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
2005 Grand Prix champion Clonbrien Show
← 2004
2006 →

Summary

edit

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

edit

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

edit

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Robbie De Niro and Ballymac Kewell made the Scottish Greyhound Derby final unbeaten before the latter was withdrawn leaving Robbie De Niro hot favourite but the final saw dual Irish Greyhound Derby finalist Droopys Marco trained by Frazer Black win the £25,000 first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

edit

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

edit
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

Principal UK finals

edit

Principal Irish finals

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b 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 0332-3536.
  4. ^ "Remember When - October". Greyhound Star. 27 October 2017.
  5. ^ "The National Bowl". David Grindley Architects.
  6. ^ "Last days of Eastville Stadium, November 1997". YouTube. 4 March 2015.
  7. ^ "2005 Trainer's Championship meeting". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  8. ^ "Scottish Derby final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Queen's Birthday Honours". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01.
  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.