The Irish Sprint Cup, formerly known as the Irish National Cup and Irish National Sprint, is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Dundalk Stadium in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. It is a prestigious invitation event held for Ireland's leading sprinters and is an integral part of the Irish greyhound racing calendar.
History It was first held at the Dunmore Park Greyhound Stadium in 1932 and again from 1938 until 2000 until the track closed in 1996 and then it returned in 1999 at Ballyskeagh before switching to Dundalk in 2004. The event was sponsored by Guinness from 1965 until 1996.
Venues and distances 1932–1940 (Dunmore Park, 435 yards) 1942–1942 (Celtic Park, 375 yards) 1943–1996 (Dunmore Park, 435 yards) 1999–2002 (Ballyskeagh/Drumbo Park, 325 yards) 2004–2004 (Dundalk, 410 yards) 2005–present (Dundalk, 400 yards)
Sponsors 1965–1996 (Guinness) 2004–2025 (Bar One Racing Ltd)
Winners YearWinnerBreedingTimeTrainerSPNotes/refs1932 Guideless Joe Guiding Hand – Flaming Fire 24.11 Mick Horan 1/3f 1938British Destiny Fulford – Miss Orville 24.99Billie Dunlop 13/81939 Lone Kil Lone Man – Lucky Plum 24.69Mrs W. McL. Wallace 7/1 1940 Farloe Border Valiant Cutlet – Roeside Cook 24.03D. McCann 10/11f 1941not held due to Foot-and-mouth disease1942Fair Mistress Saccadee – Edith Bronte 20.54Frank Moore 1/3f 1943Fair Mistress Saccadee – Edith Bronte 24.03Frank Moore 4/7f Track record1944Mad Tanist Tanist – Mad Darkie 24.11 Jack McAllister no SP Track record1945 Oranmore Bandit Rebel Light – Duffy's Tea Again 24.08 M. Twibill4/7f 1946Count Lally Inler Irish – Lady of the Gale24.56 Jack McAllister 4/5f 1947 Fair Moving Well Squared – Fair Light 24.32J. McMullan 7/4 dead-heat 1947Rockfield Light Well Squared – Fair Light 24.32 W. P. O'Kane 10/1 dead-heat1948 Leamas Sport Sporting Tanist – Misers Curse 24.66 W. P. O'Kane 3/1 1949 Burndennet Brook Great Climber – Cherokee Girl 23.99H. Gallagher 4/5f 1950 Sandown Champion Mad Tanist – Good Record 23.86 J. Killeen 1/6f Track record1951 Mad Companion Bellas Prince – Maddest Yet 23.88 Jack McAllister 4/7f 1952 Kilrid Blackbird Dante the Great – Kilrid Colleen23.90 P. J. Maguire4/1 1953 Mushera Shaggy Shaggy Lad – Mushera Farloe 23.99 Jack McAllister 1/2f 1954 Hi There Slaney Record – Dublin Red 24.51Jack McAllister 1/1f 1955 Claremont John Derrycrussan – Claremont Girl 23.77 J. J. Campbell4/1 1956 Keep Moving Imperial Dancer – California 23.65 Malachy McKenna2/5f Track record1957 Coakfield Hero Baytown Coak – Queen of the Mountain 24.04 4/1 1958 Obeeda's Son Imperial Dancer – Princess Obeeda 23.89Malachy McKenna 7/1 1959 Clougharevan Boy Glittering Look – Manhattan Heiress 23.84 Noel Mooney 4/5f 1960 Skip's Choice Romolas Dante – Phil Skip 23.92Gay McKenna 2/1f 1961 Highland Fame unknown – unknown 24.22 Paddy Tubridy3/1 1962 Tanyard Chef Tanyard Champion – Flexions Glow 23.96 Paddy Burns 6/4f 1963 Melody Wonder Pigalle Wonder – Racing Millie 24.17Jack Mullan 6/4f 1964 Dorado Champions Son – Last July 24.08J. Quigley 10/1 1965 Bauhus Solar Prince – Lovely Sister 23.73 Ger McKenna 7/4f 1966 Hairdresser The Glen Abbey - Billum 23.89Vincent Toner 4/1 1967 Mullaghroe Hiker Knockrour Again – Carless Fire 23.72Jack Mullan 6/4f 1968 Dry Flash Prairie Flash – Newhill Snowdrop 24.10 Bobby McBride 10/1dead-heat1968 Newhill Printer Prairie Flash – Newhill Snowdrop 24.10 Bobby McBride 10/1 dead-heat1969 Move Gas Dandy Man – Move Sally 23.60Ger McKenna 6/1 Track record1970 Gaultier Swank Yanka Boy – Gaultier Hi 24.00Jack Flynn 9/2 1971Benbradagh Luck Lucky Wonder – Gentle Star 23.74 A. Nelson 2/5f 1972 Clashing Yanka Boy – Bresheen Peg 23.72Colm & Mary McGrath 3/1 1973 Get The Point Shauns Ticket – Itsamint 23.87Leslie McNair 6/1 1974 Empty Pride Own Pride – Chick Chick 24.05Jack Mullan 6/1 1975 Rapid Roger Kerry Wonder – Rapid Smokey 23.58 Colm & Mary McGrath 4/5f 1976 Thurles Yard Bright Lad – Backyard Girl 24.04Brendan Matthews 1977 Land Power Power to Spare – Rayhill Meg 23.97Billy Anthony 7/1 1978 Noble Brigg Faction Fighter – Noble Lynn 23.76 Artie McGookin 1979 La Cosa Nostra Rockfield Era – Mafia Poppy 23.82Jim McGuinness 8/1 1980 Blue Train Never So Gay – Ballagan View 23.77Tom Woods 5/1 1981 Noble Legion Faction Fighter – Noble Lynn 23.78 Artie McGookin 4/1 1982 Otago Fair Boot – Gulleen Primrose 23.56Jimmy Johnston 4/6f 1983 I'm Slippy Laurdella Fun – Glenroe Boss 23.50John Quinn 4/9f 1984 Market Major Tender Hothead – Market Telex 23.78 Jack Mullan 4/7f 1985 Arties Rover Knockash Rover – Noble Queen 23.79 J. Whiteside 9/1 1986 Autumn Magic Tender Hothead – Long Bar 23.53John Quigley 2/5f 1987 Oran Flash Oran Jack – Warm Wind 23.72 Bill McCreary 2/1jf 1988 Lisnakill Carmel Hay Maker Mac – Lisnakill Mist 23.44 Davy Lennon1/1f 1989 Macs Lock Quare Rocket – Killetra Queen 23.86 Tom Fox 3/1 1990 Leaders Best For Real – Leaders Exile 23.40 Matt O'Donovan 4/1 1991 Hawaiian KnightFlag Star – Dancing Dream 23.35Alan Black 2/1f 1992 Boyne Walk I'm Slippy – Tiger Hart23.30 Seamus Graham 2/1 1993 Ballyfolion Shy Meeniyan Prince – Ballyfolian Jig 23.16John Hyland 2/1f 1994 Jackies Phantom Phantom Flash - Dainty Queen 23.31 Matt O'Donnell 3/1 1995 Analysis Mid Clare Champ – Glenmoira 23.39Francis Murray 2/1 1996 Old Kingdom Mid Clare Champ – Sunstory 23.42F. Sibley 7/1 1997-1998 not held1999 Quarter to Five Boyne Walk – Gig of Gold 20.24 Paul Hennessy 6/42000 Knockeevan Star Slaneyside Hare – Rubys Bridge20.14Tom Flaherty 7/22001 Fact File Thorgil Tex – Lady Be Silent 20.06Jerry Melia 9/42002 Fast Gladiator Roanokee – Stocks The Rocks 20.28Seamus Hagan 2/12004 Lowtown Supreme Arrigle Phantom – Silver Side 21.94Ray Kavanagh 7/22005 Mabels Dilemma Roanokee – Adriennes Beauty 21.11 Gerry Holian 4/6fTrack record2006 Smart Teddy Go Wild Teddy – Quick Sweep 21.31Joe Blair 4/12007 Johnny Gatillo Top Honcho – Corries Kate 21.26Martin Lanney 7/12008 Allmightyjack Tucks Mein – Lethal Claudia21.08James Roche 2/12009 Inny Blue Honcho Classic – Sydney Swan 21.15 John McGee Sr. 9/22010 Sheepwalk Mac Ballymac Maeve – Crazy Jane 21.08Michael Taggart4/5f2011Shoemakers Lad Brett Lee – Ms Pepinstep 21.10Thomas Harte 6/12012 Cambushmore Head Bound – Maryanns Venture 21.01Graham Holland 7/22013 Razldazl Rioga Brett Lee – Razldazl Pearl 21.27Dolores Ruth 13/22014 Crokers Champ Kinloch Brae – Honey Shine 21.18Peter Cronin 2/12015 Slipalong Hero Gold Slipalong – Thorns And Roses 21.31Gerry Holian 8/12016 Ballymac BigMike Tyrur Big Mike – Ballymac Scarlet21.01Robert Gleeson 6/4f2017 Heisman Brett Lee – Claddagh Pearl20.96Laurence Jones 3/12018 Ardnasool Jet Droopys Jet – Kilara Jade21.07Cathal McGhee 3/12019 Ardnasool Jet Droopys Jet – Kilara Jade20.97Cathal McGhee 6/4f2020Grangeview TenZero Ten – Portumna West 20.88 Patrick Guilfoyle 5/4jf2021Good Cody Opinion – Soho Ark 20.86 John Kennedy Jr. No SP No SP due to COVID-192022Hawkfield OzarkLaughil Blake – Brownstown Tango 20.89 Keeley McGee No SP2023Carrick AldoDroopys Sydney – Minnies Hazel20.80 David Murray No SP2024Broadstrand SydDroopys Sydney – Droopys Alice20.67John A. Linehan No SP2025Southwind WildDorotas Wildcat – Mucky Harbour21.08Pat BuckleyNo SP
References