The Test was a feature greyhound competition inaugurated at Walthamstow in 1941.
The race was originally raced over a stayers distance before increasing to a marathon distance.
It reverted to its original distance in 1979. The race came to an end following the closure of Walthamstow in 2008. Winners included the legendary Ballyregan Bob.
Past winners +YearWinnerBreedingTrainerTimeSP1941 Brilliant Swallow Brilliant Bob – New BeginnerMrs B Lark (Walthamstow) 41.41 8-11942 Dew Sign Mrs F Deathbridge (Walthamstow) 41.29 13-8jf1943 Blackwater Cutlet Woodrow – Editors Belle Paddy Fortune (Wimbledon) 42.04 3-11944 Model Dasher Model Whiskey – Dashing Comet Tom Baldwin (Perry Barr) 40.96 1-8f1941 Kampion Sailor Lights O’London – Grosvenor Faith Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) 41.45 3-11946 Mondays News Orlucks Best – Monday Next Fred Farey (Private) 42.27 3-11947 Aura Monarch Mad Tanist – Fair Madge Bob Burls (Wembley) 41.067-21948 Lovely Rio Fish Hill – Rio Czarina Stanley Biss (Clapton) 41.43 9-4f1949 Quare Caltha Frank Davis (Private) 41.76 11-10f1950 Solidago Gala Flash – Spring Flower Bert Heyes (White City) 41.43 13-81951 Briefed Bob Burls (Wembley)40.91 7-11952 Malanna Mace Henry Parsons (Crayford) 41.49 4-7f1953 Glittering Too Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 41.54 100-301954 The Sherpa Noreen Collin (Private) 41.00 7-11955 Snow Trails The Grand Champion - Jazzello Reg 'String' Marsh (Walthamstow) 40.88 8-13f1956Whats Yat Magourna Reject - Coolflash Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) 41.00 4-11961 The Fixer Flash Jack – Dream of Pleasure Dave Geggus (Walthamstow) 40.97 1962 Westpark Hi There – Faoide Tom Paddy Reilly (Walthamstow) 40.30 1963 Westpark Violet The Glen Abbey – Westpark Goldilocks Barney O'Connor (Walthamstow) 40.43 1964 Hash Dromin Flash – Cheeky Ciss Noreen Collin (Private) 40.63 6-4f1965 Blazing Rocket Wild Rocket – Lady Philambus Bill Kelly (Clapton) 40.24 1966 Peculiar Way Mad Era – Lottera Queen George Curtis (Portsmouth) 41.64 1967 Estelles Folly Ashtown Tanist – Her Glory Tom Paddy Reilly (Walthamstow) 41.54 1968 Fully Booked Booked Out – Parkhouse Sally Eric Adkins (Private) 40.017-21969 Precious Dan Prairie Flash – Precious Margo Les Crawley (Private) 52.87 13-21970 Curraheen Lady Beau Jolais II – Curraheen Bride Peter Collett (Private) 52.25 8-15f1971 Bill The Pig Tontine – Flame Lady Tom Reilly (Walthamstow) 52.60 5-11972 Westmead Lane Clonalvy Pride – Cricket Dance Natalie Savva (Private) 52.95 7-21974 Chain Gang Monalee Champion - No MabelFrank Melville (Harringay) 52.63 3-11975 Silver Sceptre Maryville Hi - Trojan Major Reg Young (Bletchley) 52.09 8-11977 Blue Angel Monalee Champion – Dolores Rocket Paddy Coughlan (Crayford) 52.87 11-21979 Jingling Star Glin Bridge - Some LaughGunner Smith (Hove)40.43 9-4f1980 Mr Squeeze Itsachampion – Over In Doon Johnny Faint (Private) 40.20 9-21981Valient May Glen Rock – Valient Daisy Gary Baggs (Walthamstow) 40.22 7-11982 Westmead Gem Westmead County – Ka Boom Natalie Savva (Milton Keynes) 40.33 12-11983 Go Winston Let Him Go – Dark Bird Ralph Smith (Perry Barr) 40.07 5-21984Poor Ray Knockrour Street – Currabell Stan Kennett (Private) 40.12 11-21985 Ballyregan Bob Ballyheigue Moon – Evening Daisy George Curtis (Brighton)39.59 1-4f1986 Lone Wolf Yankee Express – Breeze Valley George Curtis (Brighton)40.43 6-11987 Raywee Delight Sand Black – Raywee Again Don Thornton (Private) 39.8211-21988 Fryers Well Overdraught Pet – Mi Na Re Bill Masters (Hove) 39.32 5-4f1989 Sard Manorville Sand – Knockroe Elm John McGee Sr. (Canterbury)39.34 9-41990 Sail On Valerie Sail On II – Princeton Darkie Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Private) 39.66 4-9f1991 Rahan Arc Whisper Wishes – Lemon Gem Dick Hawkes (Walthamstow) 39.34 4-7f1992 Rahan Arc Whisper Wishes – Lemon Gem Dick Hawkes (Walthamstow) 39.68 6-11993Westmead Mount Airmount Grand – Westmead Move Nick Savva (Milton Keynes) 1994 Redwood Girl Ardfert Sean – Redwood Sue Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) 39.66 5-21995 Call It Aday Skelligs Tiger – Aisling Mint Chris Duggan (Walthamstow) 39.68 6-11996 Castlerea Delia Fionntra Highway – Another Banner Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) 39.67 1997 Roses Opinion Leaders Best - Yagoodthing Mick Puzey (Walthamstow) 39.68 2-7f1998 El Franco Magical Piper – Clear Issue Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 39.87 6-11999 Fernhill Flash Alpine Minister – Rathneg Crystal John Coleman (Walthamstow) 39.93 5-4f2000 Fast and Easy Slaneyside Hare - Anticipation Lee Gifkins (Private) 39.59 2-5f2001 No Can Waltz Arrigle Buddy – Clonleigh Lass Linda Jones (Walthamstow) 39.91 2-5f2002 Rapid Best Iceni Regent – Best of Noir Linda Jones (Walthamstow) 39.97 4-11f2003 Soviet Gypsy Mountleader Peer- Soviet Atlantic Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow)40.11 1-3f2004 Dunmurry Bill Split the Bill – Dunmurry Marion Ken Thomson (Private) 40.79 7-22005 Paradiso Carlton Bale – Armani Devil Jim Reynolds (Romford) 40.23 12-12006 Lady Aishling Top Honcho – Malta Magic Kim Marlow (Romford) 39.39 8-12007 January Tiger Droopys Vieri – January Vixen Mark Wallis (Walthamstow) 39.66 5-42008 Aero Blackjack Blackjack Tom – Great Madam Mark Wallis (Walthamstow) 39.54 1-1f
Venue and distances 1945–1968 (Walthamstow 700 yards) 1969–1974 (Walthamstow 880 yards) 1975–1977 (Walthamstow 820 metres) 1976 & 1978 (Not run) 1979–2008 (Walthamstow 640 metres) Discontinued
Sponsors 1984: E Coomes Bookmakers 1994–1995: Carling Black Label 2001–2005: Stuart Lambert Bookmakers 2006: William Hill Casino 2007–2008: The Duffy Group Ltd
References