These are the prizewinning entries in the IGOBF sponsored Christmas Competition for our young people. The winners are published in last week’s Sporting Press (Thursday 22nd November). Thank you all for the wonderful entries. The standard was extremely high. Well done to our Junior Irish Greyhound Owners.
Christmas card verses with a greyhound theme.
Winning entries:
******
Cheers to a greyhound by the fire, warm Christmas memories, and you.
A.M. Age 6
County Kildare
*****
Christmas is coming
The bookie’s is getting fat
Please put a tenner on the
The right greyhound trap
If you haven’t got a tenner
A euro will do
If you haven’t got a euro
May God bless you!
S.G.
U14 Co Limerick
*****
Jingle bells
Jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to go
To Shelbourne park
Tonight
J.B.
U10
County Tipperary
*****
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a greyhound was stirring, not even a Mouse
The leads and covers were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The puppies were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of puppy treats danced in their heads;
And mamma in her onesie and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the kennels roof-the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of dog treats, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of dog treats he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the kennel ; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!
B.L.
U18
Co Kerry
*****
Fairytale of Shelbourne Park
It was Christmas Eve babe
In the Getting Out Stake
An old man said to me, won’t see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
I turned my face away
And dreamed about Trap two
Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
I’ve got a feeling
This year’s for me and you
So happy Christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true
A.R.
u14
France
Art and photography winning entries:
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and best wishes for 2023!