Week Ending 27th November

Monday 21st
A quiet start to the week at Swindon with 1 winner from today's runners.
Scobys Flash led around the 1st bend to win her A5 in 29.64.
Donna and I made the long journey East to Yarmouth for the third leg of the National Intertrack. The kennel had half of Swindon's team and we did quite well. Active Lark scored a solid 5 points (she's now got 25 points in the comp) when finishing 3rd in her sprint race.
Mercurial Lady ran very well to finish 3rd in her bitches division. She flew the lids but didn't handle the 2nd bend very well and lost a bit of ground.
Ding Hero ran another superb race as he made it four wins on the trot as he ran away with the Dogs division. Ding ran the track brilliantly well on his first look and hugged the rail and missed all the trouble on his outside as 3 dogs took nasty falls. We turned 2nd heading into the back straight and soon asserted going into the third. He stayed really strongly and powered home for a 6 3/4 length victory in a very good 28.17.
Tuesday 22nd
A quiet trial session with only 3 dogs having solo sprints.
Flag Officer delighted us with his 16.38 workout and will return next week for another sprint. Glendine Girl 16.93 and new arrival, Boynepark Joe, 16.71 both went well enough.
Wednesday 23rd
A great night as we won all 3 of the races that we competed in.
Fishersmans Leah beat kennel mate Gortkelly Hudini by 2 lengths to win her A5 in 29.62.
Butchers Bounty won his A2 by a length in 29.25.
Veteran, Lady Jaro, produced a sparkling run as she demolished her A2 field to win by 5 3/4 lengths in a good 28.88.
Friday 25th
The home leg of the National Intertrack competition was the highlight of this afternoons BAGS card. We were represented by Mercurial Lady after it was decided it was best to rest Active Lark for the next leg at Hall Green and Ding Hero wasn't ready after taking a spike to his wrist at Yarmouth. She did us all proud though as she won her heat by 1/2 length in 29.17. It's fair to say she kept plenty in hand and relished the switch of track she had earlier in the week.
Other winners on a very good day included Glenbrack Mary who won her A5 by the 3 lengths in 29.69. Springlawn Goofy won his A3 in a good 29.26. Tictac Butterfly ran a blinder to just get up on the line to win in 29.51. Bramley Bella made it 3 wins from 5 starts as she led at the first bend to win her A5 in 29.81. Malbay Kesha completed the day as she won her first race for the kennel. Kesha moved well to go 3 or 4 lengths clear down the back but was spooked by the crowd as she turned for home and put her head in the air, luckily she just held on for the win. She's getting braver and more confident every time she goes to the track but she's still got a way to go.
Blackie Chan remains out of luck though and he's now gone 17 races without a win.
Saturday 26th
Scobys Flash got tonight's winner as she led all the way to win her A5 nicely in a personal best 29.46.
Kilmaladay Biffo ran a terrific race to finish a very close up 3rd in a hot 416m Open at Monmore. He got touched off at the 2nd bend but stayed on gamely at the finish. Hopefully he's done enough to get excepted in the Festival 416m competition a week on Monday.

In Other News...
3 of Swift Jades pups returned to Bicester for their 2nd handslip and they all delighted us with their efforts.
Active Lark, Mercurial Lady and Butchers Bounty all head to Hall Green for the next Intertrack leg on Wednesday.I think this will be a tough leg for Swindon, it's a very hard track to run first time.
Every effort is being made to get Ding Hero ready for the final leg of the Intertrack at Perry Barr although he certainly won't be running for the sake of it. There is an awful lot to look forward to with this lad and he won't be rushed.
Tuesday will be an interesting trial day as the new intakes Portavoe Lass and Crinkill Jewell both have solo 480m spins. Forest Ted returns from injury for a four bend trial, he has been working well on the gallop so we are keeping everything crossed he returns sound.

Week Ending 20th November

Monday 14th
A brilliant start to the week with 4 winners from our 6 runners including Reagrove Dream's success in her Bonus Series A6 final.
Reagrove got the day off to a flyer as she flew home and won the final by 3/4 of a length in 29.75. It's great to win a good prize with one of our kennel dogs and massive credit to Adam who worked on her day and night to get her ready for the race. They did the kennel proud.
Outoftheblack recorded a personal best 29.53 as she won her A5 nicely by 2 lengths.
I Certainly May pinged the lids and led all the way to win her A4 by 3 lengths in 29.48.
Sparkem Out completed the day's work when she got up on the line to win her A2 in 29.36.
Tuesday 15th
Not much good news from the trip to the vets today. As expected, Riverdale Spiros, suffered a torn whip muscle and faces a lay off of around two months. Meanwhile Fancy Collar had xray's taken on his wrist injury which has revealed a chip at the back of his wrist. It's only a very small chip and hasn't damaged the tendon too much but it's still a bad injury and he faces another lengthy lay off.
At trials today Oddson Whiskey qualified for racing with a 30.25 workout and Bookies Girls returned to the racing strength after a 29.68 spin.
Wednesday 16th
Not too much to report from tonight's meeting. Liscrea Premier got a much deserved win in her A2 as she won in 29.25.
We were busy on the gallop today as 12 hounds were put through their paces and the kennel welcomed 3 new exciting recruits.
Thursday 17th
Tommy The Wheel was all alone in the van on our trip to Hove this evening as the other 2 races we entered for failed to fill. Tommy was in a very hot 475m open and ran well to finish 4th. It's been a real struggle to get enough races for Tommy lately with Swindon opens not filling and limited opportunities in the A1's. It's a shame as the dog is in terrific shape and loves his racing.
Friday 18th
We headed off to Oxford in the morning for the 2nd leg of the National Intertrack. It was always going to be a difficult day for Swindon at one of the trickier tracks in the group but we did well enough to end the day only 4 points behind leaders Hall Green. Active Lark got the sole Swindon victory as her brilliant form continued. She flew the lids and again led all the way to win in 27.14. Larky has now won her last 5 races on the trot for us.
We were very much out of luck with our other kennel representative, Sunvalley Crash. He got it all wrong at the boxes and hit the rails on the 1st bend and ran a poor race. He was later found to have chipped a hock and a return to racing looks doubtful but we'll give him every chance.
Meanwhile we had a very poor day at Swindon as we didn't manage a winner from our 14 runners. We barely had anything that got a clear run and only Baby Bubba and Glenbrack Mary got close as they finished as runners up.
Saturday 19th
A terrific night for the kennels as Kilmalady Biffo and Shirty Gerty gave us an open race double at Monmore Green. Biffo who was having his first run in a few weeks ran a blinder to score in his 416m contest, He trapped OK but showed great pace down the back to lead at the third turn before tiring coming home. He hung on gamely to win a shd in 25.00 and will improve for the run. Shirty Gerty flew home to just get up on the line to win her 630m race. It's her first win for the kennel and she could be a very interesting runner over the extended distances.
At Swindon, Oddson Whiskey, provided us with our winner tonight. It was only her first race for the kennel but she won really well as she led out the 2nd bend and stayed strongly to win her A7 in 29.92. It was great to get a winner for her owners as they deserve a change of luck after the gorgeous Oddson Foxy had to be put down after being fought over the wall last year and their puppy Oddson Expresso fought in his first and only race at Swindon.

In Other News...
Three of Swift Jade's pups were given their first ever hand slip at Bicester and absolutely flew round. They all chased brilliantly and showed plenty of natural ability. They are a very exciting set of pups.
Ding Hero, Mercurial Lady and Active Lark are all in perfect order as they head for the next leg of the National Intertrack competition at Yarmouth on Monday. The team will run well if they handle the track OK on their first look and the kennel is very much looking forward to it.

Week Ending 13th November

Monday 7th
We were a touch unlucky today as we had 5 Silver medals and 1 Gold.
Moody Mare won her A3 in 29.81 after leading around the first turn.
Reagrove Dream qualified for the final of her Owners Bonus Series race when just failing to get up on line in her semi today.
Tuesday 8th
Lady Jaro (29.09), Stanton Bluebell (29.41) and Oneco Light (29.97) all returned to the racing strength after running well in their respective trials. Kilmalady Biffo moved well in his sprint trial recording 16.24. Bookies Girls returned from injury to record 16.62 in her trial.
Wednesday 9th
A couple of winners from tonight's meeting. Come Home Patch got a much deserved first win as he crossed the line in 30.37 to win his A8 nicely. Sunvalley Crash trapped well and ran a good first bend as he went on to record another A2 victory. He won in 29.36.
Dance Izzy suffered a nasty spike in her race and will need 3-4 weeks off. Izzy has been running well enough of late but is really in need of a downgrade as she has now gone 15 four bend races without tasting victory.
Friday 11th
First to Monmore where Swindon were taking part in the first leg of the National Intertrack competition. We were represented in the first and last heats by Active Lark and Ding Hero.
Larky continued her excellent form when springing a 10/1 surprise as she flew the lids and led all the way to win the Bitches event. She has now won 5 of her last 6 races.
Ding Hero made it a memorable double for the kennel as he also flew the lids. Ding followed the fast starting 6 dog around the opening bends and looked to have got it wrong as he moved on the outside of him but he quickly cut back to the rail and ran a terrific third bend to take the lead and went on to score comfortably in a good 28.70. He's now had 4 wins and two 2nds from his 6 races for the kennel and is turning in to a really nice little dog. Ding has been a good success story for us and he's more than repaying every one's hard work that's been put into him.
At Swindon we managed four winners and a couple of 2nds. Effernogue Load ran his best race for a long time as he won his A5 by nearly 5 lengths in 29.39. Noels Touch ran a superb race to pick up kennel mate Baby Bubba close home to win his A2 in 29.29. Glenbrack Mary ran on strongly to win her A5 in 29.94. Bramley Bella ran another game race to make it 2 wins from 2 starts as she led at the third turn to win in 29.74.
Motor Home and Malbay Kesha both ran very good races in defeat.
A terrific day was ruined though as Fancy Collar suffered a nasty wrist injury on his return to the track. I suspect he may have chipped a bone but we wont know for sure until we can get some xray's taken early next week. It's such a shame as Pingu is certainly one of the best dogs in the kennel and his owners really deserve a change of luck.
Saturday 12th
Another good night of results were ruined by the injuries sustained to another 3 of our dogs.
Mercurial Lady ran her normal 'interesting race' as she won her A2 by the smallest margin in 29.21. Gortkelly Hudini got his first win for the kennel as he won his A6 really well in a personal best 29.72. Harry has been off for around 3 weeks with a touch of the cough so should improve nicely for this run. Der Lone Razor got a much deserved win in his A7 as he won the 'Hell Razor Retirement Stakes' well in a personal best 29.89. Calling Beauty ran a game race as she led on the line to win her A3 in 29.77.
Stanton Bluebell was retired from racing tonight after suffering a recurrence of her gracilis injury. Bluebell will be difficult to replace as she has been a terrific bitch for the kennel. She won numerous A1's and a couple of opens and was very rarely led in her races. She will make a terrific pet for someone.
Nags Head sustained a jarred wrist and will be off the track for 3 or 4 weeks while our really good prospect Riverdale Spiros has a muscle injury and will be heading of to the vets for a check over as soon as possible.

In other News...
Sunvalley Crash and Active Lark look likely runners for us in the Oxford Leg of the Intertrack competition.
The list of injured dogs seems to be getting longer by the day but Mercurial Star, Flag Officer, Penskey Rain and Forest Ted are all doing well in their recoveries.
The kennel is looking forward to the arrival of a couple of very useful additions who should be with us on Wednesday.
Kilmalady Biffo, Tommy The Wheel and Shirty Gerty will be heading to Hove on Thursday for some open races.

Week Ending 6th November

Monday 31st October
A good start to the week with 2 winners.
Ding Hero continued his excellent form since joining the kennel as he flew out and led all the way in his A1. He won in a personal best 28.80 and will now head to Monmore for the National Intertrack.
Sunvalley Crash made his 6/1 odds look very generous as he led all the way in his A2 to win in 29.27.
Tuesday 1st November
Bramley Bella (30.16) and Sparkem Out (29.39) both joined the graded strength after running good trials. Stanton Bluebell delighted us with a 29.42 effort in her first four bend workout in a good while. She looked like she maintains all of her old early zip.
Fancy Collar returned from injury to record a fast 16.27 sprint and Lady Jaro pleased us with a 16.47 spin as she returns after a lengthy lay off.
Wednesday 2nd
A funny night for the kennel as we managed a couple of winners but had a huge injury scare for top dog Mercurial Star.
Nags Head ran his best race so far to win his A4 in a personal best 29.47 and Mercurial Lady got another A2 win in 29.31. Youngster, Der Lone Razor, ran another good race in defeat as he finished runner up in his A7.
Mercurial Star gave us a massive fright as he contested his 480m Open. Sammy flew the lids but fell to the ground in a heap after a couple of strides. He took what seemed an age to get to his feet and fell again rounding the first bend. He was quickly picked up down the back straight and to our amazement walked off the track as sound as a pound. He was later found to have over stretched his lower back which caused a temporary paralysis but he should make a full recovery in time and return to the track which was a massive relief to everyone.
Friday 4th
3 winners from today's meetings. Forest Crash made it 2 wins from 2 as he led on the line to win his A3 in 29.73. Scobys Flash got her first win for the kennel as she led all the way in her A5 to win in 29.82. Youngster, Riverdale Spiros, showed terrific potential as he won his A1 in 29.13. Ricky has only just turned 2 years of age and has a great attitude for the game. He's a brilliant railer with good all round pace and looks a really exciting prospect for next year.
Saturday 5th
Fancy Collar ran a very nice trial before racing as he flew the lids and beat the useful Kays To Blame by over 5 lengths in 29.12. Pingu will improve massively with some consistent racing and if he stays injury free it will take a good dog to beat him in the A1's.
Active Lark made it 4 wins from her last 5 starts as she again led all the way to win her A2 in 29.12. Bramley Bella won at the first time of asking as she ran a really gutsy race to get up on the line to win her A5 in 29.93.