Rhyds Ponder takes Old Chapel, crowned 2016 Champion

The pair set their usual blistering pace and led Dream Maker and Lakeside Dragon through the first two turns, as the intense pace looked to have taken its toll on Ponder at the third turn with four furlongs to pace .

Dream Maker closed on the run to the final turn and looked as if he would reel in the winner, but Goggin had given the leader a breather and on the stiff uphill climb to the finish line, pulled away from the 2015 champion, to record a hugely popular success for the Forbes family from Drimoleague who are lifetime supporters of the sport in West Cork.

Dream Maker was an eight length second but lost nothing in defeat and Lakeside Dragon was a further ten lengths back in third .

Rhyds Ponder started his winning run here in Old Chapel last year in the Grade C and has gone on to remain unbeaten since.

There was a huge welcome in the winners enclosure with everyone trying to get in to congratulate the winning connections.

Those scenes were also seen earlier in the day when Lakeview Walter, owned locally by C & R Joyce, was triumphant in the D Class. IB Rapido looked to have done enough to win, but was collared close home by Lakeview Walter, who followed up on his recent Durrus success .

David Brickley second on Dream Maker in the feature rode two winners on the day.

The classy veteran Ringo Kid made light work of his five rivals in the Grade E .This son of Timon Del Sol led from the start and never looked in any danger of defeat romping to a five length win from Wellfield Damian.

Tactician Du Lys, an imported French Trotter, has only tasted defeat once and was all the rage to win another but Brickley had Meadowbranch Kiki in front early and reallty served it up to his vaunted rival and despite a late rally this son of KikiColt had two lengths in hand at the finish .

The opening Novice Pace was full of drama .Lakeview Romeo had a heathly advantage early but See You Later led at the second turn .Facing the final turn See You Later went off stride and allowed Lakeview Romeo to lead and win.

The ITHRF next week launch a new monthly draw confined to 300 tickets with a prize of 1000 euros on offer each month and three consolation prizes of 100 euros. Tickets costing just 10 euros each and are available from any club member.

The final road meeting of the season takes place next Sunday in Ballydehob.

by Tim Kelleher, for Harnesslink

RESULTS

Novice Pace (The Brian Wison Cup)

1. M Kelleher LAKEVIEW ROMEO Marie Moloney

2. S Crowley SEE YOU LATER J O Reilly

3. N Forbes THE HATCHET LADY M O Reilly

DIST 4l 6l SP EV 4/5 3/1 3 Ran

Grade E (The Paddy Desmond & Jerry O Mahony Memorial cup)

1. Jennie Brickley RINGO KID D Brickley

2. H Bennett WELLFIELD DAMIAN Marie Moloney

3.C O Reilly HAKUNA MATATA M Ahern

DIST 5l 5l SP 1/3 3/1 5/1 6 Ran

Grade D (The Noel Ryan Trophy)

1. C & R Joyce LAKEVIEW WALTER M O Reilly

2. A & S Buckley IB RAPIDO T O Leary

3. C O Sullivan HILLSIDE DARTANIAN Deirdre Goggin

DIST 2l 8l SP 6/4 EV 2/1 5 Ran

Grade C (The Mick Twomey & Donie Barry Memorial Cup)

1. Shanahan / Brickley MEADOWBRANCH KIKI D Brickley

2. G Kane TACTICIAN DU LYS T O Leary

3. J O Sullivan TALAVARY SONGSTER Deirdre Goggin

DIST 2l 10l SP 2/1 2/5 3/1 3 Ran

ALL IRELAND ROAD TROTTING FINAL (The John D Crowley Memorial Cup)

1. N Forbes RHYDS PONDER Deirdre Goggin

2. Shanahan / Mycock DREAM MAKER D Brickley

3. M Ahern LAKESIDE DRSGON Owner

DIST 8l 10l SP EV 2/1 2/1 5 Ran