Denis Lynch with Knockrour Slave and Killaclug Jet -pic Ruth Rogers
In the late 1970s and early 80s, the ‘Knockrour’ prefix was one to be feared on both sides of the Irish Sea, on the track and on the coursing field. One litter contained an Irish Laurels winner Knockrour Girl, Britain’s top sprinter Knockrour Brandy, and the winner of coursing’s Irish Cup Knockrour Tiger.
The man behind the hounds was Dennis Lynch from Aghabullogue in Cork and the pride of the kennel was the striking white with black face patches, Knockrour Slave.
He first came to attention in the Spring of 1979 when hugely impressive in the Munster Puppy Cup before being turned over in the final.
He returned to his local track and reached the Ryan Cup Final before blowing the opposition away in the Guinness Trophy. He won his first round heat by 13 length, followed by a nine length win in the second round and a 29.05 track record in the semi final. He won the final by ten lengths in 29.15.
A month later he was a runner-up to Tough Decision in the 600 yard Cambridgeshire at Shelbourne followed by a similar position in the Tipperary Cup at Thurles. He returned to Cork for the Irish Laurels which he duly won.
Slave joined Ger McKenna and was installed as favourite for the 1980 English Derby winning his four heats in 29.73, 29.23, 29.34 and 29.20 (4/7f, 2/7f, 1/4f, 4/9f) before being eliminated in the semi finals from a controversial T6 draw. (Many questioned whether he was ever a true wide seed).
The following month Slave returned to Ireland where following two wins and two seconds, he reached the Irish Derby Final but finished down the field.
His swansong was in the 1980 Laurels back at his beloved Western Road. Having destroyed his field in 29.10 in the semi finals, the place almost erupted when he successfully defended his Laurels title, winning by six lengths in a new 525 yard track record of 29.00.
Slave (Sole Aim-Knockrour Exile) went on to become a successful sire throwing the likes of Spartacus, Hong Kong Mike, Creamery Cross and Back Garden.
Also in the photo is Killaclug Jet (Monalee Hiker-Knockrour Jet) who reached 11 stakes finals winning an Irish Derby Consolation, the Bookmaker Stakes at Cork and the Paddy Stakes at Youghal where he broke the 550 track record.
Trevor Cobbold and Slaneyside Holly Photo: © Steve Nash
Trevor Cobbold grew up around greyhounds but didn’t get involved in racing until after he had made his fortune in his 30s.
Father Joe and mum Doreen (nee Maude) had made the ‘Decoy’ prefix from their carrot farm near Lakenheath. Joe had won the 1981 Trainers Championship largely with dogs that they bred themselves (the exceptions being Aglish Boss and Echo Spark). Son Kevin has continued to keep the name and prefix to the fore.
Trevor was in his late 30s when he took out an owner trainer licence and was soon recognised as one of the shrewdest, and most popular handlers in the industry.
The star of the kennel was marathon star Easy Bimbo from whom he then produced a fabulous litter of ‘Decoy’ cats: notably Cougar, Lion and Lynx. Bimbo would become the Dam of the Year for 1994.
Trevor didn’t live to see that success. He died on 30 June 1994 aged just 43.
Our picture shows Trevor with Slaneyside Holly, winner of the 1990 Midland Flat Championship at Hall Green.
It wasn’t though the first time that Holly had appeared in the Greyhound Star. Two months earlier, running as ‘Cass Lass’ and handled by Dave Jennison, she had won the £20,000 Kinsley Derby with the trophy presented by the Star editor Floyd Amphlett.
In 1999 Trevor’s widow Pam ceased the family’s interest in greyhound racing and closed the kennel.
Steve Nash’s 1992 photo shows the previously unknown Swaffham trainer Linda Jones with the first of her kennel stars, Lonely Mixture.
After winning the Cambridgeshire at Peterborough and the Rapid Raceline Sprint at Bristol, Linda never looked back. Within nine years she had progressed to Romford and Walthamstow won the first of her two Trainers Championships before handing over to her head man and son in law, Mark Wallis. You’ve probably heard of him.
Dilys Steels and Glatton Grange
British breeding was enjoying a renaissance back in the early 1980s to a point that a second Breeders Forum Produce Stakes was introduced at Harringay. (In addition to the Western Two Year Old Produce Stakes at Bristol).
In 1982, various litters were entered in the inaugural event. One that wasn’t was a bunch bred by Glatton Grange out of Pencil Slim.
Their breeder Dilys Steels had only just taken out a permit licence to be able to race at her local track at Peterborough which had recently made the switch from flapping.
One of the pups, Glatton Grange, had looked to have real potential which led to Dilys asking Walthamstow trainer Ken Linzell to take him.
The youngster showed steady improvement and following a 29.20 graded run, Linzell phoned Dilys and suggested that the dog run in the new Harringay event.
The problem was, since Grange’s litter hadn’t initially been entered in the event, it would cost £200 to take part in the competition. Ken was confident and Dilys paid up. It looked a shrewd investment when ‘Tommy’ clocked 28.71 on his first look at the Harringay circuit.
He duly went unbeaten through unbeaten, starting favourite at every stage including the £7,000 final which he won in 28.68.
He returned to the Stow to win another new charity event, the £10,000 Friends Of British Breeding Stakes starting as the 4/7f.
Grange ran third in the Edinburgh Cup before clocking 29.25 at Wembley to take the £1,200 Breeders Forum Stakes.
While detractors might have suggested that Grange had only proven himself in confined British bred events, he would arguably produce the performance of his career at White City in October.
The race was the Anglo-Irish International and Glatton Grange beat fellow brit Westmead Milos for a 1-2 forecast in 29.24 for the 500m. A brilliant run for a grass track in October. The pair were followed home by the Irish trio, Lauragh Six, Gracious and Quick Suzy with the fellow Brit and 7/4 favourite Yankee Express in last place.
Six days later, the Curtis runner would reverse the form when beating Grange into second place when landing the Classic Select Stakes in a new track record for Harringay’s 475, 28.22.
In November, the pair both represented Britain in the return leg of the Anglo-Irish at Shelbourne Park when the Linzell runner finishing second to Ireland’s Back Garden.
Grange remained in training in 1984 but by then, the brindle had lost much of his early pace. He was switched to six bends and made the finals of the Grand Prix and St.Leger where he finished runner-up to another British bred, the 33/1 chance Gizzajob.
Some times these pictures don’t tell a specific story, but are published as reminders of a bygone era.
The caption on the back of this one simply says, ‘Belle Vue 1950s’. Judging from the trophies on display, it appears to be a major afternoon or early summer meeting. Check out the smart attire of the paraders and security official, the freshly cut striped grass strip and the volume of crowd.
