Despite the Norfolk weather and a home game for Norwich City, around 850 turned out at Yarmouth to witness the 77th Click Competitions East Anglian Derby Final on Wednesday night.
The final was marred by a serious injury to Con Conlon’s Flickofacoin who went lame in the final of the feature event and that was the priority for promoter Simon Franklin on Thursday morning.
He said: “We weren’t able to speak to the trainer, but we’ve been in touch with one of the owners and although Flickofacoin broke a hock, he was made comfortable by the vet and is booked in for a visit with Stefan (Melegori – vet) tomorrow. It was such a shame for the dog and his connections. He was leading the field at the second bend and nothing touched him.
“It was a messy race after what has been a very clean Derby. I spoke to Patrick Janssens in the bar afterwards and he was still confident that Coolavanny Shado would have made a race of it but for the dog falling in front of him. Thankfully he ran on okay and hopefully there should be no issues.
“But I have often said that I would love to see Seamus win our Derby one day. He has supported us over so many years and never had any luck in the race himself . . . . until last night. I understand that the winner had picked up a wrist injury himself earlier in the year and had been nursed back to form himself.
“Overall it was a decent night, on par with last year. The weather didn’t make life any easier. We were forecast a monsoon which didn’t arrive and by the second race we had the tractor out ready to water. Then the monsoon did arrive. But we got through it.”
New Yarmouth Derby sponsor Click Competitions had their branding in position from the off on the big night. The opening C&C Sheds Puppy Trophy was won by Johnnie Three (trap 5) Photo: © Steve Nash
ROXYS BULLET (t1) short heads Swift Loves (t3) in the Derby Standard Photo: © Steve Nash
East Anglian Derby Purse winner AAYAMZA SYDNEY with Lorraine Hyde-Banning of the Ayamzaboys syndicate. Yarmouth 20th September 2023 Photo: © Steve Nash
ALBERTS LEGACY – beaten EAD semi finalist – lands “Winner of One” Derby Standard Photo: © Steve Nash
Quagos Jack Sprint Grand Final presentation by Michelle Connolly (2nd left) of the MWD Partnership, after their own Quarteira had been beaten into second (with a similar outcome to their Derby Purse backing – but all accepted with great sportsmanship of course!) Mark Wallis is pictured right, next to Kevin Quinton, whose local star and track record holder won this race last year. Photo: © Steve Nash
Worsening conditions in the heavy rain doesn’t stop MERLINS MATE (t5) getting the better of Adamant Lucy (t4) in the sprint open Photo: © Steve Nash
Three generations of Pruhs family at the East Anglian Derby – from left to right: Linda, Debbie and Laura Photo: © Steve Nash
SIGNET GOOFY bursts clear early to lands the odds in the Gents Standard on EAD Final night. Photo: © Steve Nash
Owner Lee Calcutt (left) was officially “longest traveller” on EAD night, having flown over from Spain before receiving the trophy from John Wright after Signet Goofy’s win for John Mullins – and was due back on the plane the following afternon to resume his holiday. Photo: © Steve Nash
A sand covered DROOPYS CHERISH wins over 659m for Craig Morris Photo: © Steve Nash
AAYAMZA SYDNEY winning the MWD Partnership East Anglian Derby Purse Grand Final Photo: © Steve Nash
PUCKANE SYDNEY (t2) beats Vampire Moon (t5) in the maiden. Photo: © Steve Nash
David Nash pushes on through the monsoon conditions during the early part of the Derby night card Photo: © Steve Nash
The East Anglian Derby trophy takes pride of place as the finalists (led by eventual winner Watch The Limo/Seamus Cahill) parade for the 77th running of the event Photo: © Steve Nash
