The Easter Cup is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Shelbourne Park in Dublin.

It was inaugurated in 1928.

The event was won by the great Spanish Battleship on twice in 1954 and 1955.

In 2017 the event was postponed following protests by the DGOBA which resulted in a suspension of racing at Shelbourne Park for five months. The protest was over the February closure of Harold's Cross Stadium. The 2020 edition was behind closed doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Venues and distances 1928–2007 (Shelbourne Park 525y) 2008–present (Shelbourne Park 550y) 2017 (not held)

Sponsors 1986–1986 (Cooladine Super) 1993–1996 (Daniel J Reilly) 2004–2007 (Donal Reilly) 2009–2009 (BCR Print Management) 2010–2013 (College Causeway/Killahan Phanter) 2014–2015 (Dandelion Bar & Nightclub) 2016–2021 (Ladbrokes) 2022–present (Bresbet)

Past winners

YearWinnerBreedingTime (sec)SPTrainerNotes/ref1928 Odd Blade Hidden Joke - Chordstriker30.64 1/2f T. O'Brien1929 Odd Blade Hidden Joke - Chordstriker 30.714/1 T. O'Brien1930Hanna's Pup Guiding Hand – Ocean Haze 30.59 J. McCarthy1931 Lion's Share Lenin – Saucy Nell 30.71 Edward Lyng 1932 Monologue Mutton Cutlet - High Force 30.785/2 Luke Maher 1933 Rustic Martin Real Rustic - Martive 30.59 1934Brilliant Bob Other Days – Birchfield Bessie30.29 Michael Brennan 1935 Khun Khan Roast Rib – Kilgarriffe Pride 30.54 1936 Mooncoin Captain Mutton Cutlet – Treaty Bound 30.5410/1 R. Moore 1937 Cardinal Puff Gaelic Rover – Cross Counter 30.50 1938 Pagan Miller Meadow Fescue – Breffini Molly 30.27 1939 Abbeylara Prudent Turn – That's The Why 30.27 T. Black 1940 Shy Sandy White Sandhills – Sheevra More 30.34 1941 Prince Norroy Castledown Lad – Ruddy Mutton 30.32 1942 Wayside Clover Gale Side Sliver – Slaney Beauty 30.39 1943 Monarch of the Glen Carolina Prince – Turn of the Glen 30.43 1944 Empor Lassie Castledown Lad – Signal Post 30.35 1945 Astra Tanist – Mad Darkie 29.86 1946 Astra Tanist – Mad Darkie 30.40 1947 Patsys Record Patsy Bogoak – Sunmount View 30.15 Jack Davis 1948 Castlecoman Mad Tanist – Smartly There 29.90 1949 Flashy Prince Glenview Shaggy – Spa Cherry 29.85 1950 Sandown Champion Mad Tanist – Good Record 29.85 1951Clogher McGrath Tanist – Clogher Cross 30.03 1952 Wee Chap Mad Fair – Laveybeg 30.12 1954 Spanish Battleship Spanish Chestnut – Ballyseedy Memory 30.17 Tom Lynch1955 Spanish Battleship Spanish Chestnut – Ballyseedy Memory 29.72 Tom Lynch1956 Baytown Duel Ollys Pal – Baytown Brunette 29.67 1957 Doon Marshall Hurry Abdul – Dooniskey Lass 30.41 1958 Sharavogue Ballinclea Dancer – Deuce of Diamonds 29.96 1959War Dance The Grand Champion – Witching Dancer 29.76 1960 Springvalley Grand The Grand Champion – Springvalley Lady 29.92 1961Tinys Trousseau The Grand Fire – Kilcomney Tiny 29.66 1962 The Grand Canal Champion Prince – The Grand Duchess 29.93 Paddy Dunphy 1963General Courtnowski Man of Pleasure - Yoblstrap 29.98 1964 Ballet Dante Romolas Dante – Havana Miss 30.27 M Kirwan 1965 The Grand Time Hi There – The Grand Duchess 29.50 1966 Clomoney Grand The Grand Fire – Last Landing 29.50 1967 Tinys Tidy Town Mothel Chief – Kitty's Fire 29.59 1968 It's A Mint Prairie Flash – Cranog Bet 29.63 Leslie McNair 1969 Move Gas Dandy Man – Move Sally 30.29 Ger McKenna1970Monalee Gambler Prairie Flash – Sheila At Last 29.52 1971 Postal Vote Dusty Trail – Paddistarr 29.36 Gay McKenna 1972 Catsrock Daisy Fantastic Prince – Truly Silver 29.01 Sammy Easton 1973 Newpark Arkle Monalee Arkle – Little Playgirl 29.40 1974 Aqueduct Rosie Myross Again – Monalee Leader 29.52 1975 Tantallons Flyer Monalee Champion – Jaime Wonder 29.60 1976 Cindys Spec Spectre II – Cyndys Hope 29.20 1977 Weigh In First Ritas Choice – Silent Treatment 29.58 1978 Rokeel Light Yanka Boy – Rokeel Rebel 29.50 1979 Shady Bunch Bright Lad – Shady Primrose 29.42 1980 Indian Joe Brave Bran – Minnatonka 29.16 John Hayes 1981 Murrays Mixture Brush Tim – Stylish Heather 29.15 Francie Murray 1982 Speedy Wonder Shamrock Sailor – Queen of Moray 29.40 1983 Wicklow Sands Sand Man – Smart Spy 29.64 1984 Spartacus Knockrour Slave – I'm A Star 29.22 Matt O'Donnell1985 Oran Express Oran Jack – Thank You Ken 29.67 Bill O'Hare1986 Baby Doll Lindas Champion – Sineads Zest29.375/2jf Michael Ferncombe 1987Spartafitz Spartacus – Cobbling Rose 29.36 Matt O'Donnell1988Joannes Nine Lindas Champion – Emohruo 29.65 Fraser Black1989 Annagh Bar Cronins Bar – Thoor Ballylee 29.61 Gerry Duffin 1990 Lassana Champ Sail On II – Moneypoint Peg 29.34 Matt O'Donnell1991 Farloe Melody Lodge Prince – Chini Chin Chin29.53 Matt O'Donnell 1992 Farloe Melody Lodge Prince – Chini Chin Chin28.93 Matt O'Donnell1993 Jacks Well Kyle Jack – What If 29.54 O'Neill 1994 Valais Express Daleys Gold – Carrick Express 29.13 Mary Delmer1995 Lacken Prince Live Contender – Afternoon Blue 29.38 John McGee1996 Ballyduag Manx Manx Treasure – Strange Manner29.239/2 1997 Park Jewel Park Minister – Rantogue Queen29.273/1PJ Fahy 1998 Mr Pickwick Trade Union – Terrys Whisper28.911/1fPaul Hennessy1999 Chart King Trade Official - Clarinka Sand28.40 5/4fRalph HewittTrack record2000 Mr Bozz Cry Dalcash – Terrys Whisper28.947/4fPaul Hennessy2001 Late Late Show Spiral Nikita – Ullid Nitrate 28.609/10fPaul Hennessy2002 Late Late Show Spiral Nikita – Ullid Nitrate 28.744/9fPaul Hennessy2003Mobhi Gamble Spiral Nikita – Chica Chuita 28.474/1Larry Dunne2004Premier Fantasy Premier County – Nifty Niamh 28.08 4/9fSeamus GrahamTrack record2005 Mineola Farloe Top Honcho - Farloe Dingo28.396/1 Seamus Graham2006 Ahane Lad Larkhill Jo – Daffodil Dance 28.215/2Owen McKenna 2007Ardkill Jamie Top Savings – Fast Issue 28.304/1Paul Hennessy 2008 Tyrur Kenny Top Honcho – Tyrur Pearl 29.912/1Paul Hennessy 2009 Droopys Noel Westmead Hawk – Drive On Buzz 29.916/1Pat Buckley2010 Thurlesbeg Joker Head Bound – Free To Air 29.556/4f Owen McKenna2011 Makeshift Razldazl Billy – Razldazl Pearl29.592/1fDolores Ruth2012 Tyrur Big Mike Brett Lee – Tyrur Temptress 29.732/1fConor Fahy2013 North Bound Head Bound – No Joke Sherry 29.464/1Niall Dunne2014 Skywalker Farloe Skywalker Ace – Final Orchid 29.632/1Frances O'Donnell2015 Sidarian Blaze Kinloch Brae – Silverhill Tina 29.526/4Graham Holland 2016 Jaytee Jet Droopys Scolari – Chin Gach Gook 29.45 6/4fPaul Hennessy2018 Colarhouse Gerry Head Bound – Thongue Hope 29.56 9/2 Owen McKenna 2019 Clona Blaze Laughil Blake – Coolavanny Pearl 29.37 5/2f Graham Holland 2020 Wolfe Tyrur Big Mike – Jalingo 29.89 6/4f Graham Holland 2021 Knocknaboul Syd Droopys Sydney – Knocknaboulmadam 29.58 11/4 Pat Buckley 2022 Susie Sapphire Droopys Jet – Jetstream Lynx29.481/3fOwen McKenna2023 Swords RexDroopys Sydney – Starry Display29.7111/8fGraham Holland2024Clonbrien TreatyPestana – Clonbrien Millie29.774/1Graham Holland2025Hopes TeddyConfient Rankin – Dolls Lady 29.8113/8fPat Buckley

References