Trainer Profile Kieran Smith INDHA

Kieran Smith

Shake it up & Douglal

What club are you with & how long have you been with the club?

I'm a member of the Irish Northern drag hunting association for twenty years

How long have you been involved in the sport?

I got involved as a young lad it was my father Martin who introduced me into the sport passing on his knowledge from father to son.Our sport is a little different up here in Cavan to the sport in Cork & Kerry & over in Cumbria , We run short heats at a meeting with placed hounds progressing to the final of each grade, heats would be anything from 12 to 16 minutes with hounds running two to three times on the day with rest periods in between.

What have been the best hounds you have trained?

myself & Dougal 

It has to be between Dougal and Jed.

What is the best hound you have seen run & why?

That has to be my father Martin smiths hound Mick, a top class hound full off speed and a very gutsy hound, he had a great turn of foot.

What is your favourite course & why?

Has to be Mayo hill best viewing place in Cavan always brought a good crowd out on the day.

Who is your favourite drag hunting characters past & present & why?

A character from the past would be Bimbo Reynolds a pure gentleman.

Present is our camera man Mr. James Mooney with his one liners like your happy as mouse in mail bag, I’d like too take this opportunity to thank James on the work he’s doing keep it up.

Which are your most memorable victories?

Ulster Championship first 6 placed hounds 

Well first it's has to be the last drag of the year 2015 when I won the double with Dougal winning senior grade & Shake it up winning Maiden Grade, it was unbelievable feeling, another day that sticks in my mind is although it wasn’t a victory has to be Ulster drag 2015 winning my heat in fastest time and coming 2nd in final after a tough battle with Sean Smiths Blue Lighting, that felt like a victory we all know how good a hound Blue Lightening is, when I got Dougal and shake it up neither hounds were going they both had stopped running in cork I put in all the hours under the sun  & with these two hounds the hard work  paid off. I would also like to say a big thank u to David and Shane Lynch for giving me the hounds and roll on 2016 wish all the very best of luck.