# National Sprint (greyhounds)

The National Sprint is a greyhound racing competition held annually at Nottingham Greyhound Stadium.

## History

It was inaugurated in 1953 at Clapton Stadium. Following the closure of Clapton in 1974 the competition briefly switched to Portsmouth Stadium before it found a home at Harringay Stadium.
When Harringay closed down in 1987 the event was not held again until Nottingham decided to resurrect the competition in 1990, although it was initially known as the Christmas Cracker.

## Venues

* 1953–1973 (Clapton 400 yards)
* 1974–1976 (Portsmouth 435 metres)
* 1977–1984 (Harringay 414 metres)
* 1985–1987 (Harringay 272 metres)
* 1982, 1988–1989 (Not run)
* 1990–1998 (Nottingham 310 metres)
* 1999–2002 (Nottingham 300 metres)
* 2003–2004 (Nottingham 295 metres)
* 2005–present (Nottingham 305 metres)

## Sponsors

* 1994–2001 (Peter Derrick bookmakers)
* 2002–2003 (William Hill)
* 2005–2017 (Stadium Bookmakers)
* 2018–2019 (Local Parking Security Ltd)
* 2020–2020 (Racing Post GTV)
* 2021–present (Arena Racing Company)

## Past winners

| Year | Winner | Breeding | Trainer | Time (sec) | SP | Notes/ref |
| 1953 | Rolling Mike | Mad Tanist – Brilliant Memory | Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) | 23.05 | 13/8f | |
| 1954 | Demon King | Imperial Dancer – Pretty Waltzer | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 23.08 | 9/4 | |
| 1955 | Glenriver | | Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) | 23.40 | 8/1 | |
| 1956 | Toby Boy | Jeffs Pal – Mondays Flirt | Paddy Fortune (Wimbledon) | 22.91 | 7/2 | |
| 1957 | Land Of Song | Fire Prince – Old Blarney Gift | Bob Burls (Wembley) | 22.88 | 9/2 | |
| 1958 | Town Prince | Small Town – Orphan Princess | Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) | 22.90 | 7/4f | |
| 1959 | Waterford Lough | Country Mile – Waterford Glass | Dennis Hannafin (Wimbledon) | 22.94 | 7/1 | |
| 1960 | Gorey Airways | Imperial Airways – Geffs Linnet | Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) | 22.79 | 4/7f | |
| 1961 | Hey There Merry | Hi There – Merry Champion Again | Hugo Spencer (Portsmouth) | 23.09 | | |
| 1962 | Orions Nearly Blue | | John Bassett (Clapton) | 22.60 | | |
| 1963 | Cranog Bet | Knock Hill Chieftain – Don’t Bet | Phil Rees Sr. (Clapton) | 22.71 | | |
| 1964 | Bright Again | Newdown Heather – Monalee Tiny | Mrs J Reeve (Private) | 23.03 | 5/1 | |
| 1965 | Gallant They Say | | Paddy Keane (Clapton) | 22.84 | | |
| 1967 | Fionas Chance | Any Harm – Nicely Arranged | Barney O'Connor (Walthamstow) | 22.71 | | |
| 1968 | Kattys Prairie | Prairie Flash – Judo Win | Bette Godwin (Clapton) | 23.09 | 2/1f | |
| 1969 | Cheeky Boy | Sallys Yarn – Big Blarney | Noreen Collin (Private) | 23.10 | 5/4f | |
| 1970 | Don't Gambol | Prairie Flash – One For Minnie | Paddy McEvoy (Wimbledon) | 22.59 | | |
| 1971 | One Last Day | | | 23.07 | | |
| 1972 | Hazelbury Silver | Cons Duke – Hazelbury Lass | Tom Johnston Jr. (Wembley) | 22.77 | 7/4 | |
| 1973 | Giglis Star | Lindas Champion – Giglis Waltz | | 22.91 | | |
| 1974 | Star Vega | Cobbler – Big Gamble | Mrs.J.Hawkins (Private) | 26.71 | | |
| 1975 | Onitsown | Silver Hope – Noble Florrie | Hugo Spencer (Portsmouth) | 27.31 | | |
| 1976 | Whats The Score | | Hugo Spencer (Portsmouth) | 27.56 | 14/1 | |
| 1977 | Glezepta Work | Itsachampion – Fly Snowdrop | Ben Parsons (Hall Green) | 24.88 | | |
| 1978 | Sampsons Pal | Blessington Boy – Salta IV | Pat Mullins (Private) | 24.94 | | |
| 1979 | Knockrour Brandy | Bright Lad – Knockrour Last | Freda Greenacre (Private) | 24.90 | | |
| 1980 | Knockrour Brandy | Bright Lad – Knockrour Last | Freda Greenacre (Private) | 25.19 | | |
| 1981 | Ballybeg Sport | Minnesota Miller – Ballybeg Blonde | Vicky Holloway (Oxford) | 24.60 | 2/5f | Track record |
| 1983 | Ballybeg Sport | Minnesota Miller – Ballybeg Blonde | Vicky Holloway (Oxford) | 25.19 | | |
| 1984 | Floating Petal | Brilliant Chimes – Glenmoy Lily | | 25.41 | | |
| 1985 | Daleys Gold | Lindas Champion – Ballinderry Moth | Jerry Fisher (Reading) | 16.11 | | |
| 1986 | Paddock Speed | Onitsown – Paddock Post | | 16.39 | | |
| 1987 | Ard What | Ballygarvan What – Heres Eden | | 16.38 | | |
| 1990 | Wheres The Limo | Glenpark Dancer – Kingswell Joy | Linda Mullins (Romford) | 18.50 | 5/1 | |
| 1991 | No Jo Soap | Staplers Jo – Benroe Bessie | Nigel Saunders (Belle Vue) | 18.70 | 11/2 | |
| 1992 | Guns Blazing | Deenside Spark – Aghadown Heather | Tony Fell (Private) | 18.90 | 5/4f | |
| 1993 | Fast Copper | Ballyard Hoffman – Parkswood Magpie | John Copplestone (Reading) | 18.34 | 1/2f | |
| 1994 | Fast Copper | Ballyard Hoffman – Parkswood Magpie | Wayne Burrow (Reading) | 18.49 | 6-4f | |
| 1995 | Sunkleep | Flashy Sir – Skimmer | Barry Wileman (Private) | 18.96 | 12/1 | |
| 1996 | Vannahs Flyer | Whisper Wishes – Helens Special | David Pruhs (Peterborough) | 18.78 | 3/1 | |
| 1997 | Tanroyd Sammy | Super Hoffman – Laganore Queen | Dave Hopper (Sheffield) | 18.78 | 5/1 | |
| 1998 | Crescent Classic | Mustang Jack – Roving Bunnie | Linda Jones (Walthamstow) | 18.11 | 4/6f | |
| 1999 | Gulleen Slaney | Slaneyside Hare – Gulleen Elsa | Charlie Lister (Private) | 18.07 | 1/1f | |
| 2000 | Elliots Pride | Slaneyside Hare – Rubys Bridge | Martin Burt (Monmore) | 17.95 | 9/1 | |
| 2001 | Nervous Paddy | Frightful Flash – Fees Chance | Carol Evans (Private) | 17.81 | 10/11f | Track record |
| 2002 | Very Hot | He Knows – Playful Sapphire | Harry Crapper (Sheffield) | 18.08 | 4/1 | |
| 2003 | Louisville | Larkhill Jo – Woman Power | John Mullins (Walthamstow) | 17.74 | 6/1 | |
| 2004 | Ningbo Jack | Honcho Classic – Pennys Spotlight | Charlie Lister OBE (Private) | 17.78 | 2/1 | |
| 2005 | Clounlaheen | Daves Mentor – First Alone | Mick Hurst (Pelaw Grange) | 17.74 | 6/1 | |
| 2006 | Centaur Striker | Brett Lee – Murlens Chance | Charlie Lister OBE (Private) | 17.82 | 14/1 | |
| 2007 | Unique Option | Top Savings – Turbo Flight | David Pruhs (Peterborough) | 18.05 | 3/1 | |
| 2008 | Horseshoe Ping | Top Honcho – Lucy May | Jim Reynolds (Romford) | 17.99 | 2/1 | |
| 2009 | Jimmy Lollie | World Class – Droopys Kara | Seamus Cahill (Hove) | 17.67 | 5/2 | |
| 2010 | Jimmy Lollie | World Class – Droopys Kara | Seamus Cahill (Hove) | 17.90 | 2/1 | |
| 2011 | Drumcove Lad | Scarty Lad – Drumcove Fancy | Chris Allsopp (Monmore) | 17.91 | 9/4 | |
| 2012 | Jumeirah Dubai | Slip The Lark – Droopys Just Hot | Julie Calvert (Sunderland) | 17.71 | 4/6f | |
| 2013 | Helenas Sailor | Droopys Scolari – Lenas Maggie | Paul Donovan (Wimbledon) | 17.67 | 6/4f | |
| 2014 | Geelo Vegas | Cashen Legend – Ceol May | Carl Perry (Private) | 17.77 | 11/4 | |
| 2015 | Scolari Sound | Droopys Scolari – Turn It Up | David Pruhs (Peterborough) | 17.56 | 4/6f | |
| 2016 | Trapstyle Jet | Droopys Jet - Cairns Risky | Jean Liles (Towcester) | 17.64 | 5/2 | |
| 2017 | Queen Anna | Tullymurry Act – Skate On | Liz McNair (Private) | 17.83 | 9/4 | |
| 2018 | Calzaghe Flash | Tyrur Big Mike – Headford Maura | Ted Soppitt (Newcastle) | 17.55 | 1/1f | |
| 2019 | Troy Bella | Tyrur Big Mike – Fire Height Brid | David Mullins (Romford) | 17.79 | 2/1 | |
| 2020 | Loggies Lito | Droopys Jet – Ballymac Galtee | Simon Harms (Private) | 17.88 | 11/8f | |
| 2021 | Crossfield Dusty | Droopys Jet – Crossfield Kate | Patrick Janssens (Towcester) | 17.65 | 8/11f | |
| 2022 | Gougane Jet | Droopys Jet – Paper Doll | Mark Wallis (Henlow) | 17.56 | 5/4f | |
| 2023 | Bombout Bullet | Ballymac Best – Carmac Luna | Belinda Green (Hove) | 17.52 | 4/7f | |
| 2024 | Niosfearrnabolt | Ballymac Kingdom – Ballymac Scala | Chloe Hardy (Newcastle) | 18.20 | 6/1 | |