2006 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 2006 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 81st year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

2006 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
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Summary

The 2005 English Greyhound Derby champion Westmead Hawk became only the fourth greyhound in history to win the Derby for a second time^[1] emulating the achievement of Mick the Miller (1929 & 1930),^[2] Patricias Hope (1972 & 1973)^[3] and Rapid Ranger (2000 & 2001).^[4] Returning from winter rest the Nick Savva trained greyhound lost to Fear Me, in the final of the BGRB Scottish Derby^[5] before creating his own piece of history.

Westmead Hawk suffered a serious injury later in the year which resulted in him missing the 2006 Irish Greyhound Derby, an event that was won by Razldazl Billy trained by Dolores Ruth.^[6][7] Westmead Hawk was duly voted the Greyhound of the Year. Charlie Lister was Greyhound Trainer of the Year.

Tracks

Rye House Stadium, built in 1935, closed for good on the 15 November, just two years after re-opening.^[8][9]

Competitions

The battle between the countries two top staying (longer distance) greyhounds continued; Greenacre Lin defeated Roxholme Girl in the Golden Jacket final and then Roxholme Girl gained revenge by winning the William Hill TV Trophy. Greenacre Lin won the Cesarewitch and then Roxholme Girl headed for Manchester and claimed victory in the Gold Collar. They both bypassed the Grand Prix which was won by January Tiger trained by Mark Wallis, who had five of the finalists. Greenacre Lin was retired form racing in September and was voted stayer of the year.^[9]

News

GRA track Wimbledon lost four trainers during the course of the year. Seamus Cahill and Paul Garland both moved to Walthamstow Stadium followed by Ray Peacock and John Walsh leaving for Romford and Harlow respectively. Two replacements were Jason Foster from Oxford and Paul Donovan from Reading Stadium.^[9]

Walthamstow also appointed new trainers in Peter Rich and Kelly Mullins (son of Linda Mullins). Coincidentally earlier in the year Kelly's brother John Mullins had left Walthamstow to concentrate solely on operating an open-race kennel at Capel St. Mary.^[9] Oxford's leading trainer Nick Colton joined sister track Hall Green.

An article by the News of the World on the use of cocaine in society also suggests its use is rife in greyhound racing. The National Greyhound Racing Club responds with evidence that in over 70,000 samples taken during the year only four returned positive for cocaine (three of which were from human contamination) leaving just one case. The newspaper failed to print a retraction or apology.^[10]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
2006 English Greyhound Derby	Westmead Hawk
2006 Irish Greyhound Derby	Razldazl Billy
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Charlie Lister
Greyhound of the Year	Westmead Hawk
Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year	Razldazl Billy / Shelbourne Becky

Betfair Trainers Championship, Wimbledon (Mar 14)[11] Pos Name of Trainer Points 1st Mark Wallis 56 2nd Charlie Lister 39 3rd Brian Clemenson 35 4th David Pruhs 28 5th Nick Savva 26 6th Paul Young 23

Principal UK finals

William Hill TV Trophy, Belle Vue (Mar 28, 878m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Roxholme Girl Carly Philpott 55.86 4-5f 2 2nd Head Iton Jordan Steve Race 55.94 33-1 5 3rd Greenacre Lin Brian Clemenson 56.36 4-1 1 4th Rosshill View Chris Allsopp 56.50 9-2 4 5th Droopys Aoife Bernie Doyle 56.76 12-1 3 6th Shes The Deal Paul Young 56.90 12-1 6

BGRB Scottish Derby, Shawfield (Apr 8, 480m, £25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Fear Me Charlie Lister 7-4jf 29.21 3 2nd Westmead Hawk Nick Savva 3-1 29.25 4 3rd Ballymac Niloc Carly Philpott 7-4jf 29.55 1 4th Malbay Nikita Alexander Mills 33-1 29.59 5 5th Teds Anchor Julie Bateson 10-1 29.61 2 6th Ballymac Magnet Carly Philpott 12-1 29.87 6

William Hill Cesarewitch, Oxford (Jun 13, 645m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Greenacre Lin Brian Clemenson 11-10f 39.85 3 2nd Caloona Striker Wayne Wrighting 5-1 40.01 4 3rd Daisyfield Seani Mark Wallis 10-1 40.25 5 4th Princessmonalulu Brian Clemenson 3-1 40.28 6 5th Coup Detat Cherie Llewellyn 33-1 40.37 1 6th Zigzag Stewart June McCombe 4-1 40.83 2

Betfair Scurry Cup, Perry Barr (Aug 22, 275m, £8,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ballymac Rooster Carly Philpott 7-4 16.08 6 2nd Roxholme Freddie Carly Philpott 1-1f 16.26 4 3rd Belindas Company Ray Evans 10-1 16.41 2 4th Blonde Joey John Mullins 12-1 16.62 5 5th Rhincrew Simba Charlie Lister 3-1 16.65 3 N/R Blonde Jet Maria Dennis

Totesport Gold Collar, Belle Vue (Aug 29, 590m, £10,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Roxholme Girl Carly Philpott 8-15f 35.14 1 2nd Westmead Aoifa Nick Savva 6-1 35.44 6 3rd Westmead Swift Nick Savva 6-1 35.50 5 4th Teds Anchor Julie Bateson 9-2 35.84 2 5th Halcrow Prince Julie Bateson 16-1 35.98 4 6th Thunderbird Two Graham Hutt 16-1 36.10 3

VC Bet Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Sep 30, 640m, £10,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st January Tiger Mark Wallis 9-2 39.47 6 2nd Fear Robben Mark Wallis 11-4 39.59 1 3rd Blackmagic Guy Mark Wallis 14-1 39.61 2 4th Daisyfield Seani Mark Wallis 2-1f 40.05 4 5th Westmead Swift Nick Savva 5-2 40.09 5 6th Go Commando Mark Wallis 14-1 40.81 3

Reading Masters, Reading (Oct 1, 465m, £20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Farloe Rio Paul Hennessy 5-2 28.13 3 2nd Noirs Ted Seamus Cahill 8-1 28.23 6 3rd Geordie Parker Charlie Lister 5-4f 28.25 5 4th Toms View Charlie Lister 4-1 28.49 4 5th Farloe Focus Charlie Lister 33-1 28.59 2 6th Zigzag Dutchy Charlie Lister 4-1 28.91 1

Betfair Grand National, Wimbledon (Oct 3, 460mH, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Suit Man Bernie Doyle 13-8f 28.30 6 2nd Baran Geronimo Tom Foster 14-1 28.34 4 3rd Jills Fault Paul Sallis 5-1 28.43 5 4th Snazzy Time Seamus Cahill 5-1 28.71 3 5th Druids Sully Norah McEllistrim 5-1 28.72 1 6th Custom Paul Jason Foster 9-2 28.79 2

William Hill Laurels, Belle Vue (Oct 24, 470m, £10,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Clash Harmonica Charlie Lister 3-1 27.88 1 2nd Fantasy Tiger Stuart Buckland 12-1 27.92 2 3rd Dalcash Sweettea Ken Bebbington 12-1 27.96 3 4th Fear Haribo Hayley Keightley 5-4f 28.00 4 5th Manic Mile Graham Hutt 9-2 28.08 5 6th Noirs Duke Otto Kueres 7-1 28.18 6

William Hill St Leger, Wimbledon (Nov 7, 668m, £13,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ninja Blue Charlie Lister 11-4 41.52 5 2nd Westmead Olivia Nick Savva 5-1 41.53 4 3rd Blissful Classic Tony Collett 7-1 41.57 6 4th Fabulous Sophie Charlie Lister 7-2 41.74 1 5th Blackmagic Guy Mark Wallis 10-1 41.75 3 6th Daisyfield Seani Mark Wallis 9-4f 42.04 2

William Hill Oaks, Wimbledon (Nov 28, 480m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Dilemmas Flight Nick Savva 7-1 28.96 2 2nd Cleenas Lady Terry Dartnall 11-8f 29.04 1 3rd Jazz Hurricane Derek Knight 5-1 29.07 6 4th Chakalak Paris Paul Young 20-1 29.26 5 5th Deanridge Vixen Ian Reilly 2-1 29.76 4 6th Africa Mark Wallis 25-1 29.79 3

Principal Irish finals

Donal Reilly Easter Cup Shelbourne (Apr 8, 525y, €50,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Ahane Lad [12] 5-2 28.21 2 2nd Charity Jack 10-1 28.66 5 3rd Roisins Dessie 9-4f 28.70 1 4th Dead Set 6-1 28.75 4 5th Tyrur Fracas 7-1 28.77 6 6th Mineola Zeus 4-1 28.91 3

Red Mills Produce Clonmel (Apr 30, 525y, €30,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Eskimo Jack [13] 4-1 28.54 6 2nd Large Mac 9-4 28.99 1 3rd Jacksheaboy 5-1 29.06 3 4th Emporio Diego 14-1 29.07 5 5th Nut Cracker 7-1 29.28 2 6th Jeffs Star 2-1f 29.63 4

Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger Limerick (Jun 24, 550y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Indesacjack [14] 4-1 29.66 4 2nd Coolboy George 5-2f 29.69 1 3rd Smoking Again 5-1 30.25 5 4th Alimo 4-1 29.66 2 5th Wizard Dream 8-1 30.33 6 6th Dalcash Sweettea 3-1 30.40 3

Sporting Press Oaks Shelbourne (Jul 8, 525y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Shelbourne Becky [15] 5-2 28.58 5 2nd Tyrur Kitten 11-10f 28.68 2 3rd Smooth Surface 14-1 28.86 4 4th Borna Magic 5-1 29.00 6 5th Girl With Guitar 6-1 29.07 1 N/R Early Talent 3

Boylesports Champion Stakes Shelbourne (Jul 29, 550y, €40,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Large Mac [16] 7-1 29.76 3 2nd Droopys Wells 6-1 29.93 4 3rd Tyrur Ted 3-1 29.99 6 4th Ravenswood Ross 16-1 30.13 1 5th Tyrur Paddy 2-1f 30.20 2 6th Good Dog Jack 3-1 00.00 5

HX Bookmakers Puppy Derby Harolds Cross (Oct 6, 525y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Oran Majestic [17] 7-2 28.71 4 2nd Winetavern Henry 8-1 28.81 1 3rd Rusheen Honcho 6-1 28.88 2 4th Droopys Mal 1-1f 29.16 3 5th Evans Joy 10-1 29.34 6 6th Barnfield On Air 11-2 29.93 5

Cashmans Laurels Cork (Oct 21, 525y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Ardkill Jamie [18] 5-2 28.65 1 2nd Droopys Electric 9-4f 28.67 3 3rd Disco Stu 9-2 28.88 2 4th Tyrur Lee 9-2 29.09 4 5th Oran Premier 11-2 29.33 5 N/R Tyrur Ted 6