate of Bruff in an excellent 38.98. Paddy Hennessy of Kilteely was successful in the D2 over 700 yards with Leamaneigh Beag (World Class-Honchos Trix) scoring by a length and a half in 39.54.

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