2010 - Year Review
January
The year began with a real mixed bag of results. On Jan 1st we had 7 runners, 3 of which won, 2 took very nasty falls on the 1st bend and Gutsy Lass broke a hock. Guts as she was known was a beautiful looking greyhound who looked to have a nice career ahead of her. She was very nervous when we first got her and it took a lot of patience and hard work to get her to trust us but in the end she was a fantastic bitch to handle. She was found a lovely home and is enjoying a great retirement.
Swindon lost a lot of meetings due to the weather as the month turned out to be a fairly quiet one. In all we had 24 winners.
February
A fantastic month for the kennel with 29 graded winners and 3 Open winners.
We had a five-timer on the 8th with Sounds Classic, Twiglish Chav, Beanos Shakira, Stanton Leroy and Moving Merry all successful.
Superstar Lily returned from her cracked fibula with a sizzling 28.67 swindon trial. She later went on to record a tidy 17.04 Henlow sprint before winning both of her Henlow Grand Prix Trial Stakes over the 692m course. Ballinorig Maeve also won at Henlow on the 25th to give us 2 out of 2 winners.
March
Another good month with 24 graded and 4 open winners.
Superstar Lily continued her great form as she reached the semis of the Henlow Grand Prix unbeaten, unfortunately she came in season on the day of the semis and had to be withdrawn. A heartbreaking day for all of us!
The 22nd was a very sad day for the kennel as Bers Rose suffered an horrific front leg injury and had to be put to sleep. Rosie was a wonderful little bitch who won no end of races. She had a cracking bit of early pace and plenty of determination.
Ballinorig Maeve and Stanton Bluebell both won at Hove on the 25th.
Recent intakes Razldazl Dazl (16.50) and Mercurial Star (16.96) pleased in their first trials for us.
April
A good month for open race winners as we managed 5. Darth Razor made it a great start for his new owners The Black Griffin Racing Club as he won his first race for them at Hove. Donie as he is known suffered a chipped bone in his wrist in a later open race at Swindon but thankfully made a full recovery.
Razldazl Dazl impressed in a Wimbledon trial beating the useful Star Gaze by nearly 6 lengths. Dazl later went on to win his debut race in a decent 29.87 at Hove, in the process going just 1 spot outside the sectional track record for the 515m course.
Lady Jaro was in terrific form winning opens at Hove over the 515m and Henlow 460m distances.
Stanton Bluebell was our other open winner of the month, winning nicely over 475m Hove.
The graded dogs were also in great from as we returned 28 winners.
May
Another good month on the whole as we returned with 26 winners. Forest Crash won a 515m open at Hove. Razldazl Dazl gave us out first taste of a sky night as he finished 3rd at Hove. He ran well enough but slightly missed the kick and was always playing catch up after that.
Ballinorig Maeve suffered what would turn out to be a career ending injury at Henlow as she ruptured a gracilis. Every effort was made to get her back to the track but it wasn't going to hold up to racing so she was found a lovely home with Jeff and Bev who may also have a litter out of her which would be fantastic. Tippex was a brilliant bitch for the kennel winning opens at Swindon, Hove and Henlow.
June
A fairly quiet month returned 25 winners. Easy Eight was retired to a good home after cracking a hock. Bambi had given us a lot of fun and won plenty of races including an open at Swindon and numerous A1's. She recorded a best of 28.79 and was a fantastic buy for cheap money.
July
A good month as the dogs were in terrific form. We returned 28 graded winners and 3 open winners. Mercurial Star got his first race win when winning nicely in a 480m Open at Swindon. He led at halfway and won in 29.00. Razldazl Dazl won his open at Oxford when leading all the way to win 26.93. Stanton Jerry won an Open at the first time of asking when winning his 480m maiden at Hall Green. Jezza showed a nice turn of early and put the shoulder in at the bend and went on to win by nearly 9 lengths. It was a fantastic night out and great fun to watch one of the kennel favourites win so well.
August
The graded dogs were in terrific form as we returned with 34 winners.
The graded dogs were in terrific form as we returned with 34 winners.
We managed 2 lots of 5 timers during the month. On the 16th, Sounds Classic, Hell Razor, Grayslands Tina, Boozed Aroma and Tyrap Dancer all scored. And on the 23rd, Reagrove Dream, Lawless Robin, Sounds Classic, Stanton Polly and Puerto Bound made it a cracking day.
Mercurial Star got our Open race winner for the month as he led at the halfway point again to win in 28.85. He followed this up a week later with a facile win in the top heat. He flew the lids to beat a useful field in 28.68.
September
Razldazl Dazl won first time up at Henlow in a trial stake for their Derby. He flew from the boxes and held on at the line to win in 27.76.
Dazl and Mercurial Star were taken up to Belle Vue for a Laurels trial stake. Mercurial led around the second bend and went on to win by just over a length. Dazl was out of luck in his race but still ran with real credit after finding trouble. Neither had any luck when they returned for the first round proper.
Precious Hawk continued her terrific form in September when winning four on the trot, rising from A7 to A2 in the process.
Slaneyside Molly suffered a career ending injury at Swindon as she broke her hock at the 2nd bend. She made a good recovery though and was found a fantastic home.
October
Mercurial Star continued his good form as he won 2 from 4 races this month. He led all way in a Swindon open to win in 28.70 and followed this up with a superb front running performance to win top heat in 28.62.
Superstar Lily made it through to the quarter finals of the St Leger at Wimbledon but suffered a wrist injury and had to be withdrawn. This finished off what proved to be a frustrating year with Megan. She's had a good winter break now though and it's hoped that 2011 proves to be her year.
Razldazl Dazl finished 4th in the Oxfordshire Gold Cup final at Oxford. He took a nasty bump at the first and was never in contention after that.
We managed a 5 timer at Swindon with Sparkemout, Class Eagle, Mercurial Star, Galley Crash and Tommy The Wheel all successful.
We managed a decent 33 in the month.
November
We had a fantastic first week of the month as we returned with a record 16 winners.
Razldazl Dazl won well at Sheffield in an open when showing terrific back straight pace to take up the running. Mercurial Star took a rough ride in his open and finished with a couple of niggles. This was his last race of the year as it was decided to give him a good break before starting him off in the new year.
November was our best month of the year as we managed 45 winners.
December
Butchers Bounty was our star performer this month winning all four of his races.
Stanton Bluebell continued her good form when winning another A1 in 28.84.
The 6th of the month gave us another 5 timer with Stanton Sarah, Precious Hawk, Calling Beauty, I Certainly May and Bookies Girls all winning.
Hell Razor was crowned the Greyhound Scene dog of the year as he ran away with the title in the end. Razor won 13 of his 48 races during 2010 and was placed no less than an incredible 34 times! He's been so consistent and managed to go the whole year without picking up an injury which is a fantastic feat in itself. He was the kennel star for me during 2010 and has been a pleasure to train and an awful lot of fun to watch. I wish I had a kennel full of Razors!
