1954 Irish Greyhound Derby

1954 Irish Greyhound Derby 7 August £500 (winner) Shelbourne Park Dublin 1953 1955 The 1954 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during July and August with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 7 August 1954.Genders Roy NGRC book of Greyhound Racing 261 1990 Pelham Books Ltd 0-7207-1804-X The winner Spanish Battleship won £500 and was trained by Tom Lynch and owned by Tim 'Chubb' O'Connor.Comyn John 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland Aherlow Publishers Ltd Final result At Shelbourne, 7 August (over 525 yards): +PositionName of GreyhoundBreedingTrapSPTimeTrainer1st Spanish Battleship Spanish Chestnut - Ballyseedy Memory 2 4-11f 29.64Tom Lynch2nd Dignity Dividend - Ballymore Bargain 5 100-6 29.88Jimmy Dunne3rd Aughacommon Rex unknown 1 100-6 30.204th Olly's Quare Rebel Riverdale Rebel - Quare Fire 3 7-1 5thPalm's Son Bella's Prince - Palm Swell 6 15-2 Nick Breen6thMoyola Flash Daring Flash - Culbane Mill 4 25-1 Distances 3, 4 (lengths) Competition Report The defending champion Spanish Battleship headed for Shelbourne Park following a rest because he had injured a leg during the 1954 Callanan Cup final.Fortune Michael Irish Greyhound Derby 1932–1981 Victory Irish Promotions Ltd After the first night's racing doubts surfaced that he could successfully defend his title because he had been injured and a greyhound called Leafy Ash who had finished second in the 1954 English Greyhound Derby final recorded 29.93, in a first round win. However, the following evening Spanish Battleship then proceeded to break the track record with a remarkable 29.50 run, which led to the Irish press stating that it was a foregone conclusion that the dog would win again. The second round win was impressive but nine spots slower than his first round win; the next best being Ollys Quare Rebel in 29.74.Fortune Michael The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby Irish Greyhound Review 0332-3536 In the semi-finals Spanish Battleship equalled his own track record winning eight lengths ahead of Dignity. Aughacommon Rex beat Moyola Flash and Palm's Son defeated Olly's Quare Rebel in the remaining semi-finals. Spanish Battleship wrote his name into the history books as the first ever two time Irish Derby winner despite missing his break from the traps in the final. He showed enough of his renowned early pace to quickly overtake early leader Dignity and go on to win by three lengths in 29.64. See also 1954 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year References Greyhound Derby Irish Greyhound Derby