Boylesports.com Dundalk International 2008
Boylesports.com Dundalk International 2008 at Dundalk Stadium
For both sport and social excitement the place to be was Dundalk Stadium for the weekend of the 12th July.
Saturday kicked off with an 8 race horse card at 2.15pm, during the racing stunning TV3's Karen Koster, Fashion Ambassador for HRI mingled with the crowds picking her 15 finalists for the Marshes Shopping Centre Best Dressed Lady Competition. Karen found it difficult to choose only 15 finalists as glamorous ladies arrived in their droves to enjoy the Jacobs Creek Sparkling Rosé reception in the special Lady's Day Marquee and peruse hats, bags and much more from Butterflyz & Angelz. Each lady received a goody bag with a bottle of Jacobs Creek Sparkling Rosé.
Karen's favourite top three of these 15 finalists were brought to the parade ring for the overall winner of the €5,000 Marshes Shopping Centre voucher. There with Brendan McArdle and our very own Louth Rose Carol Ann Keenan she introduced the three ladies and presented them each with a beautiful bouquet; Michelle Curran from Newcastle, Co. Down who came third and was wearing an electric blue dress, shoes and hat, Hillary Power from Bellewstown came second with her own creation which she fashioned together using three scarves, and Siobhan Rooney from Ardee won the main prize with her sensational champagne strapless dress from Berling in Newry, her hat was specially designed for her for the day by Elizabeth Tumelty of Featherhead Designs in Ardee, her hat and sandles were bought that morning in Footloose, Ardee as was her jewellery in The Station, Ardee, her make up was done by Clodagh Arthur of Exhale Essential Therapy, Dowdalshill, Dundalk and her hair was done by Look Alive, Ardee. Harry Traynor, Centre Manager of the Marshes Shopping Centre presented the generous €5,000 voucher to Siobhan.
It was then onto the main racing event of the day, the Boylesports.com Dundalk International 2008. Some of the top greyhounds from Ireland and England lined up at 9pm for the race; in Trap 1 Forest Baby, Trap 2 Blonde Dino, Trap 3 Tyrur Laurel, Trap 4 Romeo Maldini, Trap 5 College Causeway and Trap 6 Skywalker Ace. Despite the favourites being College Causeway and Skywalker Ace, Blonde Dino powered ahead at the last bend and won by 2 lengths in 29.76. Owner Mark Currell and trainer John Mullins were delighted with the €25,000 prize.
Jim Martin, CEO Dundalk Stadium said 'It was a fantastic day, we were very lucky with the weather and a great time was had by all. We are now looking forward to our next dual meeting on the 15th August, it has always been a big greyhound race day for us here at the Stadium with the final of the Bar One Racing Irish Sprint Cup. We will now have an afternoon horse race card following the same timetable as the 12th July.'
