Rounding Up 2009
20/12/09 21:49 Filed in: Stories
This year has seen, what I would consider, the “Best Looking” Crop of pups as an entire and really fills me up with alot of hope.
Firstly the Droopys Kewell x Jazz Hurricane(Apr 08) pups left us in April and after very limited schooling they very quickly established themselves in high grades, as such we have not hit an Open Race success with any of them but I am as certain as I can be that not only will there be A Open race success but that there will be “A Few” next year.
The Hondo Black x Miss Wonderful(May 08) pups left us in May and whilst it is early doors with them and Hondo Blacks are renowned for getting better with age, they do, in truth, look average racers, my dog pup sadly done his stifle at 10 months old and even with the required rest he didn’t hold up to any runs and is awaiting a home, The pup in Ireland may yet prove me wrong and I can honestly say that these pups looked stunners but it just goes to show that looks win you nothing.
Next to leave where the Droopys Maldini x Droopys Lena (July 08) pups, they left us in July and the dog pups have not been rushed but have completed their schooling, they have showed up very well and I am eagerly awaiting 2010 to see them race, the bitches have been held back further with seasons but all have nearly completed their schooling, 1 of them has had 5 races on the Independants with 2 victorys( 1 a final) and looking quite promising, I am certain these pups will do me and their mother proud.
October was to see the Westmead Hawk x Score Legend(Oct 08) pups leave us, very strange litter as I was as happy as I could be with them for the first 6-7 months and then for 2 months I honestly thought they had stopped growing and was getting very worried, however a late spurt was to see them leave fine looking, sturdy pups, I am led to believe that they are chasing crazy for it but thats all I know.
Final pups to leave this year where the 2 sets of Premier Fantasy pups by Droopys Rosari(Nov 08) and Millies Award(Nov 08), both these sets of pups look the business and I am really excited to see how they get on, this will not be till next year as they will not be rushed as they are all quite big lumps, in the field they were very very bolshy and at times they were quite hard work but in all honesty I would not have swapped them for anything.
All in I can honestly say that next year could be very interesting and hopefully all the time and effort myself and my father put into all the pups will bring home the just rewards.
Westmead Hawk x Jazz Hurricane born March 09 have blossomed into lovely looking pups, dogs weigh in the region of 30-34kg and bitches 26-29kg and truly full of it, I must admit that at the beginning I was not overly impressed but the last 2-3 months has seen a complete turnaround in my thoughts.
Droopys Maldini x Miss Wonderful born June 09 are very sturdy and compact pups that are so full of energy its untrue, dogs weigh around 28kg and overall I am very happy with how they are progressing.
Hondo Black X Baby Marge(Aug 09) and Hondo Black x Droopys Lena(Sept 09) are both doing very good, too early to be jumping up and down, but still showing the right attributes you like to see.
Winners this week Questhouse Alexi, Questhouse Misty, Lenn Swartz and Andreas Quest x2 at Newcastle, English Rose, Regale Savana, Smoking John and Sugar Fix at Hove, Questhouse Leigh at Monmore, Bonjour Paula at Nottingham.
This brings our Kennel Total to 893 and makes it 293 winners this year alone, whilst we have lacked on Opens which is, of course, disappointing, we have sent out plenty of winners that I am sure has pleased their many owners, with a little bit of luck we will improve the Open wins next year as well as hopefully sending out as many winners.
On the general racing front I must admit to being very disappointed with our current board GBGB, nothing but doom and gloom has arisen from their offices and quite what 2010 will bring is beyond thinking about, hopefully GOBATA will be allowed a voice on the board and with the wealth of experience on side it can surely only go to serve our industry well, if the GBGB have any hope for our future they will embrace this knowledge on board.
The standard of racing this year has been very high and shining through were, for me, a few major highlights.
Charlie Lister on winning the Trainers Championship at Sheffield, the display his dogs put on that night was truly remarkable and it is a night I will not forget in a hurry.
Kinda Ready winning the English Derby, whilst I felt pig sick for my friend Simon Wooder and Charlie on Fear Zafonic getting nailed near the line, I was very happy for Mark and his team at Imperial Kennels on winning the biggest prize our sport has to offer, I know just what this meant to Mark and his team and I was delighted all his hard work has paid off.
The “ Charlie Lister” east anglian Derby with an unbelievable 10th success and a 1-2-3 on the night, truly amazing feat and 1 that I know Charlie is proud of, it was also small compensation to the owners of Fear Zafonic.
The Mark Wallis 1-2 St Leger, truly fantastic race and a Dead heat would have been more fitting but it was not to be, I was though very happy for Kinda Easys owners as they are a superb bunch of people who put their dogs and their morals first.
Eye on The Storm winning The Eclipse, the Race title was fitting as that is what that dog done, he “Eclipsed” his field and looks a proper prospect for next year, good luck to John who deserves any good fortune that comes his way as he puts enough into the sport.
Wee Gangus ( Rab Mcnair) winning The Gymcrack and Oaks, both very fast and professional racers and both sure to be highlighted many times in 2010, Rab himself has put many a smile on peoples faces this year and I find him totally infectious, perhaps the GBGB should have him fronting a trailer for Greyhound Racing.
Imperial Kennels achievement on the number of Open wins this year, it is truly astounding and shows the complete dedication shown by this kennel, never frightened to get on the road and I know that Mark n Co are proud of what they have achieved.
Final highlight has to be the Invitational race I sponsored on Juvenile night in memory of my late mum, the whole field was packed with the highest quality greyhounds and me and my father were extremely proud to have my mums name associated with these greats, looking back it was fantastic to see “The Causeway” in the flesh and to watch Ninja Jamie put on a proper display for Terry and Geoff, it truly was a magical night.
Firstly the Droopys Kewell x Jazz Hurricane(Apr 08) pups left us in April and after very limited schooling they very quickly established themselves in high grades, as such we have not hit an Open Race success with any of them but I am as certain as I can be that not only will there be A Open race success but that there will be “A Few” next year.
The Hondo Black x Miss Wonderful(May 08) pups left us in May and whilst it is early doors with them and Hondo Blacks are renowned for getting better with age, they do, in truth, look average racers, my dog pup sadly done his stifle at 10 months old and even with the required rest he didn’t hold up to any runs and is awaiting a home, The pup in Ireland may yet prove me wrong and I can honestly say that these pups looked stunners but it just goes to show that looks win you nothing.
Next to leave where the Droopys Maldini x Droopys Lena (July 08) pups, they left us in July and the dog pups have not been rushed but have completed their schooling, they have showed up very well and I am eagerly awaiting 2010 to see them race, the bitches have been held back further with seasons but all have nearly completed their schooling, 1 of them has had 5 races on the Independants with 2 victorys( 1 a final) and looking quite promising, I am certain these pups will do me and their mother proud.
October was to see the Westmead Hawk x Score Legend(Oct 08) pups leave us, very strange litter as I was as happy as I could be with them for the first 6-7 months and then for 2 months I honestly thought they had stopped growing and was getting very worried, however a late spurt was to see them leave fine looking, sturdy pups, I am led to believe that they are chasing crazy for it but thats all I know.
Final pups to leave this year where the 2 sets of Premier Fantasy pups by Droopys Rosari(Nov 08) and Millies Award(Nov 08), both these sets of pups look the business and I am really excited to see how they get on, this will not be till next year as they will not be rushed as they are all quite big lumps, in the field they were very very bolshy and at times they were quite hard work but in all honesty I would not have swapped them for anything.
All in I can honestly say that next year could be very interesting and hopefully all the time and effort myself and my father put into all the pups will bring home the just rewards.
Westmead Hawk x Jazz Hurricane born March 09 have blossomed into lovely looking pups, dogs weigh in the region of 30-34kg and bitches 26-29kg and truly full of it, I must admit that at the beginning I was not overly impressed but the last 2-3 months has seen a complete turnaround in my thoughts.
Droopys Maldini x Miss Wonderful born June 09 are very sturdy and compact pups that are so full of energy its untrue, dogs weigh around 28kg and overall I am very happy with how they are progressing.
Hondo Black X Baby Marge(Aug 09) and Hondo Black x Droopys Lena(Sept 09) are both doing very good, too early to be jumping up and down, but still showing the right attributes you like to see.
Winners this week Questhouse Alexi, Questhouse Misty, Lenn Swartz and Andreas Quest x2 at Newcastle, English Rose, Regale Savana, Smoking John and Sugar Fix at Hove, Questhouse Leigh at Monmore, Bonjour Paula at Nottingham.
This brings our Kennel Total to 893 and makes it 293 winners this year alone, whilst we have lacked on Opens which is, of course, disappointing, we have sent out plenty of winners that I am sure has pleased their many owners, with a little bit of luck we will improve the Open wins next year as well as hopefully sending out as many winners.
On the general racing front I must admit to being very disappointed with our current board GBGB, nothing but doom and gloom has arisen from their offices and quite what 2010 will bring is beyond thinking about, hopefully GOBATA will be allowed a voice on the board and with the wealth of experience on side it can surely only go to serve our industry well, if the GBGB have any hope for our future they will embrace this knowledge on board.
The standard of racing this year has been very high and shining through were, for me, a few major highlights.
Charlie Lister on winning the Trainers Championship at Sheffield, the display his dogs put on that night was truly remarkable and it is a night I will not forget in a hurry.
Kinda Ready winning the English Derby, whilst I felt pig sick for my friend Simon Wooder and Charlie on Fear Zafonic getting nailed near the line, I was very happy for Mark and his team at Imperial Kennels on winning the biggest prize our sport has to offer, I know just what this meant to Mark and his team and I was delighted all his hard work has paid off.
The “ Charlie Lister” east anglian Derby with an unbelievable 10th success and a 1-2-3 on the night, truly amazing feat and 1 that I know Charlie is proud of, it was also small compensation to the owners of Fear Zafonic.
The Mark Wallis 1-2 St Leger, truly fantastic race and a Dead heat would have been more fitting but it was not to be, I was though very happy for Kinda Easys owners as they are a superb bunch of people who put their dogs and their morals first.
Eye on The Storm winning The Eclipse, the Race title was fitting as that is what that dog done, he “Eclipsed” his field and looks a proper prospect for next year, good luck to John who deserves any good fortune that comes his way as he puts enough into the sport.
Wee Gangus ( Rab Mcnair) winning The Gymcrack and Oaks, both very fast and professional racers and both sure to be highlighted many times in 2010, Rab himself has put many a smile on peoples faces this year and I find him totally infectious, perhaps the GBGB should have him fronting a trailer for Greyhound Racing.
Imperial Kennels achievement on the number of Open wins this year, it is truly astounding and shows the complete dedication shown by this kennel, never frightened to get on the road and I know that Mark n Co are proud of what they have achieved.
Final highlight has to be the Invitational race I sponsored on Juvenile night in memory of my late mum, the whole field was packed with the highest quality greyhounds and me and my father were extremely proud to have my mums name associated with these greats, looking back it was fantastic to see “The Causeway” in the flesh and to watch Ninja Jamie put on a proper display for Terry and Geoff, it truly was a magical night.
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