2005 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 2005 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 80th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

2005 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

Summary

Westmead Hawk captured the public's imagination with his 'late charge' style of running and won the 2005 English Greyhound Derby.[1] [2] The Nick Savva trained greyhound was later voted as the Greyhound of the Year and Mark Wallis secured the Greyhound Trainer of the Year at the end of his maiden year as a trainer.[1]

The 2005 Irish Greyhound Derby was considered to be one of the best in modern times with 'He Said So' winning the final that included Westmead Hawk, Droopys Marco and Irish Dog of the Year Droopys Maldini.[3]

Tracks

Gaming International/BS Group closed Milton Keynes Greyhound Stadium on Boxing Day despite earlier assurances that it would be rebuilt.[4] [5] The company had closed Bristol in 1997 in similar circumstances.[6]

Competitions

Charlie Lister stopped Brian Clemenson from winning a fourth consecutive Trainers Championship.[7] Robbie De Niro and Ballymac Kewell made the Scottish Greyhound Derby final unbeaten before the latter was withdrawn leaving Robbie De Niro hot favourite but the final saw dual Irish Greyhound Derby finalist Droopys Marco trained by Frazer Black win the £25,000 first prize.[8]

News

Mick Wheble former Group Racing Manager for Northern Sports was awarded an MBE for services to greyhound racing and charity during the Queen's 2005 Birthday Honours.[9] [10]

Ernie Gaskin retired, with the kennels being taken over by his son Ernest Gaskin Jr. who retained the contract at Walthamstow Stadium, as did Mark Wallis who took over the Linda Jones Imperial Kennels. Linda was a two times champion trainer and had amassed 13 Category One successes before deciding to retire due to ill health.[11]

Roll of honour

Major Winners
Award	Name of Winner
2005 English Greyhound Derby	Westmead Hawk
2005 Irish Greyhound Derby	He Said So
Scottish Greyhound Derby	Droopys Marco
Greyhound Trainer of the Year	Mark Wallis
Greyhound of the Year	Westmead Hawk
Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year	Droopys Maldini / Grayslands Pixie

Betfair Trainers Championship, Perry Barr (Apr 9)[12] Pos Name of Trainer Points 1st Charlie Lister 55 2nd Brian Clemenson 50 3rd Mark Wallis 28 4th John Mullins 28 5th Cheryl Miller 27 6th Paul Young 20

Principal UK finals

William Hill TV Trophy, Wimbledon (Mar 15, 872m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Ericas Equity Paul Young 55.75 5-4f 1 2nd Ballyneale Best Ernie Gaskin Sr. 55.81 8-1 4 3rd Flashing Tone John Mullins 56.23 8-1 3 4th Gors Nikita Doris Bodell 56.29 25-1 6 5th Blues Fancy Michael Cliffe 56.41 10-1 5 6th Foreign Dancer Mark Wallis 56.43 6-4 2

Totesport Scottish Derby, Shawfield (Apr 2, 480m, £25,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Droopys Marco Frazer Black 4-1 29.05 6 2nd Robbie De Niro Charlie Lister 5-4f 29.19 5 3rd Ballymac Niloc Carly Philpott 5-2 29.37 1 4th Bell Devotion Charlie Lister 3-1 29.39 2 5th Barefoot Maestro Paul Hennessy 12-1 29.69 3 N/R Ballymac Kewell Carly Philpott

William Hill Cesarewitch, Oxford (Jun 7, 645m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Zigzag Stewart June McCombe 3-1 39.61 1 2nd Greenacre Lin Brian Clemenson 4-7f 39.83 2 3rd Top Bombin Paul Young 50-1 39.92 3 4th Tiler Tom Nick Colton 8-1 40.03 6 5th Milldean Clarky Barry O’Sullivan 8-1 40.10 4 6th Tino Spark John Mullins 16-1 40.23 5

Totesport Gold Collar, Belle Vue (Jun 10, 465m, £10,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Bat On Charlie Lister 4-7f 27.34 1 2nd Paramount Bullet Paul Lawrence 14-1 27.52 4 3rd Elbony Everest Gerald Ballentine 25-1 27.88 6 4th Killeigh Grand Charlie Lister 9-4 27.90 5 5th Blue Hatton Bev Heaton 14-1 27.99 3 6th Lissycasey Flash Michael Donlon 25-1 28.46 2

Reading Masters, Reading (Jul 24, 465m, £20,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Killeigh Grand Charlie Lister 1-1f 28.09 5 2nd Flashing Away Jo Burridge 7-1 28.43 2 3rd Black Bower Mark Wallis 4-1 28.47 6 4th Agincourt Archer Carly Philpott 8-1 28.79 4 5th Vatpack Brandon Jackie Taylor 8-1 28.82 1 6th Joint Reaction David Mullins 10-1 29.02 3

Tony Campbell Scurry Cup, Perry Barr (Aug 2, 275m, £5,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Laser Beam Harry Williams 1-1f 16.06 3 2nd Hello Superstar Julie Ridley 7-1 16.30 6 3rd Affleck Duke Charlie Lister 14-1 16.34 5 4th Positive Option David Pruhs 7-4 16.52 1 5th La Galga Martin Burt 14-1 16.54 2 6th Sanstone Rebel Barrie Draper 20-1 16.58 4

VC Bet Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 1, 640m, £10,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Clonbrin Show Mick Puzey 5-2f 39.55 1 2nd Solid Money Derek Knight 7-2 39.77 5 3rd Dark Star Henry Antony Ward 4-1 39.89 3 4th Archers Sparkler John Mullins 6-1 39.95 6 5th Ronnies Flight Mark Wallis 3-1 40.17 4 6th Killeacle Fred Ernest Gaskin Jr. 8-1 40.25 2

William Hill Grand National, Wimbledon (Oct 25, 460mH, £7,500) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Lethal Rumble Mark Wallis 9-4f 28.49 6 2nd Limited Blue Bernie Doyle 7-1 28.57 5 3rd Baran Geronimo Tom Foster 4-1 28.59 2 4th Heavens Supreme Tom Foster 6-1 28.69 3 5th Cloheena Spiral Seamus Cahill 7-1 28.73 4 6th Stradeen Ouzo David Mullins 3-1 28.77 1

William Hill Laurels, Belle Vue (Nov 8, 470m, £10,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Blonde Boss Charlie Lister 5-2 27.86 4 2nd Ningbo Jack Charlie Lister 6-4f 27.94 5 3rd Paramount Bullet Paul Liddle 16-1 28.06 3 4th Kingsmill Again Ann Johnson 10-1 28.18 6 5th Zigzag Kit Harry Williams 7-2 28.22 1 6th Fear No One Mark Wallis 8-1 28.24 2

William Hill St Leger, Wimbledon (Nov 15, 668m, £13,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Greenacre Lin Brian Clemenson 7-4jf 41.16 4 2nd Witton Maggie Glenn Lynas 6-1 41.46 6 3rd Droopys Desailly Taryn Abel 7-4jf 41.54 1 4th Fabulous Sophie David Firmager 6-1 41.68 5 5th Bombersgoinghome Stuart Cogan 16-1 41.71 3 6th Rio Limo Daniel Riordan 6-1 41.73 2

William Hill Oaks, Wimbledon (Dec 13, 480m, £6,000) Pos Name of Greyhound Trainer SP Time Trap 1st Droopys Stacey Ian Reilly 4-6f 29.10 1 2nd Roxholme Girl Hayley Keightley 8-1 29.13 4 3rd Urban Classic Garry Irving 20-1 29.67 2 4th Westmead Aoifa Nick Savva 3-1 29.86 6 5th Pacey Macy Paul Young 16-1 30.26 5 6th Barefoot Jenny Paul Hennessey 7-1 00.00 3

Principal Irish finals

Donal Reilly Easter Cup Shelbourne (Apr 9, 525y, €50,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Mineola Farloe [13] 6-1 29.39 3 2nd Tyrur Ted 8-11f 28.49 6 3rd Blue Majestic 6-1 28.53 2 4th Count Corleone 6-1 28.67 1 5th Senahel Gift 40-1 28.95 4 6th Droopys Corelli 11-4 28.97 5

Red Mills Produce Clonmel (May 1, 525y, €30,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Roisins Dessie [14] 5-2 28.82 3 2nd Shebeen Ri 6-1 28.89 1 3rd Redbarn Panther 5-1 28.96 5 4th Heart Rumble 3-1 28.97 4 5th Broadacres Cash 2-1f 29.00 6 6th Determined Minor 40-1 29.14 2

Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger Limerick (Jul 9, 550y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Redbarn Panther [15] 4-1 29.72 3 2nd He Said So 6-4f 29.86 5 3rd Any Name Burglar 10-1 29.96 2 4th Priceless Mail 5-1 30.14 6 5th Deerfield Mover 9-2 30.28 4 6th Mall Road 3-1 30.45 1

Sporting Press Oaks Shelbourne (Jul 16, 525y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Grayslands Pixie [16] 7-4f 28.78 5 2nd Noelles Magico 4-1 28.88 2 3rd Miss Wonderful 4-1 29.09 6 4th Ogillvie Teresa 8-1 29.20 1 5th Minds Eye 20-1 29.27 3 6th Angies Style 3-1 29.41 4

Boylesports Champion Stakes Shelbourne (Jul 30, 550y, €40,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Droopys Maldini [17] 5-2 29.43 3 2nd Droopys Marco 11-2 29.92 4 3rd Disguised 10-1 29.97 1 4th Yeah Man 5-1 30.32 6 5th Tyrur Ted 4-5f 30.60 5 N/R Goldstar Premier 2

HX Bookmakers Puppy Derby Harolds Cross (Oct 14, 525y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Greenwell Storm [18] 6-1 28.46 3 2nd Mossend Cait 12-1 28.60 5 3rd Mineola Zeus 1-1f 28.77 4 4th Shelbourne Becky 12-1 28.88 2 5th Inny Breeze 10-1 29.09 1 6th Droopys Sella 4-1 29.10 6

Cashmans Laurels Cork (Oct 29, 525y, €35,000) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Tyrur Ted [19] 4-6f 28.63 6 2nd Goblet Of Fire 4-1 29.08 4 3rd Knockna Kirka 14-1 29.19 5 4th Costly Flight 20-1 29.20 2 5th Vancouver Sparky 5-1 29.21 1 6th Final Show Down 20-1 29.45 3

References

1. Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
2. "2005". Greyhound Data.
3. Fortune, Michael. The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby. Irish Greyhound Review. ISSN 0709-0609.
4. "Remember When - October". Greyhound Star.
5. "The National Bowl". David Grindley Architects.
6. "Last days of Eastville Stadium, November 1997". YouTube.
7. "2005 Trainer's Championship meeting". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
8. "Scottish Derby final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
9. "Queen's Birthday Honours". The Independent.
10. "Queen's Birthday Honours". Government News. Archived from the original on 2016-02-15. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
11. "History". Mark Wallis Kennels.
12. "2005 Trainer's Championship meeting". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
13. "Easter Cup Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
14. "Produce Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
15. "St Leger Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
16. "Oaks Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
17. "Champion Stakes Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
18. "Puppy Derby Final". Irish Greyhound Board.
19. "Laurels Final". Irish Greyhound Board.