Greyhound Weekly is delighted to welcome Paul Wilson to the team. An owner of graded dogs himself, Paul has a particular passion for the graded scene in the North of England. Over the coming months, Paul will be trawling through the cards and giving a shout out to the people that keep our sport going in Doncaster, Kinsley, Newcastle, Pelaw Grange, Sheffield, and Sunderland.
As an owner of graded dogs, I am always drawn to the lower grade dogs. They give owners and trainers so much pleasure but rarely get any credit for any achievement in the greyhound press. These dogs, owners and trainers put just as much into the sport as some of the top owners and trainers and need to be recognised a lot more as many are now drifting away as the cost to keep dogs increases.
Over the next few months I will be looking at the Northern graded cards and just give a little bit of a shout out to owners, trainers and dogs that turn up every week. We all need to feel we are all part of the same team.
HERE WE GO. IT’S THE FIRST TIME FOR ME SO BE GENTLE !!!!
SUNDERLAND 1st January 2024
The second race of the year at Sunderland was a 450m handicap. PRIME ICONIC gave the owners Mr R Black & Mr R Black and trainer Ken Dobson a great start to 2024. It’s been a while since Prime Iconic last crossed the finish line in first so this will give everyone involved with the dog a boost into the new year.
ZONIN also started the new year off well at Sunderland with a win in 450m A3 contest with a time of 27.75 which I’m sure owners Mr D Nugent & Mr R Saunders and trainer Graham Strike will be happy with to start 2024.
DONCASTER 1st January 2024
The first meeting kicked off on new year’s day and the dog that caught my eye was LILY MAC in a B6 450m owned by Mrs S Watson and trained by James Johnstone. Lily Mac has been moving down the grades at Doncaster but I’m sure a win for the dog will give her a bit more confidence! I’m always pleased when a dog that needs a win finds something. For me it’s all about the dogs and hopefully Lily Mac is on the up. It’s an owner thing I suppose as I always have faith in the dog if graded correctly.
BULL RUN BORIS is back to winning ways at Doncaster in a D3 275m. Owned by M I Khan and trained by Kenneth Bowman it’s not too long ago Bull run Boris won 275m in D1 and D2 for fun. Let’s hope he can find some form again and move back up a grade. I do remember him winning quite a few 450m B2 races a while back. He always looked a good bet finishing in the first two in his 450m races.
NEWCASTLE 2nd January 2024
The first meeting of the year at Newcastle started with MASTER TOUCH in the first A5 race of the day. He is continuing to improve with a win over the 480m trip. Hopefully his owner Mr RC Martin and trainer, Daniel Alcorn had a few shillings on the 8/1 shot. The dog has found some good form over recent weeks winning A6 and handicap races before today’s A5 win. Hats off to
the owner and trainer.
BLACKHOUSE SADIE, owned and trained by Mr Stuart Ray, has had a Good start to her year. She ran under 30 seconds after being quick away and in front from the first bend onwards. Sadie struggles to get out of A8, but this could be the start of a little bit of form. It’s always good to win in the first meeting of the year especially when most of the favourites have won on the card at this meeting
SHEFFIELD 2nd January 2024
The first meeting of the year saw a good crowd in attendance for the new racing schedule.
COOLOGUE ELLIE took the win in a 500m A4 contest for owners K Hodson & Mr A Wigfield and trainer Kelly Hodson. Coologue Ellie has been working hard in A4 over recent weeks without any reward and maybe a down grade would have helped but this win could help her move on. Sometimes I wish the graders could see the things owners can see.
NIXON DRIVE has achieved 3 wins on the spin for owners Mr RJ Doherty & Mr SM Hough and trainer Nigel Saunders. The past 3 weeks he has won a 500M handicap, 500m A5 and then today’s 500m A4. Nothing more I can say about that. Except WOW and well done. That’s some Christmas and new year for everyone involved.
Kinsley 4th January 2024
SOLID DAKOTA gave owner & trainer, Beverly Heaton, a much needed win in a 265m D3. The 465m at Kinsley has not been giving Solid Dakota any luck at all but after a long lay off and a good 265m trial she’s back to winning ways in today’s 265m D3 win. I’m sure everyone is happy with the start of the year. I always hope a dog that’s had a few months off comes back strong. All the work trainers put into bringing the dog back is sometimes taken for granted.
PASCALI ROSIE won today in A5 462m. She’s an A5/A6 dog but in form at the moment. Owned by Miss BJ Webb and trained by Mark Lyons. She runs the 462m at Kinsley like clockwork, she just can’t always get home from the last bend. However she has been running very well over the last few weeks. If you get a chance just take a look at this dog’s form. Quick away, Quick away, Quick away, Early pace all the way through its form. Always in front from the first bend to the last then kneel and pray she gets home. What a roller coaster ride if you own this dog. Must be lots of fun to watch. For me this is a dog I would love to own. Well done
PELAW GRANGE 7th January 2024
CORBALLY FLASH won the first 435m A5 race of the new Sunday evening card shes an Oct 21 bitch owned by Miss CMF Main and trained by R Saunders. Sometimes a change of trainers just gives a dog a pick up and this seems to be working for Corbally Flash. New surroundings sometimes is the key and it’s now two wins from the last four races. A good move from the owner. Well done.
FOOTFIELD SARAH, owned and trained by Mr Malcolm Gray has started off her Pelaw Grange campaign off very well. She had a good 435m A6 result a couple of weeks ago gave her an upgrade into A4. This has paid off tonight with a win for the owner trained dog. All looks well for this dog if she carries on with this form.
Pelaw Grange has moved to Sunday evening but I hope the Sunday Carvery has moved with it. Although I live in Sheffield we do travel around the country when possible to watch Greyhounds. We visited Pelaw a few months ago and the food and service was first class and I’m looking forward to going back this year!
I can only give my thoughts from an owner’s point of view but to all the trainers, kennel hands and track staff who are overworked and underpaid. Thank you.
Good luck with all your dogs this week and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do
Thank you,
Paul Wilson.
