The 2001 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 76th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and the 75th year of greyhound racing in Ireland.

Roll of honour Major Winners Award Name of Winner2001 English Greyhound Derby Rapid Ranger2001 Irish Greyhound Derby Cool Performance 2001 Scottish Greyhound Derby Sonic Flight Greyhound Trainer of the Year Linda Jones Greyhound of the Year Rapid RangerIrish Dog and Bitch of the Year Late Late Show / Marinas Tina

Trainers Championship, Hove (March 29) Pos Name of Trainer Points1st Charlie Lister 542nd Paul Young 413rd Brian Clemenson 344th John Mullins 325th Linda Jones 276thJohn McGee 20

Summary The National Greyhound Racing Club (NGRC) released the annual returns, with totalisator turnover at £91,969,298 and attendances recorded at 3,887,265 from 6180 meetings.

Rapid Ranger trained by Charlie Lister was voted Greyhound of the Year after winning his second English Greyhound Derby. The brindle dog joined an elite band of three greyhounds to win the Derby twice. Only Mick the Miller and Patricias Hope had previously achieved the feat.

Linda Jones won the Greyhound Trainer of the Year but it was fellow trainer John McGee Sr. that once again hit the headlines, with a controversy regarding the trainer's championship to be held at Hove. McGee qualified for the top six Trainers' Championship by virtue of finishing fifth in the 2000 standings but was upset at the fact that John Mullins was allowed to take the place of his mother Linda Mullins. John Mullins had taken control of the kennels following Linda's retirement but an angry John McGee stated "I read that it was an unanimous decision" referring to the announcement made by the Professional Greyhound Trainers' Association (PGTA), "but unanimous by who? "They should have asked the five other trainers who have qualified what they thought, not just changed the rules because they wanted John Mullins in." The anger was brought on by the fact that he had been denied an invitation to run in the 1988 championship after taking over the kennel from Fred Wiseman, who led the 1987 standings. "I was head man to Fred Wiseman, but everyone knew I was doing the dogs and we won everything that year". The Championship went ahead and was won by Charlie Lister but the controversy surrounding McGee continued, when later in the year he had a positive urine sample taken from Apple Rambler at Wimbledon. The NGRC once again withdrew his licence and he was told that no further application would be considered until January 2003.

Tracks Advanced plans by the Greyhound Racing Association to open a 2,000 seater stadium at Fazakerley in the north of Liverpool failed to materialise following opposition from residents. Liverpool had lost greyhound racing in 1973 despite having four prominent profitable tracks at one stage.

Castleford Whitwood Stadium held its final meeting in February; it had existed in spells as a licensed and independent track since 1938.

News Trainer Graham Holland left Oxford to join Hove and was replaced by Nick Colton. Carly Philpott took out her first licence following in the footsteps of her father Paul Philpott and Maxine Locke joined Catford. Leading owner Len Ponder moved all of his greyhounds from trainer Ray Peacock and transferred them to Seamus Cahill.

Owen McKenna son of Ger McKenna decided to return to Ireland to train mainly for David Miles (responsible for the Reactabond prefix) in Ballyclerihan. Despite having a contract at Wimbledon, McKenna had expressed concerns over lack of races and poor prize money.

Competitions The Nick Savva trained Sonic Flight won a strong Scottish Greyhound Derby, a competition that saw the shock disqualification in the first round of prolific open race winner El Boss, who was subsequently retired. Sonic Flight also won the Select Stakes and Irish Laurels.

The veteran Palace Issue now trained by John Mullins retired after failing to win the Golden Jacket but winning 69 of his 111 races and picking up £65,000 in prize money.

No Can Waltz enjoyed a good year, the Linda Jones trained white and brindle had finished second in the Arc final and third in the Scottish Derby and won the Test before a good Grand Prix campaign at Walthamstow Stadium came to an end losing to Slick Tom. He finished the year by reaching the St Leger final, he was arguably the best stayer ahead of Solid Magic who claimed the first Cesarewitch to be held at Oxford and the Olympic title.

Ireland 2001 was a vintage year for stars, in the United Kingdom Rapid Ranger had dominated the news and Sonic Flight had a great year. In Ireland Cool Performance won the Derby but he was overshadowed by two of the finalists, Late Late Show and Droopys Kewell. Late Late Show owned by Pat Kenny and duly named after the popular show The Late Late Show became the nation's favourite greyhound. The black dog won the Easter Cup and Shelbourne 600, in addition to finishing runner-up in the Derby and being a finalist in the Champion Stakes. Droopys Kewell won three major events; the National Produce, St Leger and Champion Stakes. In any other year Droopys Kewell would have been Irish Greyhound of the Year but the accolade went to Late Late Show.

Principal UK races

Grand National, Wimbledon (Mar 28, 460m h, £7,500)PosName of GreyhoundTrainerSP TimeTrap 1st Kish Jaguar Norah McEllistrim 10-1 28.60 6 2nd Opus Air Pat Thompson 6-1 28.72 53rd Kanturk Canon Jason Foster 12-1 28.90 14th Apple Rambler Linda Jones 7-4jf 29.00 25th Rossa Ranger John Counsell 7-4jf 29.22 36th Kerbal Go Free Philip Rees Jr. 50-1 29.40 4

Regal Scottish Derby, Shawfield (Apr 21, 480m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Sonic Flight Nick Savva 5-4 29.19 12nd Droopys Vieri Paul Young11-10f 29.47 23rd No Can Waltz Linda Jones6-1 29.53 64th Droopys Honcho Paul Young20-1 29.57 55th Harsu Super Janis Carmichael20-1 29.59 46th Glengar Visit Graeme Frew50-1 30.11 3

Scurry Gold Cup, Catford (Jun 23, 385m, £3,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Kalooki Jet Sonja Spiers 7-4jf 23.90 62nd Reactabond Slick Paul Young 7-4jf 24.02 23rd Aulton Topper Cheryl Miller 5-1 24.1634th Breeze Encore Arthur Hitch 12-1 24.28 45th Bearas Heather Wayne Wrighting 8-1 24.40 16th Soul Pretender Liz Redpath 7-1 24.46 5

Reading Masters, Reading (Jul 8, 465m, £20,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Marshals June Richard Stiles 11-4 27.99 32nd Top Jock Seamus Cahill 15-2 28.09 43rd Pinewood Blue Linda Jones 9-4jf 28.21 54th El Joker John McGee Sr. 20-1 28.27 65th Carhumore Cross Nick Savva 9-4jf 28.43 26th El Jolson John McGee Sr. 12-1 28.49 1

Gold Collar, Catford (Sep 15, 555m, £7,500)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Haughty Ted Dinky Luckhurst 2-1 35.26 62nd Serious Dog Paul Young9-1 35.44 43rd Sandyhill Dee Paul Young12-1 35.70 24th Droopys Candice Brian Clemenson 12-1 35.98 55th Larkhill Blackie Owen McKenna8-1 36.02 36th Senahel Ridge Owen McKenna1-1f 36.14 1

Countrywide Steel & Tubes TV Trophy, Wimbledon (Oct 2, 868m, £6,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Killeacle Phoebe Brian Clemenson 1-1f 54.2712nd Metric TigerJohn Haynes 2-1 54.4553rd Sexy Delight Charlie Lister 3-154.83 34th Xamax Xylograph Norah McEllistrim 10-1 54.9525th Rosden Amy Seamus Cahill 100-1 56.1146th Let Us Know Elaine Parker 20-157.73 6

Grand Prix, Walthamstow (Oct 6, 640m, £10,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Slick Tom Owen McKenna9-2 40.02 32nd Kegans Flyer Linda Jones5-2 40.05 53rd No Can Waltz Linda Jones5-6f 40.09 44th Penalty Shootout John Mullins12-1 40.15 15th Sandyhill Dee Paul Young33-1 40.35 26th Ballyhoe Cyclone Ernie Gaskin Sr. 25-1 40.37 6

Laurels, Belle Vue (Oct 23, 465m, £6,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Pack Them In Andy Heyes 6-4f 27.55 42nd Magnum Tom Charlie Lister 13-2 27.83 53rd Codology Barrie Draper11-4 27.89 24th Blues Best Mike Nicki Chambers9-1 27.97 65th Vancouver Jet Linda Jones6-1 28.13 36th Master Blackster Elaine Parker8-1 28.17 1

William Hill St Leger, Wimbledon (Nov 6, 660m, £12,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Frisby Folly Harry Crapper 3-1 40.74 22nd Droopys Rhys Ted Soppitt 8-1 40.96 13rd Form of Magic Brian Clemenson 7-2 41.00 34th Lenson Cody Brian Clemenson 20-1 41.20 45th No Can Waltz Linda Jones 7-4f 41.30 66th Kegans Flyer Linda Jones 7-1 41.42 5

RD Racing Cesarewitch, Oxford (Nov 24, 645m, £5,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Solid Magic Brian Clemenson 11-10f 39.72 62nd Cuba Brian Clemenson 5-4 39.86 13rd Broadacres Butch Graham Holland 10-1 40.06 54th Breaking Ball Ron Dix 40-1 40.10 35th Lottys Magic Brian Clemenson 8-1 40.22 46th Valdex Julie Curran 40-1 40.76 2

Oaks, Wimbledon (Dec 4, 480m, £6,000)PosName of Greyhound TrainerSP Time Trap 1st Talktothehand Jimmy Gibson 6-4jf 29.06 62nd Aegean Dream Charlie Lister 6-1 29.20 33rd Olyadne John Mullins 6-4jf 29.28 54th Druids Glory Claude Gardiner 6-1 29.30 25th Clefairy Doll John McGee Sr. 16-1 29.48 1N/R El Zita John McGee Sr.

Principal Irish finals

Easter CupShelbourne (May 12, 525y, €31,743)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Late Late Show 9-10f 28.6062nd Marinas Tina 7-229.0233rd Kishlawn Gold 75-129.1624th Cregane Trade 6-129.1755th Sporting Huzzar 14-129.1916th Brother Jim 6-129.364

National Produce Thurles (May 27, 525y, €31,743)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Droopys Kewell 5-228.9512nd Paddock Magic 9-2 29.0263rd Zagato 25-1 29.54 54th Long Valley Max 2-1f 29.9625th Toms Electrabuzz 7-2 30.2446th Hinton Admiral 7-230.453

Shelbourne 600 Shelbourne (Jun 19, 600y, €31,743)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap1st Late Late Show 2-7f 32.20*TR 62nd Cregane Trade 7-132.7643rd Amber Joe 12-1 33.00 14th Articifer 16-1 33.11 35th Making Merry 16-1 33.1656th Extra Dividend 12-1 33.86 2

St Leger Limerick (Jun 30, 550y, €31,743)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Droopys Kewell 5-2 30.3742nd Barefoot Ridge 5-130.4723rd Tyrur Bello 25-130.6854th Magna Mint 6-4f30.8635th Kildrum Black 16-1 30.9366th Ormond Park 3-1 31.031

Oaks Shelbourne (Jul 21 525y, €31,743)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap1st Marinas Tina 4-7f28.6012nd Coolfadda Lady 7-128.9553rd Fast Lizzy 14-1 29.1664th Market Elm 20-1 29.3325th You Said So 7-1 29.4036th Twenty To Ten 10-1 29.46 4

Champion Stakes Shelbourne (Aug 30, 550y, €25,394)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap 1st Droopys Kewell 7-4jf 30.0762nd Tinys Bud 10-130.0853rd Long Valley Max 20-1 30.10 34th Late Late Show 7-4jf30.12 45th Droopys Vieri 3-1 30.19 16th Wish Kid 40-1 30.43 2

Puppy Derby Harolds Cross (Sep 28, 525y, €31,743) PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap1st Rutland Budgie 5-228.3422nd Judicial Rebel 5-228.6553rd Airport Express 7-4f28.7134th Priceless Rebel 10-1 28.7415th The Other Master 8-1 29.0966th Aranock Lance 33-1 29.304

LaurelsCork (Oct 20, 525y, €31,743)PosName of Greyhound SP Time Trap1st Sonic Flight 4-128.4122nd Micks Mystic 4-128.4433rd Larkhill Lo 5-128.4854th Premier County 4-128.6265th Barefoort Joe 20-1 28.6546th Long Valley Max 2-1f28.831

Totalisator returns

The totalisator returns declared to the National Greyhound Racing Club for the year 2001 are listed below.

StadiumTurnover £Walthamstow 13,759,061Wimbledon 9,388,927Romford 7,902,983Belle Vue6,195,752Brighton & Hove 5,306,629Hall Green 5,230,576Peterborough 4,191,293Sheffield 3,796,116Catford 3,756,371Perry Barr 2,737,707Oxford2,596,375

StadiumTurnover £Sunderland 2,476,715Crayford 2,468,397Milton Keynes2,025,326Nottingham 1,989,139Yarmouth 1,951,991Shawfield 1,808,404Poole1,785,626Monmore1,709,821Portsmouth 1,653,280Swindon 1,573,085Brough Park 1,528,081

StadiumTurnover £Sittingbourne 1,398,496Reading 1,131,332Harlow 891,481Kinsley 756,527Stainforth 730,441Hull 464,525Mildenhall 306,889Henlow 259,952Rye House 198,000

References