AYOZAT confirm Derby prices
Pay-per-view channel Ayozat have confirmed their prices for the forthcoming Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby.
The cost is £2.49 per show, increasing to £4.99 for the semis and final or £14.99 for the entire competition.
Entain are continuing to support their local owners and trainers who purchase lots from the Premier Greyhound Sales staged at their own tracks.
Entain announce latest Hall Of Fame inductees
Terry Blackburn
Monmore – Terry Blackburn
Terry had along association with in the sport he loved, first as a owner in the 60’s with Monmore Trainer Alfie Prentice, and then he moved to Pat Ryan and became a owner and kennelhand, that’s when his long and successful relationship began and flourished with Trainer Patricia Cowdrill and Owner and Breeder Pete (Elderberry ) Richards.
Terry owned hundreds of dogs throughout his life the best, the most memorable would be Kildallon Bound who ran in 22 races with 10 wins including the Puppy Oaks at Nottingham.
Terry loved his graded racing along with Open race success, but most of all he loved his Greyhounds, and association with the Elderberry Kennels and Monmore Green.
A stalwart of Monmore’s Owners association Terry would always add to every discussion with his knowledge and wisdom.
Terry ,Sadly passed away in October last year, he will be sadly missed, but remembered by all his friends and colleagues at Monmore and the Elderberry Kennel, A True Gentleman.
Laughil Jess
Crayford – Laughill Jess
Laughil Jess is the latest entry into the Crayford Hall Of Fame following her amazing run of 19 successive victories over the 540m distance from 3rd June 2023 to 16th December 2023.
She also won over 380m, a two run competition at Central Park, a heat of the PGR Oaks and a race at Nottingham but it was her unbeaten run over the Crayford six bend journey that really captured the imagination of the greyhound public.
She triumphed in the £10,000 Ladbrokes Gold Collar in November and was nominated at the Greyhound Of The Year awards in both stayers and bitches categories.
In particular her Gold Collar semi-final victory over Aayamza Sydney was one of the performances of the year and showed her sheer will to win which was evident in so many of her races during her spectacular winning sequence.
She has recently been retired by her owner and trainer Dave Lee and she is a very worthy recipient of this honour following her outstanding efforts at Crayford in the past year.
El Tenor
Romford – El Tenor
Romford’s entry into the Hall of Fame is open race winning legend El Tenor.
El Tenor entered the record books as the most winning open racer in greyhound history. He won his 100th race at Romford on March 3rd 2000. Owned by Italian film producer Mario Lanfranchi and trained by Linda Mullins.
He was born in Ireland July 1994 and retired on the 28th April 2000 just before his 6th birthday.
He gained national and international recognition having won 102 races and broke 8 track records. Described as a brave and gutsy dog he will always be known as a true champion throughout the industry.
His best winning sequence was 11 race wins in a row. El Tenor’s race wins were over 4 and 6 bends on the flat and hurdles. He won at 19 different tracks. 22 wins from 35 starts were at Romford.
Norah
Hove – Norah McEllistrim
Hove’s entrant into the Hall of Fame is Norah McEllistrim.
Norah, 79, a fully-fledged handler for almost fifty years after succeeding her father Paddy in 1974, is one of the most popular characters in the sport and renowned for her prowess with hurdlers, most notably the great Bobcol.
Norah made two appearances in the prestigious one-off Trainers’ Championship fixture – Walthamstow (1985) and Sittingbourne (1998).
She gained deserved recognition for a lifetime involvement in greyhound racing when she was the recipient of the 2011 Greyhound Writers’ Association Harry Lloyd Services to Greyhound Racing award.
In March, 2012, Norah, whose long-time partner Brian Harrison is a highly successful Greyhound Sales organiser, vacated her beloved Wimbledon after a 38-year association with the Plough Lane venue to join Hove.
At the GBGB Awards this year Norah was again honoured by the GWA and given a Lifetime Acheivement Award.
The bubbly ‘Norahmac’ freely admits that the success of her greyhound kennel is a team effort and she has been ably assisted by Mary Pledge, Dawn Hillier (‘looks after our retired greyhounds’), Julie Hillier, Gemma Byford (assistant trainer), Kate Aris and Tim Rowell.
Romeo Dave loves a maiden
It was all about ‘Romeo Dave’ Firmager in the opening round of the BGBF British Bred Maiden Derby at Newcastle.
The outstanding three performances on the night were all produced by pups produced by the Melton Mowbray based breeder. Quickest of the trio was Romeo Crossfire. Despite making his debut in last September’s Romford Puppy Cup, alongside Romeo litter brothers Crusade and Cypher (1st and 3rd) the Thursday night outing was just the fifth race of his career and his first win. His winning time was 28.52.
Next quickest on the night also went to the Firmager/Heilbron connection and the considerably younger Romeo Jackson in 28.60 with the Carol Weatherall trainer Untold Quetzal just one spot slower after producing the night’s quickest sectional.
Joint ante post favourite Rioja Bungle (4/9) was turned over by the lightly raced Witton Myles. A Bit Of Noah stepped up from A4 local company to take the oening heat in 29.14 while Cental Park A1 regular Queen Ariana was just the second winning favourite on the night.
QUEEN JONI is the Time Greyhound Nutrition Greyhound of the Month for April after her victory in the Coral Brighton Belle at Hove for Liz and Rab McNair and owners the KSS Syndicate.
In winning the award, voted for by members of the Greyhound Writers’ Association, Derby-bound Queen Joni – she runs at Towcester tomorrow in a trial stakes for the Star Sports/TRC English Greyhound Derby – edged out big-race winners Farneys Willie, Kilwest Ranger, Untold Dollar and Wicky Ned.
Opens
Tonight: Romford
Sunday: Crayford ♦ Sheffield ♦ Towcester
Monday: Nottingham
