MCCALMONT CUP WITH NEW SPONSOR AND PRIZEMONEY BOOST

Ian Fortune

Kilkenny track yesterday announced a new sponsor and increased prizemoney for one of the jewels in their crown, the McCalmont Cup.

Gary Hannon, who for some time has been a very generous sponsor of greyhound racing, and Kilkenny in particular, has stepped into back this year’s event and it will be known as the Deadly Kennels McCalmont Cup.

The competition, which is run these times as an A1/A2 contest, has seen the winner’s purse grow from €5,000 to €7,000. The total prize fund has also increased to a mighty impressive €16,000. The famous competition will be run as a 48-dog event and is open to back graders. 

Of course, the McCalmont Cup has a long and storied history with a number of famous names winning the competition in the past including the legendary Spanish Battleship who landed it in 1954 and ’55. Lax Law won the 1979 renewal, becoming the first greyhound to break 29 seconds around Kilkenny in the process.

Whether this year’s winner will go onto scale the same heights has yet to be seen but there will no doubt be some outstanding action through the valuable stake.   

Tom Kinane, the Kilkenny racing manager, was also keen to thank the Dunne family of the Frightful Flash Kennels fame for their sponsorship of the event in recent years. Said Tom, “They continue to be one of Kilkenny track’s greatest and longest serving sponsors and have again committed their support for 2024. A feature event, sponsored by the Dunne family will be run later in the year.

“We would like to acknowledge the continued sponsorship by both Gary Hannon and The Dunne Family. Their generosity and loyalty are very much appreciated by all associated with Kilkenny Track.”