Norah – Working For Her Dad ‘Paddymac’
A young Norah teaches greyhound ‘NORAHS FIRST’ (Joey) the art of hurdling
HOW IT ALL BEGAN – PADDY McELLISTRIM
Paddy McEllistrim was one of the sports original trainers when greyhound racing got underway in 1927. He transported dogs across from Ireland (including Mick The Miller) but then decided to train the hounds himself. The man from Ballymacelligott, near Tralee in County Kerry known as ‘Paddymac’ joined Wimbledon shortly after Stanley Biss, Harry Leader and Ken Appleton and would train at Wimbledon for the next 47 years until his daughter Norah took over the kennels. Paddy was always a big fan of hurdlers and concentrated training many in his kennels over the timber. Two Classic successes were sealed in 1928 & 1929 and his favourite Classic the Grand National was finally won in 1947 when Baytown Pigeon was victorious at odds of 25/1. Incredibly Paddy was to win the St Leger 41 years after his previous St Leger title. Paddy McEllistrim called it a day in 1974 handing control of the kennel to his daughter Norah.
Major Achievements
St LEGER 1929 Loughnagare, 1970 Spotted Rory
SCURRY GOLD CUP 1928 Cruseline Boy, 1945 Country Life
PUPPY DERBY 1930 Mountain Loafer
THE OAKS 1930 Faithful Kitty
GRAND NATIONAL 1947 Baytown Pigeon
PADDYMAC to NORAHMAC! NORAH HAS DONE HER FATHER PROUD
Like her father Norah has always loved her ‘hurdlers’ and has won the English Grand National twice, the Scottish Grand National and the Springbok three times. Paddy would be proud of his daughters success! Norahs big race jumping winners so far:-
Grand National – White City
1981 BOBCOL, 1982 FACE THE MUTT
Springbok – Wimbledon
1980 BOBCOL, 1985 KNIGHT OF RAFT, 1990 RANGER SUPREME
Scottish Grand National – Powderhall
1981 BOBCOL
Other Major Kennel Achievements
Golden Sprint – Romford 1987 AULTON HENRI
Trafalgar Cup – Wembley 1992 GARA PAINT
Puppy Derby – Peterborough 1997 LENSON BILLY
Essex Vase – Romford 1997 LENSON BILLY
Gold Collar – Catford 1997 LENSON BILLY
Puppy Derby – Wimbledon 1997 LENSON HERO
The Oaks – Wimbledon 2002 PURLEY QUEEN
Coronation Cup – Romford 2012 RATHGLASS HERO
Puppy Cup – Romford 2013 BALLYMAC MARINE
One of the biggest achievements of Norahs career to date was when CLOHEENA CASH reached the Final of the ENGLISH DERBY in 2011.
That would of made ‘Paddymac’ proud!