The Grand Prix was a classic greyhound competition held at Walthamstow.[1]

The Grand Prix
The 1961 champion Clonalvy Romance
LocationWalthamstow Stadium
Inaugurated1945
Last run2007
SponsorVictor Chandler Bookmakers
Race information
Distance640 metres
SurfaceSand

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

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  • 1945–1958 (Walthamstow 525 yards)
  • 1960–1963 (Walthamstow 500 yards)
  • 1966–1974 (Walthamstow 600 yards)
  • 1976–2007 (Walthamstow 640 metres)

Past winners

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "Home". thedogs.co.uk.
  2. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 133–135. Raceform Compton. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
  3. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, pages 181-182. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  4. ^ "Remember When - September 1952". Greyhound Star. 22 September 2018.
  5. ^ "Remember When – March 1965". Greyhound Star. 24 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Manderlay to get back on winning road". Birmingham Mail. 25 November 1976. Retrieved 20 April 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Remember When – September 1988". Greyhound Star. 2 September 2018.
  8. ^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. pp. 109–110. ISBN 186054-010-4.
  9. ^ "2005 VC Bet Grand Prix Final". Greyhound Data.
  10. ^ "2006 VC Bet Grand Prix Final". Greyhound Data.
  11. ^ "2007 Grand Prix Final". Greyhound Data.