IT must be difficult to come up with a new acceptance speech when you have landed the same award on 14 occasions.
Mark Wallis finished 415 points clear of Liz McNair in the 2023 Trainers Championship race; at 1,591 points, it is actually his highest ever score. This is despite the fact that three of the kennels six Cat One winners left the kennel following the launch of the MWD Partnership in April.
He said: “It was a fabulous effort from Liz because her points score (1,176) would have been good enough to finish top in most recent years.
“From out perspective, we have to be delighted with six Cat One wins. I believe we are around the 95 mark since we started out so the 100 will obviously be something I would love to achieve.”
For many years, the trainers award was decided by a vote among the racing journalists. Since its switch to a points based system, Mark has achieved ‘Real Madrid status’ with 14 titles. Closest to him were Linda Mullins and John McGee with six each.
So is there a favourite?
Mark said: “Probably the early ones if I am honest. The legend who is Charlie Lister was at the peak of his powers and we had some great battles with him. I have some treasured memories of those nights.”
Seven Up at Sheffield
Sheffield have filled seven opens for their first Sunday afternoon fixture in the revamped racing week.
Racing Manager Andrew Mascarenhas said: “Thanks to all for entries and it’s good to see Tom (Heilbron) supporting our first Sunday open meeting with a large amount of entries, along with trainers from Scotland making the long trip.
“It was disappointing that our dual distance competition (heats £300 to winner, final £600 winner others £100) failed to fill. Hopefully they’ll attract more interest in the future weeks as we’ve advertised others”
JC still following industry events
Talking of Champion Trainers, John Coleman (1974 & 1995) has been in touch in the last couple of days with some interesting views on development in the media rights world.
In addition to still keeping an eye on the industry, the former Wembley/Romford and Walthamstow handler has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the industry. He writes as well as he speaks and could easily have made a career as a broadcaster or print journalist. John regularly contibuted articles to The Sporting Life and Greyhound Magazines.
After a bit of prompting, the great man has promised to pen “a fabulous tale” of a very fast hound he once handled, Maryville Hi. With luck it will be the first of several articles from the former Chairman of the Greyhound Trainers Association.
Note for the Vase
Recent Bet365 Challenge Cup winner Havana Top Note was the most high profile hound to trial at Romford yesterday as a number of likely entries for the Coral Essex Vase had their first workouts of 2024.
The event closes on Monday and if the £10K first prize was enough to whet the appetite, there will be a few owners with aspirations of taking home this rather impressive trophy from Burridge Trophies.
Time for the return of the awards
On the subject of Burridge Trophies, there will be one available for the winners of the GWA’s Greyhound of the Month award which is being resurrected thanks to the sponsorship of Time Greyhound Nutrition.
GWA chairman Jonathan Hobbs said: “We thank RPGTV/GTV for their backing of the award in recent years – we’ve had some amazing winners – and welcome Time as new backers of an award we feel is really important for owners and trainers.
“Recognising the major winners each month is absolutely right, but also telling the stories around those winners is important.”
Time’s Willie Rigney said: “Myself and John (Fox), who run Time, are delighted to support this award in the UK. We have a great relationship with a number of trainers in the UK, as well as in Ireland, and feel this a natural step for us.
“As an owner myself, I know how important it is for owners and trainers – and the greyhounds themselves – to gain the acknowledgement they deserve.”
