The Grand Prix was a classic greyhound competition held at Walthamstow.[1]
 The 1961 champion Clonalvy Romance | |
| Location | Walthamstow Stadium |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1945 |
| Last run | 2007 |
| Sponsor | Victor Chandler Bookmakers |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 640 metres |
| Surface | Sand |
It was first run in 1945 and in 1971 it was granted classic status. The race came to an end following the closure of Walthamstow in 2008. The race is not to be confused with the Arena Racing Company Grand Prix held at Sunderland.[2][3]
The competition was not run from 1952 until 1953 due to insufficient entries[4] and again from 1964 to 1965. The event was cancelled in 1965 following the refusal by the National Greyhound Racing Club to allow a change in race distance.[5]
Venue and Distances
edit- 1945–1958 (Walthamstow 525 yards)
- 1960–1963 (Walthamstow 500 yards)
- 1966–1974 (Walthamstow 600 yards)
- 1976–2007 (Walthamstow 640 metres)
Past winners
edit| Year | Winner | Breeding | Trainer | Time | SP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Magic Bohemian | Jesmond Cutlet – Magic Pool | Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) | 30.03 sec | 10-11f | |
| 1946 | Tonycus | Manhattan Midnight – Dashing B | Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) | 30.19 sec | 6–1 | |
| 1947 | Mondays News | Orlucks Best – Monday Next | Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) | 30.41 sec | 2–1 | |
| 1948 | Ruby Cut | Ruby Border – Volcut | John Bott (Private) | 30.31 sec | 11–4 | |
| 1949 | Red Wind | Dysertmore Prince – Light Biddy | Frank Davis (Private) | 29.82 sec | 10-11f | |
| 1950 | Arrow Boy | Dew Bob – Daintys Blue Grass | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 30.28 sec | 5–1 | |
| 1951 | Rushton Smutty | Mad Tanist – Summer Frock | Frank Johnson (Private) | 29.80 sec | 4-6f | |
| 1954 | Rushton Spot | Rushton News – Rushton Panda | Frank Johnson (Private) | 29.57 sec | 100–30 | |
| 1955 | Duet Leader | Champion Prince – Derryluskin Lady | Tom 'Paddy' Reilly (Walthamstow) | 29.42 sec | 13-8f | |
| 1956 | Land of Song | Fire Prince – Old Blarney Gift | Bob Burls (Wembley) | 29.70 sec | 7–2 | |
| 1957 | Klcaskin Kern | Magourna Reject – Pavona | Tony Dennis (Private) | 29.25 sec | 8-11f | |
| 1958 | Granthamian | Barrowside – Silver Splash | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 29.98 sec | 1-1f | |
| 1960 | Dunstown Paddy | Champion Prince – Geffs Linnett | Tom 'Paddy' Reilly (Walthamstow) | 28.26 sec | 11–4 | |
| 1961 | Clonalvy Romance | Solar Prince – Asmena | W Taylor (White City) | 28.57 sec | 9–2 | |
| 1963 | Mondays Ranger | Toast The Champ – Mondays Soprano | Tom 'Paddy' Reilly (Walthamstow) | 28.03 sec | 4-5f | |
| 1966 | Westpark Bison | The Glen Abbey – Little Scroll | Barney O'Connor (Walthamstow) | 40.14 sec | 8-11f | |
| 1968 | Carmen John | Crazy Parachute – Creggandoveskey | J Millis (Private) | 41.16 sec | 10–1 | |
| 1969 | Chame Sparrow | Mad Era – Avenue East | Barney O'Connor (Walthamstow) | 40.75 sec | 6–1 | |
| 1970 | Baton | Annard – Pine Blacktop | Jack Durkin (Walthamstow) | 40.39 sec | 9-4f | |
| 1971 | Breachs Buzzard | Maryville Hi – Breach's Blizzard | Colin McNally (Perry Barr) | 40.00 sec | 4-5f | |
| 1973 | Pendys Mermaid | Merry Newdown – Linnetts Venture | Dave Geggus (Walthamstow) | 40.65 sec | 11-8f | |
| 1974 | Ballyglass Hope | Faithful Hope – Deise Ivory | Don Thornton (Private) | 40.58 sec | 7–1 | |
| 1976 | Manderlay King[6] | Crazy Top – Shandaroba | Geoff De Mulder (Hall Green) | 40.21 sec | 9–2 | |
| 1977 | Paradise Spectre | Spectre – Paradise Wonder | Pat Mullins (Private) | 40.19 sec | 6-4f | |
| 1978 | Paradise Spectre | Spectre – Paradise Wonder | Pat Mullins (Private) | 40.03 sec | 3-1jf | |
| 1979 | Frame That | Ritas Choice – The Grand Love | Ted Dickson (Slough) | 39.57 sec | 11–2 | |
| 1980 | Sport Promoter | Breakaway Town – Kensington Queen | Pat Mullins (Cambridge) | 40.17 sec | 2-1jf | |
| 1981 | Rathduff Solara | Ivy Hall Solo – Rathduff Gazelle | Tony Dennis (Southend) | 40.71 sec | 2-1jf | |
| 1982 | Huberts Shade | Luminous Lad – Huberts Fate | Adam Jackson (Wembley) | 39.73 sec | 11-8f | |
| 1983 | Flying Duke | Gaily Noble – Shans Fantasia | Paddy Coughlan (Crayford) | 40.49 sec | 4–1 | |
| 1984 | Sunrise Sonny | Armagh Rocket – Kerry Wedding | George Curtis (Hove) | 40.00 sec | 25–1 | |
| 1985 | Slaneyside Gold | Sand Man – Prince of Rocks | Jim Sherry (Walthamstow) | 40.00 sec | 5–1 | |
| 1986 | Westmead Move | Whisper Wishes – Westmead Tania | Nick Savva (Private) | 39.35 sec | 10-11f | |
| 1987 | Olivers Wish | Whisper Wishes – Westmead Tania | Nick Savva (Private) | 39.86 sec | 7–2 | |
| 1988 | Digby Bridge[7] | Yellow Band – Ballylough Judy | John Malcolm (Hall Green) | 40.14 sec | 50–1 | |
| 1989 | Waltham Abbey | Manorville Sand – Mona Lisa | Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Private) | 39.91 sec | 2–1 | |
| 1990 | Dempseys Whisper | Whisper Wishes – Lemon Gem | Patsy Byrne (Canterbury) | 39.07 sec | 4-11f | |
| 1991 | Dempseys Whisper | Whisper Wishes – Lemon Gem | Patsy Byrne (Canterbury) | 39.20 sec | 2-1f | |
| 1992 | Westmead Darkie | Airmount Grand – Westmead Move | Nick Savva (Private) | 39.36 sec | 2-1f | |
| 1993 | Redwood Girl | Ardfert Sean – Redwood Sue | Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) | 39.89 sec | 5–1 | |
| 1994 | Redwood Girl[8] | Ardfert Sean – Redwood Sue | Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) | 39.74 sec | 2–1 | |
| 1995 | Suncrest Sail | Low Sail – Sarahs Surprise | Charlie Lister OBE (Private) | 39.62 sec | 11-10f | |
| 1996 | Spring Rose | Galtymore Lad – Rachels Baby | Charlie Lister OBE (Nottingham) | 39.05 sec | 4-7f | Track record |
| 1997 | El Grand Senor | Leaders Minstrel – Without Equal | Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) | 39.38 sec | 12–1 | |
| 1998 | Dans Sport | New Level – Any Band | Charlie Lister OBE (Private) | 39.79 sec | 6–1 | |
| 1999 | Palace Issue | Deerpark Jim – Clear Issue | Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) | 40.32 sec | 9-4f | |
| 2000 | Palace Issue | Deerpark Jim – Clear Issue | Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) | 39.32 sec | 1-3f | |
| 2001 | Slick Tom | Toms The Best – Slick Mel | Owen McKenna (Wimbledon) | 40.02 sec | 9–2 | |
| 2002 | Sheriff Bow Wow | Frisby Flashing – Spilt Milk | John Mullins (Walthamstow) | 40.05 sec | 8–1 | |
| 2003 | Special Trick | Spiral Nikita – Castlerea Delia | Linda Jones (Walthamstow) | 39.85 sec | 4–1 | |
| 2004 | Ronnies Flight | Sonic Flight – Tina at Last | Linda Jones (Walthamstow) | 40.03 sec | 11-8f | |
| 2005 | Clonbrin Show[9] | Late Late Show – Clonbrin Jewel | Mick Puzey (Walthamstow) | 39.55 sec | 5-2f | |
| 2006 | January Tiger[10] | Droopys Vieri – January Vixen | Mark Wallis (Walthamstow) | 39.47 sec | 9–2 | |
| 2007 | Foulden Special[11] | Droopys Kewell –Smoking Baby | Derek Knight (Hove) | 39.45 sec | 1-1f |
Discontinued
Sponsors
edit- 1994-1998 Laurent-Perrier
- 2001–2007 Victor Chandler Bookmakers
References
edit- ^ "Home". thedogs.co.uk.
- ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 133–135. Raceform Compton. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
- ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, pages 181-182. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- ^ "Remember When - September 1952". Greyhound Star. 22 September 2018.
- ^ "Remember When – March 1965". Greyhound Star. 24 March 2019.
- ^ "Manderlay to get back on winning road". Birmingham Mail. 25 November 1976. Retrieved 20 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Remember When – September 1988". Greyhound Star. 2 September 2018.
- ^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. pp. 109–110. ISBN 186054-010-4.
- ^ "2005 VC Bet Grand Prix Final". Greyhound Data.
- ^ "2006 VC Bet Grand Prix Final". Greyhound Data.
- ^ "2007 Grand Prix Final". Greyhound Data.