2001 English Greyhound Derby

The 2001 William Hill Greyhound Derby Final took place during May and June with the final being held on 2 June 2001 at Wimbledon Stadium. ^[1] The winner received £75,000. Rapid Ranger successfully defended his title and became only the third greyhound in history to win the Derby twice, he was owned by Ray White and bred by Martin Broughan. Two of the finalists Smoking Bullet and Countrywide Tams were owned by Vinnie Jones.^[2]

2001 English Greyhound Derby
Location	Wimbledon Stadium
Start date	4 May
End date	2 June
Total prize money	£75,000 (winner)
← 2000 2002 →

Final result

At Wimbledon (over 480 metres):^[3]

Position	Name of Greyhound	Breeding	Trap	Sectional	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Rapid Ranger	Come On Ranger - Rapid Vienna	4	5.17	7-4	28.71	Charlie Lister (Private)
2nd	Sonic Flight	Frightful Flash - Westmead Flight	3	5.34	10-11f	28.97	Nick Savva (Private)
3rd	Castlelyons Dani	Spiral Nikita - Foxclose Daisy	2	5.28	14-1	29.09	Arthur Hitch (Private)
4th	Countrywide Tams	Lassa Java - Persian Spark	1	5.26	14-1	29.11	John McGee Sr. (Private)
5th	Smoking Bullet	Joyful Tidings - Aggies Vixen	5	5.28	10-1	29.39	Derek Knight (Hove)
6th	Droopys Honcho	Top Honcho - Droopys Fergie	6	5.30	7-1	29.41	Paul Young (Romford)

Distances

3¼, 1½, head, 3½, head (lengths)
The distances between the greyhounds are in finishing order and shown in lengths. One length is equal to 0.08 of one second.^[4]

Final Report

Rapid Ranger soon led and won comfortably from the strong finishing Scottish Derby champion Sonic Flight who had found trouble at the first bend along with Smoking Bullet and Droopys Honcho. Castlelyons Dani finished well for third after crowding and Countrywide Tams had a clear run.

Quarter finals

Heat 1 (May 22) Pos Name SP Time 1st Opus Magic 9-2 28.83 2nd Castlelyons Dani 9-2 28.93 3rd Smoking Bullet 1-1f 29.21 4th Wallington Swift 50-1 29.23 5th Cillowen Maestro 25-1 29.67 6th Concorde Direct 5-2 29.68

Heat 2 (May 22) Pos Name SP Time 1st Pinewood Blue 8-1 29.01 2nd Rapid Ranger 1-4f 29.07 3rd Glengar Visit 10-1 29.21 4th Little Vintage 50-1 29.25 5th Farloe Florish 5-1 29.29 6th Blues Best Buzz 66-1 29.55

Heat 3 (May 22) Pos Name SP Time 1st Micks Best Hero 2-1jf 28.97 2nd Countrwide Tams 2-1jf 28.99 3rd Droopys Honcho 4-1 29.59 4th Carhumore Cross 9-2 29.62 5th Thats Style 8-1 30.10 6th Top Redondo 33-1 30.22

Heat 4 (May 22) Pos Name SP Time 1st Sonic Flight 5-4f 28.95 2nd Rackethall Jet 3-1 29.19 3rd Proud Champ 3-1 29.45 4th Swervys Cushtie 100-1 29.49 5th I Will Yeah 66-1 29.55 6th Druids Highline 8-1 29.81

Semi finals

First Semi Final (May 26) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time 1st Sonic Flight 4-7f 28.67 2nd Droopys Honcho 10-1 28.87 3rd Castleyons Dani 14-1 28.89 4th Opus Magic 6-1 29.23 5th Rackethall Jet 5-1 29.35 6th Glengar Visit 10-1 29.41

Second Semi Final (May 26) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time 1st Rapid Ranger 6-4f 28.80 2nd Smoking Bullet 5-1 29.12 3rd Countrywide Tams 6-1 29.18 4th Pinewood Blue 5-1 29.32 5th Micks Best Hero 5-1 29.34 6th Proud Champ 12-1 29.50

See also

• 2001 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year