Week Ending 23rd July

Monday 18th
A quiet start to the week with only 5 runners.
Stanton Sarah ran a blinder to complete a hat trick of wins. She led off the last bend to win her A6 well in 29.70.
Tuesday 19th
A good trial session with a few dogs returning well from injury.
Churchfield Mate came back from a three month lay off with a bad wrist injury to finish 2nd in his trial recording 30.01.
Master Rock ran a superb trial to win easily in 29.74. I think it's safe to say that 'The Tank' won't be returning in A8.
Springlawn Goofy (16.50), Rusty Lisa (16.78), Liscrea Premier (16.66) and Mercurial Lady (16.67) all went well in their sprint trials.
Wednesday 20th
A good night with 2 winners from our 6 runners.
Forest Crash got up on the line to win his A3 in 29.41. Crash has been running well of late and really deserved this win.
Molly The Second led at the first turn to win her first A3 in 29.42.
Today we welcomed a new recruit into the kennel. Sunvalley Crash arrived from Oxford where his last couple of runs have been in top grade. He's getting on a bit now but is a stunning looking dog with a lovely temperament. Hopefully he'll do well for us.
Friday 22nd
A great day for the kennel with 6 winners from our 15 runners.
Forest Faye started the day off well with a brilliant win in her A2. She trapped better than she ever has and was soon in control. She stayed on well to win by 5 1/4 lengths in a personal best 29.10. Faye has only had 9 races and has won 4 of them. She is progressing nicely and could be anything.
Princess Ziggy finally got a win today as she led on the run in to win her A6 in 29.63. It's been nearly a year since Ziggy last won so we were all delighted when she went over the line for her terrific group of owners.
Newport Lass ran another gutsy race as she led around the 3rd bend to win her A5 in 29.69.
Outoftheblack ran a very brave first bend as she hugged the rail and went on to win her A5 in 29.69.
Springlawn Jacko ran one of his best ever races as he flew down the back straight and led on the run in to win his A3 in 29.36.
Sparkem Out made it 3 wins from her last 4 races as she fairly flew the lids and led all the way to win her S2 in a good 42.13. Wiglet took a while to hit peak form after being spayed but is now running better than ever. She's been a tremendous amount of fun for us and is a born race winner.
Saturday 23rd
Recent arrival Droopys Edgar improved nicely from last weeks trial as he trapped well and led all the way in his pre-race trial this evening to record 29.05. Edgar is a lovely dog and has settled in very well.
Kilmalady Biffo was outclassed in his sprint open. He trapped well but was buried for early by the impressive Bealady Rover. Biffo is heading back to Romford for a 400m maiden on Monday.
Tommy The Wheel and Mercurial Star took on the mighty Farloe Titan in the 480m open and both ran blinders really. Tommy was out trapped by Titan but paced up to the bend very well to go around level. Titan pulled a couple clear of him down the back but didn't run away from him but Tommy's race was over at the third as he got very badly crowded and knocked back to last. Meanwhile Mercurial Star flopped from box 5, paced up very well and ran an awesome back straight but he'd left himself too much to do and finished 2nd.
Superstar Lily trapped well in her 685m open but was virtually put on the floor rounding the 2nd bend. Fortunately she seems none the worse for all the trouble.
Just when we were thinking it wasn't going to be our night, Forest Ted flew the 509m boxes and led all the way in his open. Teddy boy was the subject of a big local gamble as he was bet from 6/1 into 2's at the off. He's a dog that always seems to be under rated in his races and should never have been a 6/1 shot after winning 3 of his last 4 top heat races.
We were quickly brought down to earth again though as kennel legend Stanton Jerry took a crashing fall on his return to A1. Thankfully Jezza seems none the worse for the fall and will have a short break before returning to action.

Week Ending 17th July 2011

Monday 11th
A good start to the week with 3 winners from our 10 runners.
I Certainly May got the ball rolling with a gutsy display to lead on the run in to win her A4 in 29.61. Stanton Jerry continued his excellent form to win a good A2 in 29.01. Slaneyside Neasa led all the way in her A5 to win in a decent 29.47. Neasa has had a couple of minor niggles and went slightly off form after making a promising start to her career but should continue to improve again now.
Wednesday 13th
2 winners from our 7 runners this evening. Baby Bubba just made it around the bend unscathed and flew down the back to go 5 lengths clear, he tired coming home but the line just came in time and he held on to win his A3 in a good 29.37. This lad has plenty of maturing and strengthening up to do yet and will make into a nice dog in time.
Stanton Sarah made it 2 wins on the trot as she led on the run in to win her A6 in 30.01.
Black Handbag is worthy of note this evening. Gucci has behaved herself very well after an early indiscretion in her 2nd race . She got plenty of crowding on the bend this evening but fairly flew down the back straight and was desperately unlucky not to get a run going into the third bend. If she would of got clear I think she would have won nicely. She seems to of been forgotten about somewhat of late but this girl retains loads of ability and I believe she'll be flying in another month or so.
We took a nice new recruit into the kennels today with the arrival of Droopys Edgar from Oxford. Edgar has won a few opens in the past and has some flying Swindon runs in his book already. Although he's now approaching 3 1/2 years old he still retains plenty of ability as his recent top heat Oxford win proves. Hopefully Edgar and his owner William will have plenty of luck with us.
Thursday 14th
A busy day at the kennels as our physio arrived to check over around 20 of our dogs. Unfortunately we received far more bad news than good! Bookies Girls has a ruptured hip and faces around 3 months on the sidelines. Precious Hawk, Calling Beauty and Lady Jaro are all facing time in the treatment room.
Friday 15th
Just the 2 winners from today's meetings. Sparkem Out got up on the line to beat kennel mate Moving Merry in their A2. She ran her usual game race and led a mile at the pick up. She won in 29.28. Butchers Bounty trapped well and led every step of the way to win his A2 in 29.34.
Saturday 16th
Mercurial Star delighted us with his pre race trial when beating Droopys Edgar by nearly 9 lengths in 28.73. Sammy would have needed that run and some time 'on the bunny' would have done his confidence the world of good after a couple of rough rides of late. He'll be entered for the 480m open on Produce finals night. We were slightly disappointed with Edgars trial but in hindsight he would have needed that run badly after doing little work of late, he'll improve nicely with that run under the belt.
Although we didn't have any winners this evening there were plenty of very pleasing runs. Puppy, Come Home Patch made his racing debut in A8 and went very well. Patch took a knock on the first bend but battled really well to stick on for 3rd. This fella is a strapping 37.5k son of Westmead Hawk and will improve a bundle for this run. He won't be long in winning this fella.
Forest Ted continued his excellent run of form when a gallant runner up to the terrific looking prospect Farloe Iceman in the A1. Ted who had previously won his last 3 A1 races on the trot will be aimed at a 509m open on Produce night.

Spotlight on..... Stanton Jerry

A new idea for the blog page is a 'Spotlight' section.

The first week focuses on kennel legend Stanton Jerry.

After being purchased from Thurles sales for around 500 Euros, Jerry didn't exactly look like much of a legend as he completed his first 480m Swindon trial for us in 31.04! Thankfully Jerry improved nicely in his next 2 trials and went on to make his debut in A2. It took him 3 attempts to make his mark and he won in 29.19. Jerry would soon prove himself to be a win machine and went on to win no end of A2's and a few A1's as well. We decided to take the plunge and enter him for a maiden open at Hall Green and to be honest he was only ever entered to be a travelling partner for Superstar Lily. As it turned out Lily's stayers race never filled and we ended up making the journey with just Jerry. However it turned out to be a terrific night as Jerry went on to win his open by 8 1/2 lengths!! He did a "jerry special' at the first as he put the shoulder in to the field at the bend and scooted clear. It was a brilliant night and we decided to leave Jerry with a 100% open race record. Just 3 races after the Hall Green run disaster struck at Swindon as he ruptured his gracillis muscle and a return to racing looked very unlikely. We persevered though and gave him all the time and treatment he needed and he made a great return to racing winning another 8 races since his 3 month break.

So far Jerry has won 26 of his 81 races and looks likely to return to A1 after winning his latest A2 in 29.01. A remarkable effort from this gentle giant who is the ultimate professional.