TODAY’s second session of the Fermanagh Harriers’ two-day meeting at Necarne Castle brings the season to a close in the Northern Region as it has done in recent years but, not so in 1977 when racing took place at Rossahilly and the Killultaghs ran a week later at Lennymore.

Rosemary Rooney recorded a double on the Fermanaghs’ six-race card on Wednesday, April 20th at Rossahilly, on Coradene and Zamara, while the Bryce-Smiths’ Blueroy gelding Priory Road won his fourth race of the campaign when landing the Dunbar Cup under Colin Magnier.

In 1987, when the February 28th meeting took place on the very flat track at Enniskillen Airport, Rosemary landed the concluding Goffs Punchestown National Hunt Festival Race on Triaurum. The Golden Love gelding, who was bringing up a hat-trick, scored by six lengths and a distance from Gravel Hill (John Sleator) and Meentiagh Glen (Paul Larkin).

Sleator had earlier been on the mark in the mares’ maiden on Woodville Rose while Tony Martin landed the opening adjacent hunts’ race on the McCarren family’s great mare Jet Black who carried 12st 10lb to a 20-length success. Other winning riders included Robert Steele and Graeme Martin.

The going was heavy at the Airport on Saturday, March 1st, 1997 when two races were divided to give an eight-race card. The McCarrens again won the adjacent with a mare, Missing Lady, who was partnered to victory by Chris McCarren while Ian Buchanan completed a short-priced double on High Star (open) and Welsh Sitara (division two of the mares’ maiden). Among the latter’s progeny was the one-time highly-regarded Red Devil Lads.

In contrast, the ground was firm for the hunt’s two-day fixture at Necarne Castle on May 4th and 5th, 2007.

Helping Clare MacMahon land a hat-trick of ladies’ titles, Michael Winters’ Uasaka landed the winners of three on the Friday card. Derek O’Connor rode two winners that evening and one the following afternoon, while the final race of the weekend, the seven-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden, went to Ballyhafry. That Germany gelding was ridden by Noel McParlan who, at time of writing this week’s column, looks assured of claiming the Northern Region riders’ title for a third time this weekend.