# 2010 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

The 2010 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year was the 85th year of greyhound racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

## Summary

Levy payments for greyhound racing went down again from £10 million to £8.5 million. Betting exchanges were impacting major bookmakers which in turn affected greyhound racing. Jimmy Lollie finished the year with a remarkable 35 open-race wins after winning the semi-final of the Scurry Cup at Belle Vue. Trained by Seamus Cahill the brindle dog went on to be voted greyhound of the year which was unusual for a sprinter. He was withdrawn from the final of the Scurry but did win the National Sprint, set four new track records and passed 50 career wins.

### Tracks

Portsmouth Stadium under the control of manager Eric Graham closed under controversial circumstances. Within weeks of the unsuccessful application for a lease renewal Graham stated that the company would be wound up with immediate effect.
There was a new track in Limerick when the Limerick Greyhound Stadium was opened in October by minister of agriculture, fisheries and food Brendan Smith. It was built on the site of the old Greenpark Racecourse costing €18 million. The Irish Greyhound Board's latest showpiece had the facilities and comforts of a world-class stadium. The new venue was also served by a new tunnel linking Clare and Limerick.

### Competitions

Toomaline Jack was an unlucky loser in the Grand National final, the Dolores Ruth trained Irish entry set a new hurdle track record but went lame leaving Plane Daddy to win the first prize. The Greyhound Racing Association decline continued with open race prize money decreases including the St Leger; the event was won by Droopys Bradley.

### News

Champion trainer Mark Wallis joined Yarmouth from Harlow; Yarmouth had just undergone track improvements at the cost of £190,000. Matt Dartnall joined Swindon and Patrick Curtin joined Monmore. Seamus Cahill won his first trainers championship held at Doncaster and Carol Evans was sacked from Sheffield after being fined by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain following investigations into unusual betting patterns on Betfair accounts.
Bad weather during December resulted in many meetings cancelled all over the country. The Henlow Gold Cup suffered when several attempts to run the event were cancelled. Elsewhere huge numbers of greyhounds were required to grade on again (re-qualify) at many tracks, after they ran out of time under the sport's 28 day rule. Temperatures on Boxing Day (daytime) meetings were held at temperatures of minus 7 Celsius and below.
Four current and former leading trainers died. Philip Rees Jr., a long-time successful Wimbledon trainer died aged 67. Pam Heasman 85, Arthur Hitch 77 and Terry Duggan 77 also died during 2010. A former leading on-course bookmaker Tony Morris also died in March, aged 73.

## Roll of honour

Major Winners :
| Award | Name of Winner |
| 2010 English Greyhound Derby | Bandicoot Tipoki |
| 2010 Irish Greyhound Derby | Tyrur McGuigan |
| Greyhound Trainer of the Year | Seamus Cahill |
| Greyhound of the Year | Jimmy Lollie |
| Irish Dog and Bitch of the Year | Tyrur McGuigan / Dalcash Dvinsky |
Betfair Trainers Championship, Doncaster (23 Mar) :
| Pos | Name of Trainer | Points |
| 1st | Mark Wallis | 49 |
| 2nd | Charlie Lister OBE | 47 |
| 3rd | Barrie Draper | 30 |
| 4th | Dean Childs | 28 |
| 4th | Seamus Cahill | 27 |
| 6th | Chris Allsopp | 27 |

### Principal UK finals

Bettor.com Scottish Derby, Shawfield (17 Apr, 480m, £25,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Nambisco | Carly Philpott | 7-4f | 28.98 | 3 |
| 2nd | Ballymac Rebound | Craig Dawson | 9-2 | 29.32 | 1 |
| 3rd | Westmead Scolari | Nick Savva | 6-1 | 29.36 | 6 |
| 4th | Ardera Monarch | Craig Dawson | 2-1 | 29.40 | 2 |
| 5th | Greenwell Viper | Patrick Flaherty | 4-1 | 29.56 | 5 |
| 6th | Aero Ardiles | Nick Savva | 12-1 | 29.68 | 4 |
William Hill Grand National, Wimbledon (29 Jun, 480mH, £7,500) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Plane Daddy | Gemma Davidson | 8-1 | 29.80 | 3 |
| 2nd | Nebuchadnezzar | Lorraine Sams | 9-2 | 29.81 | 2 |
| 3rd | Sizzlers Spirit | Norah McEllistrim | 12-1 | 29.94 | 1 |
| 4th | Romeo In Miami | Ricky Holloway | 33-1 | 30.20 | 4 |
| 5th | Lenson Flash | Tony Collett | 33-1 | 30.24 | 6 |
| 6th | Toomaline Jack | Dolores Ruth | 2-5f | 30.56 | 5 |
Betfair TV Trophy, Kinsley (15 June, 844m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Midway Skipper | Henry Chalkley | 5-1 | 52.91+ | 4 |
| 2nd | Taylors Riviera | Ted Soppitt | 5-4f | 52.97 | 6 |
| 3rd | Bubbly Eagle | Paul Young | 9-1 | 53.21 | 2 |
| 4th | Oran Joker | David Acott | 20-1 | 53.38 | 5 |
| 5th | Ministry Magpie | Lorraine Sams | 8-1 | 53.50 | 1 |
| 6th | Tyrur Dream | Charlie Lister OBE | 9-4 | 53.51 | 3 |
William Hill Grand Prix, Sunderland (15 Jul, 640m, £15,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | England Expects | Jimmy Wright | 7-4f | 39.50 | 3 |
| 2nd | He Went Whoosh | Claude Gardiner | 8-1 | 39.68 | 5 |
| 3rd | Kinda Easy | Mark Wallis | 2-1 | 39.77 | 6 |
| 4th | Anfi Gem | Colin Redden | 8-1 | 39.89 | 4 |
| 5th | Fatboyz Diva | Chris Allsopp | 5-2 | 39.90 | 2 |
| 6th | Hesley Dingo | Jimmy Wright | 16-1 | 40.25 | 1 |
William Hill Classic, Sunderland (15 Jul, 450m, £25,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Target Classic | Craig Dawson | 7-2 | 26.94 | 5 |
| 2nd | Ballymac Ace | Chris Allsopp | 4-1 | 26.95 | 4 |
| 3rd | Mario Gomez | James Fenwick | 10-1 | 27.14 | 6 |
| 4th | Fear Zafonic | Charlie Lister OBE | 5-2 | 27.26 | 3 |
| 5th | Lyreen Mover | Gabor Tenczel | 6-4f | 27.28 | 1 |
| 6th | Romeo Reason | Liz McNair | 7-1 | 27.68 | 2 |
Betfair East Anglian Derby, Yarmouth (16 Sep, 462m, £17,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Fear Zafonic | Charlie Lister OBE | 1-3f | 27.46 | 3 |
| 2nd | Ocean Star | Hazel Kemp | 25-1 | 27.91 | 6 |
| 3rd | Ten Large Down | Diane Henry | 7-1 | 27.97 | 4 |
| 4th | Chicago Prince | David Pruhs | 14-1 | 28.04 | 5 |
| 5th | Roo Come On | Liz McNair | 11-2 | 28.16 | 1 |
| 6th | Guinness Time | Seamus Cahill | 10-1 | 28.17 | 2 |
Stan James Laurels, Belle Vue (5 Oct, 470m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Elwick Chris | Michael Walsh | 3-1 | 27.50 | 3 |
| 2nd | November Weather | Otto Kueres | 8-1 | 27.72 | 6 |
| 3rd | Yahoo Jamie | Charlie Lister OBE | 3-1 | 27.78 | 5 |
| 4th | Bucks Yahoo | Chris Lund | 5-2f | 28.02 | 2 |
| 5th | Hello Dino | Paddy Curtin (UK) | 8-1 | 28.04 | 4 |
| 6th | Magna Buddy | Jimmy Wright | 3-1 | 28.56 | 1 |
William Hill St Leger, Wimbledon (26 Oct, 687m, £8,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Droopys Bradley | Paul Donovan | 1-2f | 41.48+ | 1 |
| 2nd | Bower Hawk | Pat Rosney | 12-1 | 41.87 | 3 |
| 3rd | He Went Whoosh | Claude Gardiner | 6-1 | 41.91 | 5 |
| 4th | Shaws Dilemma | Liz McNair | 6-1 | 42.07 | 4 |
| 5th | Blonde Blitz | Tony Collett | 12-1 | 42.17 | 6 |
| 6th | Razzmatazz | Nathan McDonald | 33-1 | 42.18 | 2 |
William Hill Oaks, Wimbledon (8 Dec, 480m, £6,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Freedom Emma | Richard Yeates | 5-2 | 28.40 | 5 |
| 2nd | Snowy Skye | Paul Garland | 10-1 | 28.90 | 3 |
| 3rd | Rebellious Queen | Pat Rosney | 4-1 | 28.93 | 1 |
| 4th | Sylvanna Crystal | Bernie Doyle | 8-1 | 29.09 | 6 |
| 5th | Shaws Dilemma | Liz McNair | 6-4f | 29.10 | 2 |
| 6th | Big Pair | George Andreas | 16-1 | 29.16 | 4 |

### Principal Irish finals

College Causeway/Killahan Phanter Easter Cup, Shelbourne (17 Apr, 550y, €20,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Thurlesbeg Joker | Owen McKenna | 6-4f | 29.55 | 2 |
| 2nd | Toomaline Jack | Dolores Ruth | 5-2 | 29.62 | 3 |
| 3rd | Tyrur Chris | PJ Fahy | 6-1 | 29.97 | 1 |
| 4th | Shaneboy Lee | Denis Kiely | 7-1 | 30.04 | 5 |
| 5th | Faypoint Man | Owen McKenna | 8-1 | 30.11 | 6 |
| 6th | Olympic Double | Pat Buckley | 16-1 | 30.13 | 4 |
Red Mills Produce, Clonmel (2 May, 525y, €25,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Faypoint Dave | Owen McKenna | 5-2 | 28.64 | 4 |
| 2nd | Valais Mover | Declan Byrne | 7-1 | 28.81 | 5 |
| 3rd | Bockos Boozer | Beverley Lochead | 5-2 | 28.82 | 1 |
| 4th | Local Flawless | Dolores Ruth | 10-1 | 29.00 | 2 |
| 5th | Thorn Brae Brett | Aidan Robinson | 7-4f | 29.03 | 3 |
| 6th | Droopys Lennon | Nicola Downes | 8-1 | 29.14 | 6 |
Sporting Press Oaks, Shelbourne (26 Jun, 525y, €21,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Dalcash Dvinsky | Jack Meade | 9-4f | 28.41 | 4 |
| 2nd | Skywalker Queen | Frances O'Donnell | 7-2 | 28.43 | 6 |
| 3rd | Clearview Kelly | Michael Frayne | 5-1 | 28.50 | 5 |
| 4th | Shelbourne Dawn | Brian King | 4-1 | 28.85 | 3 |
| 5th | Razldazl Alice | Dolores Ruth | 4-1 | 28.95 | 2 |
| 6th | Casual Steps | Reggie Roberts | 14-1 | 28.98 | 1 |
Townviewfoods.com Champion Stakes, Shelbourne (24 Jul, 550y, €20,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Makeshift | Dolores Ruth | 5-2jf | 29.90 | 3 |
| 2nd | Tyrur Big Mike | Conor Fahy | 5-2jf | 29.92 | 6 |
| 3rd | Farley Blitz | Owen McKenna | 4-1 | 29.97 | 2 |
| 4th | Mesedo Blue | Seamus Graham | 4-1 | 30.04 | 4 |
| 5th | Fatboyz Tyson | Pat Gordon | 5-1 | 30.08 | 5 |
| 6th | Sevenheads Bay | Graham Holland | 8-1 | 30.10 | 1 |
HX Bookmakers Puppy Derby, Harolds Cross (8 Oct, 525y, €25,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Melodys Royal | Pa Fitzgerald | 8-1 | 28.78 | 6 |
| 2nd | Dream Walker | Tom O'Neill | 6-1 | 28.85 | 1 |
| 3rd | Mill Bling Bling | Frances Gleeson | 8-1 | 28.90 | 4 |
| 4th | Lolos Joe | John McGee Sr. | 1-1f | 29.04 | 3 |
| 5th | Kerrydale Lar | Brian McCann | 9-4 | 29.11 | 5 |
| 6th | Kielduff Merc | Marie Shanahan | 33-1 | 29.13 | 2 |
Pat Hennerty Sales Laurels, Cork (16 Oct, 525y, €35,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Tyrur Enda | Conor Fahy | 4-6f | 28.72 | 2 |
| 2nd | Tubbertelly Dubh | Owen McKenna | 7-4 | 28.77 | 1 |
| 3rd | Kiowa Myth | Mossie O'Connor | 10-1 | 29.12 | 3 |
| 4th | Took The Okee | James O'Donnell | 25-1 | 29.23 | 5 |
| 5th | Huckabees Kid | William Kelleher | 12-1 | 29.37 | 4 |
| 6th | Kid Billzer | Seamus Shealy | 20-1 | 29.58 | 6 |
Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger, Limerick (18 Dec, 550y, €25,000) :
| Pos | Name of Greyhound | Trainer | SP | Time | Trap |
| 1st | Farley Turbo | Owen McKenna | 3-1 | 29.57+ | 4 |
| 2nd | Hare Mack | Robert Gleeson | 4-1 | 30.09 | 6 |
| 3rd | Judicial Academy | Michael O’Donovan | 5-2jf | 30.44 | 5 |
| 4th | Westmead Bolt | Fraser Black | 5-1 | 30.55 | 2 |
| 5th | Beaming Dilemma | Pat Buckley | 5-2jf | 30.62 | 1 |
| 6th | Nicken Shaw | Ken Duce | 8-1 | 30.63 | 3 |