# English Greyhound Derby Invitation

The English Greyhound Derby Invitation formerly the Derby Consolation Stakes was a long standing competition for greyhounds eliminated during the later stages of the English Greyhound Derby.
It was originally for the six greyhounds eliminated at the semi-final stage but is now for greyhounds invited by the racecourse, although this still consists largely of the eliminated semi finalists.
It was run at White City Stadium from 1927 until 1984. Following the closure of White City the event was switched to Wimbledon Stadium in 1985 and then to Towcester Greyhound Stadium in 2017. Winners over the decades have included Quare Times, Dante II, Sole Aim, Lively Band and Toms The Best.
The race was discontinued following the closure of Towcester.

## Past winners

| Year | Winner | Breeding | Trainer | Time | SP | Notes |
| 1936 | Melksham Keystone | | Joe Harmon (Wimbledon) | 29.46 | 11-4 | |
| 1937 | Golden Alexander | | Jimmy Campbell (White City) | 29.49 | 3-1 | |
| 1938 | Ballyhennessy Sandills | White Sandills – Soraca Deas | Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) | 29.68 | 1-2f | |
| 1939 | Selsey Cutlet | Future Cutlet – Happy Freda | Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) | 29.31 | 9-4f | |
| 1945 | Fair Brook | Lights Of Brooklyn – Rose Of Castledown | Stanley Biss (Clapton) | 29.78 | 7-2 | |
| 1946 | Quare Times | Bally Dancer – Quite Welcome | Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) | 28.82 | 1-1f | Track Record |
| 1947 | Dante II | Well Squared – Olives Idol | Bob Burls (Wembley) | 29.03 | 8-11f | |
| 1949 | Jimmies Cull | Glenview Shaggy – Fast Asleep | Ken Appleton (West Ham) | 29.39 | 9-4 | |
| 1950 | Behattans Choice | Bahs Choice - Behattan | Bob Burls (Wembley) | 28.75 | 1-1f | |
| 1951 | Melampus | Mad Tanist – Whiterock Laura | Noreen Collin (Walthamstow) | 28.90 | 5-1 | |
| 1952 | Ruddy Climax | Bahs Choice – Pure Motive | Paddy McEvoy (Private) | 29.05 | 5-2 | |
| 1953 | Polonius | Mad Tanist – Calpurnia | Tom 'Paddy' Reilly (Walthamstow) | 29.33 | 11-8f | |
| 1954 | Tolerton Ash | Astras Son – Black Nan | Tom Perry (Private) | 29.06 | 4-1 | |
| 1955 | Chance Me Paddy | Paddy The Champion – Verges Cottage | Robert Linney (Catford) | 29.21 | 10-1 | |
| 1956 | Cleos Gossip | Endless Gossip – Devoted Ever | Bob Burls (Wembley) | 29.28 | 100-30 | |
| 1957 | Northern King | Champion Prince – Big Bawn | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 29.06 | 5-4f | |
| 1958 | Beware Champ | The Grand Champion – Beware of Me | George Waterman (Wimbledon) | 28.83 | 7-4f | |
| 1959 | Dunmore Rocco | Hi There – Dunmore Claudia | Dennis Hannafin (Wimbledon) | 29.14 | 1-2f | |
| 1960 | Rostown Genius | The Grand Genius – Rostown Lady | Joe Pickering (White City) | 29.15 | 9-4 | |
| 1961 | Trojan Van | Whirling Turk – Sitting Pretty | Jimmy Rimmer (Clapton) | 28.97 | 11-4 | |
| 1962 | Tall Boy Ollie | Hi There - Ophelia | Tom Johnston Jr. (West Ham) | 29.21 | 13-8 | |
| 1963 | We’ll See | Knock Hill Chieftain - Bunnykins | Joe Pickering (White City) | 29.22 | 4-1 | |
| 1964 | Pineapple Joe | Clopook – Sight Unseen | Dennis Hannafin (Wimbledon) | 28.94 | 8-1 | |
| 1965 | Westpark Ash | Hi There – Westpark Ballet | Kevin O'Neill (Walthamstow) | 28.99 | 6-4f | |
| 1966 | Dillies Pigalle | Pigalle Wonder – Millies Dillie | Ronnie Chandler (Ireland) | 29.20 | 2-5f | |
| 1967 | Daybreak Again | Odd Venture – Dollys Toast | Geoff De Mulder (Leicester) | 28.85 | 2-1 | |
| 1968 | Super Kid | Congo Kid – Merry Hampton | Joe Pickering (White City) | 29.01 | 7-1 | |
| 1969 | Valiant Ray | Westpark Quail - Jamboree Judy | Kevin O'Neill (Walthamstow) | 28.92 | 4-1 | |
| 1970 | Sole Aim | Monalee Champion - Yurituni | David Geggus (Walthamstow) | 28.88 | 5-1 | |
| 1971 | Ballybeg Era | Mad Era – Ballybeg Pride | Vicky Holloway (Private) | 28.86 | 12-1 | |
| 1972 | Suburban Gent | Monalee Champion – Meadowbank Girl | J Horan (Ireland) | 28.80 | 13-8 | |
| 1973 | Shara Dee | Silver Hope – Flashy Minnie | Noreen Collin (White City) | 28.88 | 7-4 | |
| 1974 | Lively Band | Silver Hope – Kells Queen | Tom Johnston Jr. (Wembley) | 28.59 | 5-4f | |
| 1975 | Shamrock Point | Monalee Champion – Gruelling Point | Ger McKenna (Ireland) | 29.33 | 1-2f | |
| 1976 | Shamrock Point | Monalee Champion – Gruelling Point | Ger McKenna (Ireland) | 29.33 | 4-5f | |
| 1977 | Linacre | Lively Band - Central | Ted Dickson (Slough) | 29.36 | 10-11f | |
| 1978 | Malange | Broadford Boy – Paper Cracker | Matt O'Donnell (Ireland) | 29.83 | 3-1 | |
| 1979 | Jebb Rambler | Tullig Rambler – Thats The Style | Harry Crapper (Owlerton) | 29.26 | 10-11f | |
| 1980 | Dodford Bill | Instant Gambler – Ballyregan Maid | Dave Drinkwater (Bletchley) | 29.33 | 5-4f | |
| 1981 | Greenane Metro | Greenane Decca – Pineapple Grand | Arthur Hitch (Private) | 29.30 | 5-4f | |
| 1982 | Fearless Mover | Nameless Star – Ballydonnell Pat | Geoff De Mulder (Coventry) | | | |
| 1983 | Hay Maker Mack | Brave Bran – Excuse Me Madam | Derek Knight (Brighton) | 28.95 | 4-5f | Track Record |
| 1984 | Nippy Law | Lax Law – Shems Fancy | Geoff De Mulder (Nottingham) | 29.78 | 1-1f | |
| 1985 | One To Note | Lindas Champion – Hotel Queen | Norah McEllistrim (Wimbledon) | 29.11 | 3-1 | |
| 1986 | Lodge Prince | Sand Man – Cooga Customer | Gary Baggs (Ramsgate) | 28.67 | 4-9f | |
| 1987 | Karens Champ | Round Robin - Carmaur | Gary Baggs (Walthamstow) | 28.98 | 20-1 | |
| 1988 | Mottos Count | Count Five – My Motto | Gary Baggs (Walthamstow) | 28.74 | 14-1 | |
| 1989 | Kildare Ash | Wise Band – Lindas Zest | John McGee Sr. (Canterbury) | 28.84 | 6-4f | |
| 1990 | Demesne Chance | Kyle Jack – Anti Everything | Gunner Smith (Hove) | 28.96 | 7-4f | |
| 1991 | Vics Snowdrop | Daleys Gold – White Ranger | Philip Rees Jr (Wimbledon) | 28.66 | 8-1 | |
| 1992 | Luxury Light | Daleys Gold – Calypso Music | John McGee Sr. (Reading) | 28.83 | 4-1 | |
| 1993 | Dromin Fox | Greenpark Fox – Sound of Wings | Paul Garland (Ramsgate) | 28.87 | 5-1 | |
| 1994 | Greenane Squire | Manorville Major – Endless Game | Tony Meek (Hall Green) | 28.80 | 4-6f | |
| 1995 | Westmead Merlin | Murlens Slippy – Westmead Hannah | Nick Savva (Walthamstow) | 28.67 | 4-9f | |
| 1996 | Quick Tune | Farloe Melody – Lady Be Fast | Gordon Hodson Hove | 28.91 | 7-1 | |
| 1997 | Toms The Best | Frightful Flash – Ladys Guest | Nick Savva (Walthamstow) | 28.42 | 2-1jf | |
| 1998 | Droopys Eric | Kyle Jack – Droopys Fergie | Henry Tasker (Private) | 29.17 | 5-1 | |
| 1999 | Stouke Tim | Kildare Slippy – Stouke Pearl | Barrie Draper (Sheffield) | 28.67 | 11-4 | |
| 2000 | Rio Riccardo | Trade Official – Kylies Quest | Daniel Riordan (Private) | 28.86 | 4-9f | |
| 2001 | Carhumore Cross | He Knows – Laurdella Risk | Nick Savva (Private) | 29.03 | 8-1 | |
| 2002 | Droopys Corleone | Top Honcho – Droopys Kylie | Daniel Riordan (Private) | 29.08 | 1-1f | |
| 2003 | Farloe Style | Staplers Jo – Farloe Dingle | Seamus Cahill (Wimbledon) | 28.64 | 9-4 | |
| 2004 | Droopys Cahill | Top Honcho – Droopys Kristin | Ian Reilly (Ireland) | 28.64 | 5-4f | |
| 2005 | January Tiger | Droopys Vieri – January Vixen | Mark Wallis (Walthamstow) | 28.78 | 9-4 | |
| 2006 | Blue Majestic | Top Honcho – Marinas Tina | Seamus Graham (Ireland) | 28.81 | 4-1 | |
| 2007 | Zigzag Dutchy | Dutchys Angel – Zigzag Bullet | Charlie Lister OBE (Private) | 28.92 | 2-1f | |
| 2008 | Toosey Blue | Hondo Black – Black Diamond | John Mullins (Yarmouth) | 28.89 | 7-4 | |
| 2009 | Cabra Boss | Big Daddy Cool – Cabra Dancer | Liz McNair (Private) | 28.86 | 6-4f | |
| 2010 | Head Iton Ellis | Hondo Black - Caressing | Steve Race (Private) | 28.51 | 15-8 | |
| 2011 | Boher Legend | Balintore Brave – Knock Princess | Charlie Lister OBE (Private) | 28.46 | 9-4 | |
| 2012 | Bubbly Phoenix | College Causeway – Droopys Top Gal | Paul Young (Romford) | 28.22 | 7-4f | |
| 2013 | Holdem Spy | Hondo Black – Have One More | Carol Weatherall (Coventry) | 28.33 | 6-4f | |
| 2014 | Aero Nemesis | Ja Mann – Shelbourne Capri | Mark Wallis (Yarmouth) | 28.21 | 8-11f | |
| 2015 | Swift Keith | Vans Escalade – Swift Sandy | John Mullins (Yarmouth) | 28.16 | 9-2 | |
| 2016 | Southfield Jock | Droopys Scolari - Lady Anastasia | Seamus Cahill Hove | 28.08 | 11-8f | |
| 2017 | Bruisers Bullet | Droopys Cain - Clover Bride | Mark Wallis (Towcester) | 28.78 | 7-4f | |
| 2018 | Innocent Times | Tyrur Big Mike - Toms Delight | Brendan Matthews (Ireland) | 29.02 | 11-4 | |

## Venues & Distances

* At White City from 1936 to 1974 (over 525 yards)
* At White City Stadium from 1975 to 1984 (over 500 metres)
* At Wimbledon from 1985 to 2016 (over 480 metres)
* At Towcester from 2017 to 2018 (over 500 metres)

## Sponsors

* 2005-2006 William Hill
* 2007-2008 Blue Square
* 2009-2016 William Hill
* 2017-2018 Star Sports