Perry Barr’s racing strength continues to grow thanks to new owner trainer applications and the new handlers are coming from all points of the compass.
Racing manager Martin Seal said: “Gary Johnson, has a flapping background in the North West and has also owned dogs at Belle Vue and Perry Barr. Now that he has been given the green light to race at the Barr, he has decided to take out his own OT licence. Manchester based Stephen Bate currently owns a number of dogs on the strength at Belle Vue and has gained experience as a kennelhand with Paul Webster. His first triallers should be appearing in the first week of May.
“Swannington based Jack Williams is the proud owner of Swift Alba, a gorgeous bitch puppy from Ian Greaves. Jack picked up valuable experience as a kennelhand with Pete Harnden and Margaret Roberts and his pride and joy should be having her first trial early next month.
“Meanwhile Craig Marston has completed the renovations to his Dudley kennels and once the paperwork and registration is complete, he will be good to go for a greyhound trainer licence.”
The successes are mounting too for the new handlers. There was the perfect start for new OT Alison Hill as her first runner Vale Flight (Ballymac Eske-Vale Turbo, Apr 15), made every post a winning one to land a decent A2 in a very fair 28.81. Blessed with a smashing attitude, Vale Flight seems set to give Alison plenty of fun.
It’s probably fair to say the Tony Harmes owned and trained Fortwilliam Liam has been a bit of a disappointment since arriving at the track in June with a 28.93 at Tralee on his card. If there was trouble in a race, Liam would find it.
His sole success coming in a 480m handicap. However, a solo spin around Belle Vue seems to have ignited a spark, with the strong running black subsequently knocking off a four timer (A5, A4, A3 & A2) in swashbuckling style. Now in top grade, he still appears to have a bit in hand.
Two comeback efforts, for differing reasons, stood out on Saturday’s open and graded mixed card. Pat Curtin’s May pup Yellowstone was purchased in January after a third win from as many races in Ireland with a view to running in the Monmore Puppy Derby.
However, after picking up a virus on the journey over, the white and black youngster became very poorly indeed, spending three days in hospital, and it was touch and go for a time whether he would pull through. But pull through he did, and after a couple of decent trials in qualifying, Yellowstone rewarded his owners and trainer with a battling debut victory in a sprint open at the Barr. Still nowhere near the finished article, hopefully continued success will come his way.
After flying the flag for Perry Barr in the William Hill St Leger at Wimbledon late last year, Sharon Hunt’s Strides Hugo spent the winter on the sidelines following a broken toe. Brought back steadily this Spring with a couple of handslips and sprint trials, the white and brindle powerhouse returned to action in a top grade contest at the weekend, leading at the third and staying on stoutly to win in a very tidy 28.41. All being well, Strides Hugo can continue where he left off and improve his already good strike rate.
Finally, the end of what has been a remarkable career may be in sight for the prolific sprinter Cloncunny Ardera, following a gracilis injury at Sheffield.
Carla Hendy’s superstar ran in a handful of graded races as an 18 month old puppy, the last of which, a 28.73 romp in A5, signalled his future as a decent dog. And what a decent dog he has been. Cloncunny ran in 20 sprint opens at the Barr, winning 14. He went sub 16.00 on five occasions, those five runs all appearing in the top twelve times ever posted over the 275m trip, including the second, third and joint fourth fastest ever.
The all time list includes dogs of the calibre of clock holder and Scurry champ Horseshoe Ping, Cape Impact, another Scurry winner in Boherbradda Ace, Rapid River, Dynamo Joe and Drumcove Lad, aeroplanes all of them. To look at Cloncunny, just over 30 kg and pretty laid back for a sprinter it has to be said, you would never imagine he had twin turbos under the bonnet. His complete record reads as follows: 72 races, 26 wins, 17 seconds. Truly the dog of a lifetime.
