JOHN MULLINS: TRUST THE TRAINERS

Trainer John Mullins believes trainers should be treated with more respect by GBGB but he remains confident that the organisation is headed in the right direction.

A number of trainers have been in contact following Friday’s piece with David Pruhs, in which he criticised GBGB for interfering in a trainer’s role.

Among those who called was Pat Rosney who said: “Dave is 100% correct. Greyhound trainers are arranging for dogs to come back after lay-offs 52 weeks in every year. Why interfere now? GBGB can’t have it both ways because if something goes wrong, they are quick enough to say, ‘you are responsible for anything that happens to your greyhounds.'”

John Mullins was also irked by the ‘fitness diary’ which every trainer must fill in if he wants to race his dogs.

John said: “I don’t know why everyone is so surprised. We are never consulted on anything. We are normally just told. There are so many examples over the years. To name just one, we were told that we had to change the type of racing jackets. Weren’t we entitled to an opinion on it?

“I originally refused to fill out this new exercise form but the track told me that if I didn’t I wouldn’t be able to trial. I filled it out truthfully, but will everyone?

“I know of kennels who are operating short of staff but are doing their best to cope. But will they tell the truth? I haven’t had a stipendiary steward visit here since the outbreak. Unless GBGB have the staff to check up on people, the form is pointless.

“As for the two trials, that wouldn’t worry me. My routine is slightly different from Dave’s. I am not saying it is right, but it the way I do things. I would plan to handslip my dogs first, because I am a bit concerned about how fresh some of them are. Then ideally, a sprint trial followed by a four bend trial. There are other young dogs in the kennel who would be good to go after just one sprint.

“As for the situation at the pick-up. I don’t think it is workable what GBGB are suggesting. In my opinion, we should simply have the six kennel staff at the pick-up each wearing a mask. Step in, grab the dog and be done with it. Yes, you might be within two metres of another person, but it would be a lot less contact than in my local Co-Op. People aren’t keeping two metres apart in the aisles. Nothing like it.

“Trainers aren’t going to go around cuddling each other at the pick-up. If there is an odd idiot who can’t parade their dog properly, then deal with them. But don’t treat us all like idiots.”

Despite the Coronavirus issue, Mullins is convinced that GBGB has made considerable progress since Mark Bird became Managing Director.

He said: “I am a million percent behind the man. He will take a phone call, and for the first time, we have someone who will actually listen to an opinion. You can’t change your mind because you disagree with a particular decision that the Board has made. Most of the issues go back to before Mark took over.

“I also think what he is trying to do with the retired greyhounds is spot on. It is a disgrace to see how the direction that re-homing has gone. Unreal! But I am a lot more confident going forward.”