~ Appointment of RRVs is a key recommendation of long-term welfare strategy ~
This week, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) welcomed its first Regional Regulatory Veterinary Surgeons (RRVs). Barry Sangster and Dr Victoria Fraser have taken up their posts becoming the first of five Regional Regulatory Vets.
The creation of the new posts is a key recommendation of GBGB’s long-term welfare strategy, ‘A Good Life for Every Greyhound’ and seeks to provide additional veterinary resource and expertise across the sport. The RRVs will act as a point of reference and support for trainers, Track Veterinary Surgeons and GBGB’s field force of Stipendiary Stewards.
Victoria Fraser brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise of working with competitive sporting dogs including providing advice and guidance on canine health and fitness to the Kennel Club’s international agility team. As well as working in veterinary practice, she has a particular interest in sports medicine, physiotherapy and orthopaedic referral. She has acted as a veterinary advisor to the British Flyball Association providing expertise on all aspects of canine health and welfare.
She will cover the North West and North East regions which include Sheffield, Doncaster, Kinsley and Nottingham stadia as well as kennels in North Wales, East Yorkshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
With over 20 years’ experience of safeguarding welfare and enforcing regulations as a Lead Official Veterinarian within the food industry, Barry Sangster has a strong track record of assessing compliance with standards and legislation. Alongside his previous roles working in mixed clinical veterinary practice, Barry has worked as a horseracing journalist.
Barry will cover the North and Scotland regions which include Newcastle, Sunderland and Pelaw Grange stadia as well as kennels in Durham, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Scotland.
Welcoming GBGB’s first Regional Regulatory Vets, Tiffany Blackett, GBGB Veterinary Executive, said: “I am delighted to welcome Victoria and Barry to GBGB and look forward to working with them. Over the coming weeks, as part of their induction, they will be busy visiting the racecourses and trainers in their respective areas to introduce themselves.
“From January 2024, the RRV team will begin to undertake trainers’ annual veterinary kennel inspections which will focus on the health and wellbeing of the entire kennel. Ahead of this, the RRVs will begin their regular visits to their racecourses during which they will be available for trainers to discuss any matters relating to greyhound health and welfare.”
Victoria Fraser said: “I am really pleased to have been appointed to this new role. It is a great opportunity to learn about a different discipline while continuing to work with sporting dogs. I hope the knowledge I have will be useful to GBGB and the trainers in my area.”
Barry Sangster said:“Our role as RRVs will be very important in ensuring the whole sport continues to uphold the highest standards of welfare so that the health and wellbeing of the dogs always comes first and foremost. I look forward to working with trainers, stadia, Stipendiary Stewards and track vets to achieve this.”
GBGB is still accepting applications for the three remaining Regulatory Veterinary Surgeon posts to cover the following regions:
· South East (including London)
· South West / West Midlands
· East Midlands / East Anglia
The job advert is available at https://www.gbgb.org.uk/regulatory-veterinary-surgeon-vacancies-2/. For more information and the full job description, please contact Zoe Brown, GBGB HR Manager at [email protected].
