Queen Joni wins the British Greyhound Breeders Forum Derby Final

The BGBF derby, hosted at Owlerton greyhound stadium in Sheffield has now concluded, with Elizabeth McNair’s Queen Joni taking the £10,000 prize money, and Acomb Felix taking the £1000 for second place! The final ended up being a 5 dog race, after King Capaldi was withdrawn ‘Off Colour’.

The Finalists

Queen Joni won comfortably, in a time of 28.49 after showing some blistering early pace (sectional 4.13). Once she led, there was no catching her! She was one of Elizabeth McNair’s 5 runners in this years competition, winning every round while still showing some great improvements every week. In the heats (5th Dec), she won in a time of 28.87 with a sectional of 4.21, this was then greatly improved on in the semi-finals when she won in a time of 28.71 (a 16 spot improvement) with an incredible 4.12 sectional. Well done to the K.S.S. Syndicate, Elizabeth McNair, and the breeder, Brendan Keogh.

In second place was Kevin Ferguson’s Acomb Felix, who had a clear run this week, but wasn’t quick enough to get close to Queen Joni. Felix was one of 6 runners for Kevin Ferguson this year, all of which were from the same litter (Hiya Butt x Acomb Ruby). Every dog in this litter made it though to the semi-finals. However, Acomb Felix and Acomb Johnny were the only ones who made it through to the finals. Acomb Felix has never won a round of this competition, and barely got through every round, however he has improved timewise over the 3 weeks. He came third in the heats (time 29.18 & sectional 4.21) and second in the semi-finals (time 29.02 & sectional 4.26). The final was his best performance, with a 21 spot time improvement, and a time of 28.81. Well done to Kevin Ferguson, the owner, breeder and trainer of the litter!

Signet Goofy took the third place position in the final. He was drawn well, in trap 6 and the only wide runner in the field of railers, however this may have been his downfall in the final. He had a clear run, avoiding the trouble. However, he may have run too wide to compete with the leading two. Signet Goofy has had a previous Cat1 win at Sheffield in his career, winning the Steel City Cup in 2022. He was trainer, John Mullins’, only runner in the BGBF derby this year. He hasn’t improved timewise like the others in this field, but has done extremely well throughout. In the heats, he came second in a time of 28.87 after being quick away and leading to the first, before being passed by King Capaldi. Then, in the semi-finals he came first, winning by 3 lengths from Savana Top Cat with a 1 spot time improvement, 28.86. Well done to owners, Mr L W Calcutt and Mr C J Waters, trainer John Mullins, and breeder Kevin Hutton.

Kevin Boothby’s Savana Top Cat took the fourth place position in the final, after getting crowded on the first and second bend. He was drawn in his ideal trap, trap 1, however he lacked the sectional to get ahead of the others. Top Cat has finished second in the past few rounds, with a time of 29.13 in the heats (sectional 4.28) and 29.11 in the semi-finals (sectional 4.35). His times have been improving slightly over the weeks, and without trouble he may have managed to climb into the top 3 in the final. Well done to Owner Kevin Boothby, Trainer Chris Hamblin, and breeder Dave Firmager.

Finally, in 5th place, was Acomb Johnny. Johnny is the second of Kevin Ferguson’s dogs in the final, and one of 6 who featured in this years BGBF derby! He had a clear run, but lacked the early pace to get fully involved in the race from the first bend onwards. Johnny has come second in each of the two rounds of the BGBF derby, beaten only by Elizabeth McNair’s 2 finalists, Queen Joni and King Capaldi. In the first round, he lost to Queen Joni with a time of 29.07 and a sectional of 4.22. His sectional remained the same in the semi-finals, where he was beat by King Capaldi by 6 lengths, with a time of 29.15. Well done to owner, trainer and breeder Kevin Ferguson.

A special mention has to go to King Capaldi, the second runner of Elizabeth McNair’s, who was unfortunately withdrawn off colour a few hours before the final. Capaldi has had a great 2 runs in the previous rounds, winning them both comfortably with his times improving drastically each week. Much like Queen Joni, he showed some great early pace in the previous rounds, with sectionals of 4.12 in the first round, and 4.18 in the second. In the heats, he won by 1 1/4 lengths from Signet Goofy, in a time of 28.76 – after being crowded on the first bend. He soon led however. In the semi-finals he won by 6 Lengths from Acomb Johnny, in a time of 28.67 (a 9 spot improvement). Well done to owners, the K.S.S. Syndicate, trainer Elizabeth McNair, and breeder, Brendan Keogh.

Finishing order

1st: Trap 3, Queen Joni (28.49)

Owned by K.S.S. Syndicate & Trained by Elizabeth McNair (Central Park)

Bred by Brendan Keogh (Droopys Sydney x Queen Jessiej Dec’21)

2nd: Trap 2, Acomb Felix (28.81)

Owned & Trained by Kevin Ferguson (Kinsley)

Bred by Kevin Ferguson (Hiya Butt x Acomb Ruby Mar’21)

3rd: Trap 6, Signet Goofy (28.91)

Owned by Mr L W Calcutt and Mr C J Waters, & Trained by John Mullins (Yarmouth/Towcester)

Bred by Kevin Hutton (Magical Bale x Forest Natalee Jan’20)

4th: Trap 1, Savana Top Cat (29.09)

Owned by Mr.K.A.Boothby & Trained by Chris Hamblin (Oxford)

Bred by David Firmager (Dorotas Wildcat x Drive On Betsy Jan’21)

5th: Trap 5, Acomb Johnny (29.55)

Owned & Trained by Kevin Ferguson (Kinsley)

Bred by Kevin Ferguson (Hiya Butt x Acomb Ruby Mar’21)