THERE WAS a great turn-out on Monday of last week for the Shelmaliers G.A.A. club night, and the feature event, the final of the Christy Doyle Memorial A2/A3 with €2,500 euro to the winner, produced a really good race.

The Harry Seery-trained ' Rustys Coyote', owned by Bill McCluskey (Buckinghamshire), was sent off the 5/4 favourite and, after the previous week's impressive win, it was justified. However, as traps went up 'Rusty' missed the break and looked to have it all to do going to the first bend, but he got lucky and got a lovely run around the outside to go to the front at the third bend and ran on well to hold the unlucky 'Metric Daisy' who ran on strongly to get to half a length at the line in a good 28.94. That was 'Rustys Coyote's' fourth race of his short career and he looks a fine prospect for some of the upcoming puppy events as he is only an October '08.

The first round of the Nobooth for Gary Unraced Stake also took place with all six heats run, Heat one went to the Aidan Roche-owned and trained 'Kingsmill Athena' who led from her trap six draw to score by two and a half lengths from 'Yeboahs Minnie' in 29.36.

Heat two saw some clever tracking by the David Jordan-owned 'Archaton Linda' who stole through nicely at the first bend after missing her break to go on to beat favourite 'Bar The One' who ran wide on the bends, with 'Linda' scoring in 29.23.

Heat three was a troublesome race and trap one runner 'Holly and Berry' led and scored by eight lengths for owner Eddie Moore (Dundalk) in 29.53. Heat four saw the Tina Cooke (Co. Kildare)-owned 'Lughill Sarah' come from behind leader 'Tintern Lass' to score in a useful 29.15.

Heat five saw the first sub-29 second run of the stake when the 'Shanks' Whelan (Piercestown)owned 'Piercestown Bag' scored an easy win by nine and a lengths in a fine 28.94. The last heat saw the fastest run of the night when 'Cool It Baby' left her field for dead to score by twelve lengths in a superb 28.70 for owner Trevor Cummins (Navan).

The eighth race, the Dinny Byrne Memorial, was won in good style by ' Rathvilly Beauty', owned by Paudie Doyle (Carlow), who led and ran out a clear five-length winner in 29.38 (grade A7). The ninth race, an A6, went to the Mary Nolan (Enniscorthy)-owned and Brian McCanntrained 'Peanut' who scored like a long odds-on favourite should by seven and a half lengths in 29.23.

The tenth, an A4, saw a good effort from reserve U, 'Headwire Blue', owned by Seamus Dempsey and James Kehoe. He led and ran out a snug four and a half length winner in 28.98. The eleventh race, an A3 575, was a very competitive race with 'Lady Loury Lee' getting home by a length from 'Skyview Bound' for the EOC Syndicate in a time of 32.66.

There was more great news as it was announced that the Michael Frayne (Enniscorthy)-owned ' Clearview Kelly' scored a superb victory in Youghal when winning the Hondo Black Southern Oaks despite her poor draw in trap five. She led and held on to score a great win in a super time of 28.67, only a length off the track record. Well done indeed and what a super bitch 'Clearview' is.

It's been a hectic week, and the Pettitt's night on Thursday saw another big turn-out and some excellent racing .The feature event of course was the final of the Pettitt's A3/A4 Sweepstake with a big €4,000 first prize, and it was a thrilling race with only a short head deciding the verdict.

As traps went up, 'Compass Bernie' was out well and led from 'Cleaboy Darren'. 'Bernie' continued to lead but 'Cleaboy' joined her between the final bend but drifted a little wide off the final bend, and that made the difference as they drove for the line.

'Compass Bernie' just did enough to lift this valuable prize by a short head in 28.96 for the owner/trainer team of Helen and Stephen Wadsworth (Co. Cork). Pettitt's put on a great night with goody bags for the children, finger food and face paintings etc.

The Up the Deise July Unraced Stake has reached the semi-finals, and the first went to the Martin Monaghan (Co. Wexford)-owned 'Rockside Jono' who scored a clear three-length win in 29.29. 'Barnacrow Hero' ran on to take the second qualifying place.

The second semi saw 'Related Star', owned by Charles Kavanagh, score by eight lengths from 'Barnacrow Boss' in 29.56 to take a place in this week's final, while the third semi saw the Patrick Sheil-owned 'Johnnies Buddy' lead and hold on to score by three quarters of a length from 'Big Value' in 29.36 to complete the line-up.

The fourth race, an A4, went to the Phelim Gorman (Co. Carlow)-owned 'Hipower Elite', scoring by three and a half lengths from 'Telex Boss' in 29.42. 'Old Boy Seamus', owned by Brian Murphy (Enniscorthy) and trained by John Kavanagh, still has what it takes when leading and running on well to score by three lengths from 'Moss House Flyer' in a fast 31.46 (575 yards)for his 20th win of his career.

Race six saw 'Sanyhill Selina' score by three lengths from 'Sunfire Impact' in a good 29 seconds for owners K. and P. Ramsbottom (Portlaoise). The eighth race, an A2, saw a fine display of early pace from 'Piercestown Ping', owned by 'Shanks' Whelan. She did ping out of traps and ran home a very impressive winner in a speedy 28.89.

'Elusive Joe' took 17 races before he won one and he followed up in the ninth race, an A0 600, when leading and scoring by five lengths in 33.11 for owner Phil Ryan (Co. Carlow). The tenth race, an A1 575, saw reserve W 'Bish Bash Bosh', trained by Maria Byrne, score by two and a half lengths from 'Clonroche Lark' in 31.75.