THE curtain came down on the 2020 West Cork Harness Racing season in Dunmanway on Saturday afternoon and it was a case of the generation game with drivers in their teens, 20s, 30s, 40s and 70s all driving winners on the day.

It was a case of déjà vu from last week when “elder statesman”, John Boyle at 74 years young, landed the top-grade pace with Supreme Sunshine.

Indie Hanover, a winner the previous week, led early but Supreme Sunshine hit the front after two furlongs of the mile and 300 yards trip.

The order remained the same heading out on the final circuit where Awesome Dude joined the leaders but went off stride and lost his place.

As with his previous win, John Boyle got a rapturous reception when the result was called. “It was a great finish and I wasn’t sure whether I had won or not. Derek Jennings the driver of Indie Hanover looked at me and neither of us knew who had won. The lads gave me a great reception when the result was called and it means a lot,” Boyle stated.

Oisin Quill only recently turned 18 but this youngster has an old head on young shoulders. The young Kerryman and Hail Spartacus ran riot in the grade F Pace. Jay Bee and Mahogany Dreamer disputed leadership but Quill was waiting in the wings and took up the running on the final lap to run out an eight-length winner.

The win was the pair’s fourth success of the shortened season. The gelding is trained by Michael O’Donovan for Hillside Farms and the victory made him West Cork Pacer of The Year.

Sean Kane made all the running in the mares’ trot with Dinah Washington, Freedom Well came with a storming late challenge but failed by a nose to peg back the winner, with Belkalinja third.

Bright future

IB Paddington, jointly-owned by Bill Donovan of Florida and the Murphy Bros from nearby Baltimore, looks a horse with a really bright future.

The three-year son of Foreclosure was never too far off the pace and hit the front with an eighth of a mile to pace and won by three-and-a-half lengths from Pan Cam Income.

“He holds entries in the IHRA Juvenile series in Annaghmore and the Sire Stakes in Portmarnock so we keep him going until the end of the national season,” winning driver Donal Murphy told The Irish Field.

Brutenor, a former winner of the Maven Trot took the aged handicap. He was on a 20-yard trail and had to come from off the pace. Bella d’Espana and Banderillero Piya shared the lead but Patrick Hill always had matters in hand and won by a length.

To sum up, after the late start to the season there were 10 local meetings in West Cork. Special thanks are due to the Ballabuidhe Committee owners of the track in Dunmanway where seven of those meetings were held.

Lyre held two meetings on Ger Hegarty’s land. Thanks also go to Derry McCarthy owner of the grass track at Bishopsland, Caheragh.