A few years and a couple of dogs later, in the spring of 1999, after hearing all the rage of a wonder bitch pup which trialled around Kilkenny, breaking the sprint record in qualifying, a decision was made to purchase the bitch.  We renamed her ‘Pinhead’!  What a purchase this turned out to be, she won her first two races in sensational times 28.98 and 29.00 by an aggregate 20 lengths.  She was laid off for a while before rushing back for the Irish Oaks at Shelbourne Park.  She was improving with every round and our hopes of success got bigger and better only for heartbreak to strike in her Oaks Semi Final.  She had done a gracilis.  This story was far from over however as we retired this super bitch to the breeding paddocks.  What was to happen from then on was beyond all ambition.

We bred Pinhead to Spiral Nikita in February 2000 and on the 15th of April, our first ever litter was on the ground.

This litter -though plagued by injuries- produced the flying Tyrur Johnny who won his 2nd race in 28.58 at Shelbourne, he also clocked 28.46 at Shelbourne and 28.25 at Cork.  In her future litters she threw over 150 winners between Ireland and the UK.  However many might relate to her as one of the greatest dam of top brood bitches in the recent past.  Her daughters are the dams of many major open competition winners including:

Tyrur Rhino (Tyrur Ted / Tyrur Marita) Irish Derby Winner

Tyrur Pedro (Tyrur Ted / Tyrur Marita) Tyrur Ted Puppy Winner

Tyrur Lee (Brett Lee / Tyrur Dee) Cox Cup Winner

Comeonthecats (Brett Lee / Tyrur Dee) Tipperary Cup Winner

Tyrur Kieran (Honcho Classic / Tyrur Dee) Scottish Derby Winner

Tyrur Major (Honcho Classic / Tyrur Fiona) Macroom Motors Winner

Tyrur Laurel (Top Honcho / Tyrur Fiona) Multiple Majors Finalist

Tyrur Margaret (Honcho Classic / Tyrur Fiona) Oaks Finalist

Danmar Pudsy (Droopys Scholes / Tyrur Fiona) Newbridge Oaks Winner

Tyrur Gold (Tyrur Ted / Tyrur Pearl) Joe Dunne Memorial Winner

Tyrur Kenny (Top Honcho / Tyrur Pearl) Easter Cup, Tote Gold Cup, John Morris A1 Stake winner

Tyrur Lomu (Tyrur Ted / Tyrur Pearl) 28.23 Cork (3^rd Race) Quote Paul Hennessy “Fastest Pup I’ve ever seen”     

This story could not be complete without mentioning the great ‘Tyrur Ted’.  This dog was a superstar.  After watching in amazement at his first 2 races, we couldn’t but love to own this brilliant pup!  After a few unsuccessful attempts to purchase ‘Ted’ we eventually acquired him from Ollie Bray in late August 2004.  After settling in at Gowran, the home of Champion trainer Paul Hennessy, he took off!   In his career he ran 56 races and won 31 of them, quite a record when you consider the standard of competition he ran against through his fantastic career.  After winning a few opens in Shelbourne impressively, we mated him to a couple of our bitches.  It was soon after that we found out how good he really was. He won the Tote Gold Cup in the spring of 2005 in a winning time of 28.25 (The 2nd fastest time ever at Shelbourne Park) before reaching the final of the Easter Cup where the famous ‘Trap Fiasco’ took place, Ted missed his break but show unmerciful pace to finish 2nd. 

He was rested then until the champion stakes where he was beaten favourite when badly baulked at the 1st.  He was ante-post favourite for the Derby before being almost turned over at the 1st bend in his quarter final. 

It seemed that luck had eluded this great dog.  However, that must have spurred Ted on as he went unbeaten through the Cashmans Laurels at Cork.  Ted had finally won his first classic. 

A planned raid on the Million Dollar race at Derby Lane in USA was scrapped due to rules and regulations so the dog was ‘retired’. 

As Christmas passed, Ted was jumping out of his skin and we decided to take him out of retirement for a crack at the Ladbroke 600.  We always believed that this distance in Shelbourne Park was tailor-made for him.  At 4 years old, we couldn’t imagine him going unbeaten through another classic, but as always Ted had other things in mind, he never looked troubled as he won every round and successfully captured his second classic. 

It was again decided to be fair to the dog and let him enjoy his retirement so for the second time he was retired. 

We put him to stud at Frightful Flash kennels in Portlaoise, where the famed Stud keeper Michael Dunne took charge.  It wasn’t until October 2006 that his 1st batch of pups hit the ground.

The first one to shine was Tyrur Lomu who won his 3rd race in Cork in 28.23 (Ardkill Jamie won the Laurels Final in 28.35 an hour later).  Unfortunately, tragedy struck with this dog in a solo trial at Shelbourne Park.  Next was Tyrur Gold who won the Joe Dunne Memorial Puppy Stake at Shelbourne Park clocking 28.38 and 28.50 as a pup.  Then came Tyrur Bertie who ran up the Champion Stakes to Razldazl Billy.

Tyrur Rhino then handed Ted his first Derby winner in 2007.  It was such an achievement after only mating less than 10 bitches.  This has to be the highlight of our time in Greyhound racing. 

When we were finalising the entries for the Derby in 2007, Rhino was at the bottom of the list, simply because he wasn’t ready to take on the best, or so we thought.  As every round went by, Rhino kept qualifying without anyone taking much notice.  However, his times were improving with every run.  In the semi final, he really came to life holding off the late challenge of Groovy Stan.  When the draw was made, we knew we were in with a chance but the betting didn’t agree with us.

As the bell went, and the hare was set in motion Rhino went off the 10/1 near outsider of the field but just like his brilliant father, he had other plans, he pinged the lids and joined express ego at the bend before unleashing a burst of pace into the 3rd bend to take him to the lead, at this point the only danger was Tyrur Laurel but the result was never in doubt as Rhino roared clear to Capture the Irish Greyhound Derby.  The feeling was ecstatic, all the hard work, all the time and effort was all made worthwhile as Ted had sired his first Derby winner. 

It was decided then to try the Derby treble, so we entered Tyrur Kieran and Tyrur Laurel in the Scottish Derby of 2008.  50/1 at the start, Kieran was an unknown quantity, but it was only a matter of time before people would get to know him.  Both dogs won there first two rounds comfortably.  Then, Kieran really burst into life smashing the track record in a time of 28.69.  Laurel bowed out at this stage.  Then there were 6. The inside of the track was very wet and the wider runners were at an advantage, this didn’t effect Kieran however as he exploded from traps and destroyed the field in a time of 29.02 on a slow track.  The celebrations went on long into the night. The second leg was complete!

Also in 2008, Tyrur Kenny was to prove a new star as he completed a double in winning the Tote Gold Cup and The Easter Cup at Shelbourne.

First was the Tote Gold Cup.  After taking time off, Kenny was entered in this prestigious competition.  He improved with every round and got it all right as he ran brilliantly to win the final at massive odds of 33/1!

In the Easter Cup, there were no big odds available as Kenny was flying in this competition.  Advantage Johnny took the lead at the first but the writing was on the wall at the 3rd bend as Kenny swept clear and won in a fast 29.91!

So the Tyrur story so far has been positive, we have been lucky enough to win numerous open competitions and have had great enjoyment through greyhound racing.  Long may it continue!!