Courtesy of The Dogs

Take The Kitty Wins Betfair Greyhound of the Year

Written by: GRNSW 12/02/10
He traversed up and down the east coast of Australia in search of Group racing glory in 2009, but it was at the Sydney Hilton on Friday night where the NSW sprinting sensation Take The Kitty covered himself in glory when named the 2009 Betfair NSW Greyhound of the Year

At a glittering function in front of the sports elite, trainer of Take the Kitty Ken Cheetham acknowledged the win at Wentworth Park in the Group Three Christmas Gift in December last year was the win that most likely resonated with the judges and won him the title.

The basis of Take The Kitty’s nomination was an outstanding record at Wentworth Park which reaped 13 wins from 20 starts including nine sub-30s efforts. Not only was Wentworth Park the venue for his Christmas Gift win but also a second-place finish in the Group One NCA Paws Of Thunder (520m) behind Cindeen Shelby.

Take The Kitty also won the Sprinter of the year award while fellow Betfair Greyhound of the Year nominee Lilley Criminal tied for the Stayer of the Year award with Forty Twenty.

Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) Chairman Professor Percy Allan AM said the awards symbolised the healthy nature of the sport in NSW.

"I want to thank Betfair for their sponsorship of the Betfair Greyhound of the Year awards and other notable programs which allows the sport to grow and provide participants nights such as this to celebrate.”

"Tonight we were able to recognise the best greyhounds in NSW, but also outstanding Trainers, Owners, Breeders, The Youth, Our wonderful Volunteers and the administrators of our clubs that help our sport thrive,"Professor Allan said.

Sire of the Year was won by Tony Lockett’s Collision while the Brood Bitch of the Year was won for the second year running by Bruce and Julie Fletcher’s Thai Again.

Bruce Fletcher was also on hand to accept the Allen Wheeler Medal for excellence in the sport of greyhound racing in NSW on behalf of his father Percy Fletcher who was unable to attend the awards due to ill health. Bruce was joined by other family members including last year’s Greyhound of the Year winning connections Jill and Warren Harper.

Shoalhaven on the State’s South Coast was named Club of the Year, 84 year old Patty West was awarded Volunteer of the Year and Maitland’s Secretary Manager Kayla Spliet was named Virbac Vetsearch Young Person of the Year.


The full list of awards announced on the night are below.

Greyhound of the Year – Take The Kitty

Allan Wheeler Medal – Percy Fletcher

Trainer of the Year – Rodney McDonald

Club of the Year – Shoalhaven

Volunteer of the Year – Patty West

Virbac Vetsearch Young Person of the Year - Kayla Spliet

Sprinter of the Year – Take The Kitty

Stayers of the Year – Forty Twenty & Lilley Criminal

Run of the Year – Amity Bale (Summer Cup)

Sire of the Year – Collision

Brood Bitch of the Year - Thai Again

Betfair Media Coverage of the Year – Newcastle Herald

Courtesy of The Dogs

Stewards To Commence Greyhound of the Year Inquiry

Written by: GRNSW 19/02/10
Greyhound Racing NSW Stewards have announced that an inquiry will be conducted into an alleged incident involving persons attending the Betfair Greyhound of the Year awards at the Sydney Hilton on the evening of Friday 12 February 2010. Several persons attending the awards have been asked to attend the inquiry which will be conducted at Maitland on Friday 5 March 2010, commencing at 11 am.

Courtesy of The Dogs

Watson Disqualified
Written by: GRNSW 10/03/10
Greyhound Racing NSW Stewards conducted an inquiry into an alleged incident reported to have occurred during the Betfair Greyhound of the Year Awards conducted at the Hilton Hotel on Friday 12 February 2010.

Evidence was taken from licensed trainer Mr R Watson, licensed attendant Mr S Cork, Mr W Lambourne, Mr N Ellison, Mr B Ellison and Mr E Crawford.

Mr Watson was found guilty of a charge under GAR 86 (o) of having done a thing in relation to greyhound racing which, in the opinion of the Stewards, constituted misconduct.

The details of the charge were that Mr Watson, on or about 11pm on 12 February 2010, did, in the vicinity of the Grand Ballroom entrance at the Hilton Hotel, Sydney, and whilst attending the Greyhound of the Year function, strike Mr Lambourne to the right side of his forehead by use of a head butt to that area.

Mr Watson was subsequently disqualified for a period of six months. Under GAR 95 (5) the commencement of the disqualification was deferred until 12 March 2010 in order that Mr Watson divest himself of any interest in greyhounds.

In determining penalty consideration was given to the nature of the incident, Mr Watson’s unblemished record in relation to offences of this nature over a long period of involvement in the industry and the established factor that alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the incident.

Stewards rejected any assertion that self defence was an acceptable reason for Mr Watson’s conduct, pointing out that it was possible for Mr Watson to have vacated the area prior to the incident occurring.

Mr Watson was advised of his rights of appeal.