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The racing greyhounds we have owned Broadacres Blue (Foggy) Broadacres Blue (Foggy) was my first racing greyhound. They say your first dog either makes or breaks you as an owner and Foggy is truly amazing. He was purchased through my trainer from Ireland and came from a lady called Gill who rears and races greyhounds near Clonmel in Ireland. Foggy was born in April 2006 and I bought him August 2007. He was trained by Mick Peterson who is attached to the Oxford track. On the track Foggy had speed to burn but no early pace so to win his races he had to come from behind. This made him a very exciting dog to watch. His lack of early would usually land him in trouble at the first bend but by the time he got to the 3rd bend he would take off and was always first to the pick up! I could not have wished for a lovelier first greyhound. Not only was he fun to watch in action but off the track he is a friendly cuddly dog in the kennel and a real pleasure to be around. Sadly Foggy broke his leg during a race and this meant an early end to his racing career. I was devastated. We had him home to nurse him back to health whilst he had his leg in plaster. He now lives just around the corner from us with a couple who fell in love with him when they saw us out walking with him and the rest of our dogs during his rehab. The most amazing thing is that now Foggy is in a fabulous home with his new canine friend Alfie, and as they walk their dogs in the same place we do, we still get to see Foggy most days. He still gets very excited when he sees me and I get to have regular cuddles with him. Foggy is a very special boy and I love him to bits. After the injury to Foggy I made the decision to sell or retire my remaining dogs as I felt I needed a break from the sport.
Unique Package (Paks) Unique Package (Paks) was bought at Clonmel sales on Saturday 10th November 2007. She is a Feb 06 pup by Top Honcho x Cunning Lassie. She had only 2 Irish races on her card and trialled at Clonmel in a time of 29.65 over the 480m trip. She graded on at Oxford comfortably and ran consistently A5/A5. She is a really stunning looking bitch. When she arrived she was very nervous but she gained in confidence and was wonderful watching her improve over time and settle in really well. She had a strange habit of howling like a baby when we arrived at the kennels until she got a fuss! What a change from the timid little thing that arrived from Ireland. Paks had a superb career and won a phenomenal amount of races for us. She is a lady with a fantastic personality and I made the decision to retire her whilst she was fit and healthy as I couldn't bear the thought of her getting hurt on the track after being such a loyal servant for so long. Kev and Mandy at Lincs Greyhound Trust found her a lovely new home and she is enjoying a happy retirement. She has a very special place in my heart.
Miss Stardust (Muffin) Droopys Maldini x Droopys Jewel New Years Eve 2008 was spent with me and my Dad having a long drive to Great Yarmouth to buy a new puppy. Dad had finally been persuaded to get involved in the greyhound game and came in halves with us for Muffin (Miss Stardust in the stud book). She is a lovely looking pup and very well bred. She was schooled by Tom at Ockendon schooling track in Essex, where she learned her job really well, and started racing at Oxford in Dec 2009. We sold her in Feb 2010 at the point when I decided to get out of greyhound racing for a while.
Doggieandgabanna (Doggie) Doggieandgabanna was purchased from the Thurles sales in Ireland on the 31st January 2009. He ran the fastest time of the day on a very slow/heavy track and really impressed us. He is a super looking black dog, very friendly and settled in right away. We had hoped he would run some open class races for us, but he sustained a wrist injury which meant we decided to retire him. Kev and Mandy at Lincs Greyhound Trust found him a fabulous new home for us.
Ningbo Princess (Ettie) We purchased Ettie in late 2007 after seeing an advert for her on www.greyhound-data.com. She is a beautiful brindle bitch born in April 2007. She is by Ningbo Jack and out of Bantiss Princess. She was reared by Martin Tucker at Mount Cashell kennels in Ireland, schooled over here by our trainer Mick and started her career at Oxford. Sadly she proved to be an out and out sprinter and just couldn't stay the 450m distance. As Oxford don't do graded sprints we were a bit stuck with what to do with her. I absolutely didn't want to send her away to another track where I couldn't spend time with her at the weekends so made the hard decision to retire her and find her a loving pet home. Kim from http://greyhounds4u.co.uk/ found Ettie the perfect home. She has gone to live with a lovely couple from Sussex and is now living on an 1800 acre estate, free-running every day with her 2 new lurcher friends and is now called Storm. She settled in straight away and has been completely clean in the house. I knew it would be hard to part with her but when she is going to a home like that it makes things so much easier. If only every greyhound could have such a perfect retirement. I miss her loads but know that she is happy.
Scala Honcho (Finn) Scala Honcho arrived with us from Ireland on 3rd September 2008. He is a lovely big black dog and we gave him the kennel name Finn after the famous Irish giant Finn MacCool. He was purchased with the intention of running him in some open class races but sadly in his first one he broke a leg. He healed up really well and is now putting his feet up on the sofa for a well earned retirement. It's a shame that his career should be cut so short by injury but we are just grateful that he has been saved, he is a lovely boy and really deserves his happy retirement. Kev and Mandy at Lincs Greyhound Trust found Finn a fabulous new home and he even has his own page on Facebook which details his life with his new owners!
Boo Weekley (Boo) Boo Weekley arrived with us following a trip to the Cork sales in Ireland in November 2008. He is the cheapest dog we have ever purchased and at such a small price we figured he was worth a chance. He is a really eye-catching fawn and white dog. He graded on at Oxford with ease but picked up a minor injury soon after and has had a layoff over Christmas to get himself right again. He has now been sold to a nice guy up in Scotland and will be racing up there very soon.
Effernogue Magic (Magic) We bought Magic from the Peterborough greyhounds sales on the 14th September 2008. We hadn't intended to buy a dog that day but with several lots going ridiculously cheap we thought Magic was worth taking a chance on. He's a lovely pup, very friendly and keen. He unfortunately came with awful scars on his face where someone has kept him muzzled all the time but he's a sweetie and is living with a new friend happily with no need for a muzzle now. I just don't understand how people can make them wear a muzzle until it creates open sores. They only need to add a bit of extra padding for the dogs nose and this would never happen. Anyway here is the lovely Magic. He graded on at Oxford and ran a few races for us before being sold to Denmark where he should have a lot more success over a more suitable track and distance.
Wren We purchased Zax Wren whilst on a trip to visit Ettie in Ireland in December 2007. She is a bouncy friendly little black bitch. She is by Brett Lee and out of Top Pace. She was bred in Ireland by Lesley Finch and she was born in April 06. She won us our first ever trophy as greyhound owners and she will always be special to us. She was sold summer 2008. She went on to race at Perry Barr and then retired. She is now owned by a lovely lady called Jo Greenshill and her family.
Wren at the schooling track Wren on the sofa in her new home Roman We purchased Zax Roman at the same time as his sister Wren (above). He is a lovely friendly dog and is aptly named (see the side view picture below!). He is by Brett Lee and out of Top Pace and bred by Lesley Finch in Ireland. He was sold summer 2008 and Roman is now with a guy who trains at Henlow and is doing well.
Roman (with sister!) Roman at the schooling track
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