On The Move
15/01/09 21:58 Filed in: Stories
Below is an article written by Roger and Karin Thomman outlining why and where they race and how they came to own pups from me. I hope you enjoy and many thanks to Roger and Karin for taking the time to do this for the blog.
On The Move
We have had greyhounds for the past 20 years and they race mainly in Geldrop. We race according to the CGRC regulations which is a European umbrella organisation for the greyhound racing sport. Through this European Confederation for Greyhoundracing the NFG (Netherlands Federation Greyhound) is also a member of the World Greyhound Racing Federation (WGRF).
It is important for us that the dogs race only once a day and that the racing course is very safe.
There are 4 FCI racecourses in Switzerland but only one sand course, the remainder are grassed. According to the FCI rules the dogs everywhere must race twice a day. I do not like this method.
My opinion is that 1 race per day is quite sufficient and that the welfare of the animals must always have priority. For this reason for many years we have travelled once or twice a month in the racing season from March to Nov. to Geldrop in Holland to race. This is an 8-hour journey each way with the mobile home.
The sand course is very safe, it has banked curves with a radius of 40-42 Metres and the distances are 280, 490 and 620 Metres. We are a small club and all members are active helpers. Mostly I help in the preparation of the course. 
The races are always on Saturdays and there are usually 6-9 races depending on the speed class, Graded or Open races. An A1-2 dog from Sittingbourne will run in Geldrop over the 280 Metre distance in approximately 16.9 seconds and over the 490 Metre distance in approximately 29.8 seconds.
We do not have many dogs in Geldrop and are therefore dependent on race participants from Denmark, Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic. However, the quality is relatively good.
Our first contact with Dave was in the Spring of 2005. We wanted to buy a greyhound whelp. As in the past 20 years I had already purchased 4 dogs from England, I again wanted one from the Isle. I had previously made some enquiries. It is relatively easy to buy good dogs but we place great importance on the breeding and poise of the dogs as well as our trust in the
breeder.
In Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Holland Belgium, Denmark and Sweden, many racing dogs live in the house with their owners. During the day our dogs are outside in the sand pens and each one has a run of approximately 50m2 and in the evening they are with us in the house. How did we get to know Dave? At that time Best Major and Shrewd Major were racing at Geldrop. Two really excellent dogs. Thus it was my wish to buy a whelp from the kennel of Valentina Mist. I sent a mail to Dave and asked whether he had a whelp for sale. A short time later came the answer with a choice of 3 litters. But I wanted to get to know the man and phoned him. We hit it off immediately and I quickly noticed that his heart was in the right place and that he really loved the greyhounds. He places great value on a natural breeding and on a high standard. I asked him to send me photos of the litter Larkill Jo x Raceline Lady. We immediately fell in love with the male with the white nose! On the 9th of February we left Switzerland for Amsterdam and took the ferry to Newcastle. (1200KM) When we arrived at Dave’s we were welcomed with open arms and our puppy Talisker Score looked super! The journey to Scotland was a wonderful experience and I have happy memories of it.
Score developed very well and on the 1st September 2007 ran his first race. On 20.10.2008 he even won the Puppy Derby and ran the 280 Metres in 17.28 seconds. In 2006 there were only 7 dogs that ran faster than Score, his best time to date is 16.94 seconds.
We have kept in touch with Dave all this time and his open and friendly manner has always impressed us. So it was clear that our next greyhounds would come from Foulden Bastle again. When my Father, on being pensioned in August 2007, wanted a puppy again, it was clear to me that if he asked for my opinion I would recommend Dave. My father has had greyhounds for more than 30 years and has always had good dogs. A few weeks later in November 2007 we drove in my parent’s mobile home to Berwick to Dave. There my Father chose Questhouse Tobey. Dave gave him the name Tobey (abbreviation for Toblerone = Swiss chocolate).
In the Spring of 2009 Tobey will get his racing licence. His first try-out on the course gives us hope that he will become a great one. He has a strong will and great temperament.
When over Christmas 2007 one of our veterans died of cancer, we wanted a puppy again. The Bitches Millies Award and Droopys Lena appealed to me immediately. When Dave told me that he wanted to cover Ballymac Maeve x Millies Award, it was clear to me that I wanted a puppy from this. Top blood lines, for father and mother two of the best mother lines possible. When the whelps came into the world photos were mailed to me by Ian in Ireland where the whelps were brought up. At the time Dave did not have sufficient place for the litter. We immediately liked the lusty strongly striped male with the white plates.
Thus, in August 2008 we again drove to Dave and bought our third dog from Dave. Talisker Skye. He will go on the course this spring and we are already excited about it.
We have bought three wonderful dogs from Dave and made two new friends with him and his father.
All the best Dave and until next time Kind regards from Switzerland
Roger and Karin
On The Move
We have had greyhounds for the past 20 years and they race mainly in Geldrop. We race according to the CGRC regulations which is a European umbrella organisation for the greyhound racing sport. Through this European Confederation for Greyhoundracing the NFG (Netherlands Federation Greyhound) is also a member of the World Greyhound Racing Federation (WGRF).
The races are always on Saturdays and there are usually 6-9 races depending on the speed class, Graded or Open races. An A1-2 dog from Sittingbourne will run in Geldrop over the 280 Metre distance in approximately 16.9 seconds and over the 490 Metre distance in approximately 29.8 seconds.
We do not have many dogs in Geldrop and are therefore dependent on race participants from Denmark, Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic. However, the quality is relatively good.
Our first contact with Dave was in the Spring of 2005. We wanted to buy a greyhound whelp. As in the past 20 years I had already purchased 4 dogs from England, I again wanted one from the Isle. I had previously made some enquiries. It is relatively easy to buy good dogs but we place great importance on the breeding and poise of the dogs as well as our trust in the
breeder.
In Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Holland Belgium, Denmark and Sweden, many racing dogs live in the house with their owners. During the day our dogs are outside in the sand pens and each one has a run of approximately 50m2 and in the evening they are with us in the house. How did we get to know Dave? At that time Best Major and Shrewd Major were racing at Geldrop. Two really excellent dogs. Thus it was my wish to buy a whelp from the kennel of Valentina Mist. I sent a mail to Dave and asked whether he had a whelp for sale. A short time later came the answer with a choice of 3 litters. But I wanted to get to know the man and phoned him. We hit it off immediately and I quickly noticed that his heart was in the right place and that he really loved the greyhounds. He places great value on a natural breeding and on a high standard. I asked him to send me photos of the litter Larkill Jo x Raceline Lady. We immediately fell in love with the male with the white nose! On the 9th of February we left Switzerland for Amsterdam and took the ferry to Newcastle. (1200KM) When we arrived at Dave’s we were welcomed with open arms and our puppy Talisker Score looked super! The journey to Scotland was a wonderful experience and I have happy memories of it.
Score developed very well and on the 1st September 2007 ran his first race. On 20.10.2008 he even won the Puppy Derby and ran the 280 Metres in 17.28 seconds. In 2006 there were only 7 dogs that ran faster than Score, his best time to date is 16.94 seconds.
We have kept in touch with Dave all this time and his open and friendly manner has always impressed us. So it was clear that our next greyhounds would come from Foulden Bastle again. When my Father, on being pensioned in August 2007, wanted a puppy again, it was clear to me that if he asked for my opinion I would recommend Dave. My father has had greyhounds for more than 30 years and has always had good dogs. A few weeks later in November 2007 we drove in my parent’s mobile home to Berwick to Dave. There my Father chose Questhouse Tobey. Dave gave him the name Tobey (abbreviation for Toblerone = Swiss chocolate).
In the Spring of 2009 Tobey will get his racing licence. His first try-out on the course gives us hope that he will become a great one. He has a strong will and great temperament.
When over Christmas 2007 one of our veterans died of cancer, we wanted a puppy again. The Bitches Millies Award and Droopys Lena appealed to me immediately. When Dave told me that he wanted to cover Ballymac Maeve x Millies Award, it was clear to me that I wanted a puppy from this. Top blood lines, for father and mother two of the best mother lines possible. When the whelps came into the world photos were mailed to me by Ian in Ireland where the whelps were brought up. At the time Dave did not have sufficient place for the litter. We immediately liked the lusty strongly striped male with the white plates.
Roger and Karin
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