1st WCRA Championships and Veteran Crowns, 2025: Full write up and results

HEART OF ENGLAND PWRC, SHUTTINGTON on 11th MAY 2025
150 yards straights; veterans 145 yards at ½yd/lb plus yd/yr

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NB: Photos will be added to the write up when available

What a dry Spring it’s been. You don’t expect to spend days watering the racetrack in early May, but that’s what the Heart of England members were doing, from Friday through to Sunday morning (and likely for weekends before that) to give a fine running surface. At least the fine weather meant we didn’t have to shroud ourselves in winter coats and with a steady North Easterly breeze it wasn’t too hot for the dogs.

Our first Championships is always a long meeting with the annual presentation, but we were done well before 4.30pm, no mechanical failures bar the new timer and indeed no reruns. (The timer’s been fixed now, all it needed was a minor adjustment.) Opening up the canteen at eight gave us an extra half-hour, goodness knows what time of day the canteen ladies had to get up to make the early start.

A word also for Kim Saxby, housebound with eight new-born pups to tend, who planned methodically so we could get along without her. She has nothing to race yet gives us much of her time, thank you Kim.

In her absence, Gary Hogan ably stepped up as Racing Manager, with the support of his new wife, Linda, who helped with the paperwork; making the extra effort to ensure everything was in place and set up, many thanks to them and to the rest of the team who worked hard to put on a great meeting.  Part of that team were Gavin and David Cairns and Anne Williamson who travel a long distance with no dogs to run and work all day for us – we are very grateful, thank you.   A special mention to Vince Hart and Johnny Brearley who worked behind the scenes days beforehand to prepare the track into a first class surface worthy of a Championship – you did us proud.

We had one new Racing Champion, Forever Jack The Lad and four new Veteran Crowns, Ameesha Summer Rocket adding to her Racing Champion title, Duncton Rude Boy, Light Of Day and Jay Jay. Well done to you all.

The 16lb group, affected by non-runners, was won comfortably by Mark Jervis’ classy *Cheadle Heart from Christine Howard’s sweetly named Ryamber Trish’s Star and Louise Fisher’s Wee Dazzle of Scotch. For all three, their first Champs, hopefully good long careers ahead.

The 18lb group was well and truly monopolised by the Villis Four. They won every race in the group, knocked out good opposition in the semis and had the final to themselves. The first semi, Ameesha Atomic Blonde beat WCRCh Ameesha Born To Run by a length, who in turn narrowly edged out two half-coats, Sarah Layfield’s *Winterfell Tangfastic and John Wareing’s *Forever Keen in a blanket finish. The second semi-final, if anything was even closer, *Ameesha Little Devil half a length from Ameesha Wild Orchid then the Shakespeares’ Cairdean Rascal a narrow 3^rd and John Pollard’s Shockley 4^th.

You’d expect the final to be even closer but never underestimate Racing Champion quality. WCRCh Ameesha Born To Run asserted to win by three lengths from *Ameesha Little Devil, Ameesha Atomic Blonde then the new girl, Ameesha Wild Orchid.

The 20-pounders had two contrasting Semi Finals. In the first, Pat Gant and Maisie Ray’s Up Ya Kilt and Mike Head & Ilid Davies’ *Along Came Betty qualified neatly from the Brearleys’ Bertie’s Gold and Graham Gilfeather’s Bruce Almighty, but the second was a desperate driving finish. Five yards from the line, Louise Fisher’s Maximum Dazzle had the race won with Rebecca Villis’ *Villiers Rocketman and Avril Caunce’s WCRCh Black Fairlane battling for second, with Rebecca Hough’s *Starlight Express seemingly out of it – but she surged through at the last, stole second on the line and was leading a stride further on.

After all that, the final was much more clear-cut, *Up Ya Kilt prevailing from *Starlight Express by two lengths, *Along Came Betty another two lengths back and the previously unbeaten Maximum Dazzle 4^th.

The first heat of the 22lb weight class was a toughie, three fine dogs, only two go through. Grant and Ellie’s WCRCh Gee Gee won by half a length from Nicola and John’s WCRCh Pure Delight with Viv’s Ooh Ah A Devil a neck down in third. In the first semi-final, WCRCh Gee Gee led Dan Bremner’s On the Bounce ahead of Gary Hogan’s Mistress and Clare & Paul Sanderson’s *Thieves Accomplice; the second semi, the Hunters’ WCRCh Tiana led Sarah’s *Winterfell What The Heck who edged out WCRCh Pure Delight, Mike and Ilid’s Just Red unfortunately turning back.

In a tight final, WCRCh Gee Gee gained her third Champs weight class by half a length from Winterfell What The Heck, WCRCh Tiana a head back and another length to On The Bounce.

In the 24lb heats, the Sandersons’ youngster Thieves Auld Fella beat the Waltons’ WCRCh Gimme Delight by two lengths, then in heat two the Hunters’ WCRCh Brontë beat Christine Howard’s WCRCh Ryamber That’ll Do by the same margin. Ashlee Smart’s Pirate Queen took a nasty tumble but thankfully only bruising, get well soon. No drama in the third heat, Denise’s *Foxie Flyer qualifying with the Harts’ Charlie Brown; David Hughes and Anna Bradshaw’s *Smithyfold Rocket took the fourth heat by eight lengths, but behind there was a great battle between Fiona Campbell’s Silver Ghost and Aaron Booth’s Hamil Valiant for second. Silver Ghost prevailed by a head to earn himself a semi-final place.

In the first semi-final, Thieves Auld Fella came home in front of *Foxie Flyer, with WCRCh Ryamber That’ll Do and Silver Ghost bowing out; *Smithyfold Rocket won the next with WCRCh Gimme Delight second, to edge out WCRCh Brontë and Charlie Brown. The final, just over half a length separating the lot, all four sets of owners should be proud, WCRCh Gimme Delight adding another Champs weight class, *Smithyfold Rocket only a nose behind and Thieves Auld Fella a head down, the bend dog *Foxie Flyer also close up in 4^th.

I’d say the toughest group, four rounds is no picnic, the 26-pounders started off low-key with seven three-dog heats. Kim Welman’s Dune Runner and the Wareings’ *Forever Jack The Lad immediately showed they were the class of the field but a nice heat win for Jo Lock’s Sea The Sunrise.

The main protagonists again won well in the quarters, the other two winners Terry Wheeler’s WCRCh Tik Tok Tia and Christine’s Ryamber Too A T. The first semi, *Forever Jack The Lad took by two lengths from WCRCh Tik Tok Tia, who edged out kennelmate Here Hugo and Ryamber Room At The Top in a three-way driving finish for second. The second semi much more clear-cut overall, Dune Runner by 2¾ lengths from John and Sheila Strain’s *Return Of The Mac. 3^rd John and Maggie’s *Murphy’s Gold and 4^th Ryamber Too A T.

The final, eyes were on the two unbeaten whippets. In a hard-contested final, WCRCh Forever Jack The Lad had half a length on the line from Dune Runner to become the only new Whippet Club Racing Champion of the day, well done. In third, not disgraced was *Return Of The Mac while WCRCh Tik Tok Tia turned back at halfway, both did really well to reach the final. 

The first heat of the 28lb group comprised three fine dogs, David and Anna’s Smithyfold Ace prevailed from Mark and Charlotte Bursey’s WCRCh Mach’s Kamikaze Mars with Philip and Crystal Fusi’s *Danger Dash the one to miss out. The first semi, Darcia Gingell and Rob Hughes Duncton Ghost Town beat Smithyfold Ace by a length, who in turn edged out Gwen Heppenstall’s *Frame Thi Sen with Chris Booth’s Cheadle Star 4^th. The second semi more clear-cut, Gwen’s Let’s Go Nuts beating Kev & Sue Shakespeare’s *Cairdean Chucklehead by two lengths with WCRCh Mach’s Kamikaze Mars 3^rd finishing injured, mend soon Marley.

The final had half a length between each whippet at the line, another good race. This time Smithyfold Ace reversed the placings with Duncton Ghost Town, then Let’s Go Nuts and 4^th *Cairdean Chucklehead, kudos to all four.

The 30lb group, George Whalley’s *Joe Cocker and Nick Clawson’s WCRCh Making Plans for Pendle were both unbeaten going into the final, Jo Lock’s *Sea The Skies and Karen Bridge’s puppy Rush About the other two qualifiers from the semis. In the final, WCRCh Making Plans For Pendle prevailed by a length from *Joe Cocker for his third Champs weight class win, only a head back in 3^rd was Rush About and another length down *Sea The Skies, again the owners should be proud.

The 32lb group, only heat and semi but plenty of drama. In the first heat, Paul Seanor’s Smithyfold Arrow, litter brother to Rocket and Ace beat Colin & Tina Jennings’ WCRCh Chiefton Challenger by a couple of lengths. In heat two, Louise Fisher’s Dazzle Hurricane trapped fast to hold on by a length, while behind him, Mark & Charlotte’s *Machs White Toed Brodes just overcame a bad trap to edge out Gary Hogan’s youngster Gunns Donavon in a very tight finish, one of many needing the video. The final also needed the video, two lengths covering the lot but nothing between the new half-coat *Smithyfold Arrow and *Machs White Toed Brodes, 3^rd WCRCh Chiefton Challenger and 4^th Dazzle Hurricane.

The Veteran Crowns had fewer entries than usual but still some good racing. In the 6/7 year-olds, the 14-20lb final was won by the Villis’ WCRCh VC Ameesha Summer Rocket, half a length ahead of Dave & Lynn Hunter’s WCRCh My Girl Enfys and 3^rd her kennelmate *Zikomo Go-Quick, 1½ lengths further back. The 21-25lb group, Darcia and Rob’s VC Duncton Rude Boy also won his Veteran Crown, beaten by the Strains’ The Mighty Finn in his heat but reversing the placings when it mattered, winning by a length. Third was Avril’s VC Ms Moneypenny and the Cuttlers’ WCRCh VC Call Me Enchanting an honourable 4^th.

The junior (6/7 years) 26-32lb veterans had three runs. The first round included one horrid heat with the Burseys’ Markamy’s Reddie Eddie (coming back from injury) losing out to Nick Clawson’s VC Pendle Sally and Jo Lock’s *Sea The Moon. In the first semi, Jeff Hill’s To Dare Is To Do beat *Sea The Moon by a length with Gwen Heppenstall’s Lost Mi Marbles another yard back in third. The second semi, VC Pendle Sally and Sue Hoddinott’s Victor Quartermaine progressed at the expense of Sue Manby’s Triple Cee.

The final was tight, VC Pendle Sally winning by three-quarters of a length from *Sea The Moon, To Dare Is To Do another length back with Victor Quartermaine one yard further, some very good runs in there. Lovely to see To Dare Is To Do finally get injury-free (fingers crossed) and show us what he’s capable of.

The 8/9 years 21-25lb final was a match between Rebecca Hough’s admirable veterans Light Of Day, mum to new WCRCh Forever Jack The Lad and *Starlight Express, and litter-sister Victory V. It was new VC Light Of Day who emerged victorious by a length and a half, always nice to see mother and son win together.

With WCRCh VC Feilly’s Gold withdrawn injured (get well soon Feilly) the 8/9 years heavyweights (26-32lb)were unfortunately reduced to a solo for VC Jay Jay, emphasising that the senior veterans are as much a test of durability as speed. His blinkers bear witness to all the work Denise had to do to get him racing, but he’s had a fine career as a veteran and now reaps the reward.

I hope everyone enjoyed the day as much as I did, again many thanks to everyone who helped; the HOE crew, both racing and kitchen, you’re true stars. See you at our 2^nd Championships on 29th June.

Mark Etheridge Reporting.

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Full Results

Winners Photographs courtesy of Michael Treacher.
Click/tap to view full size.

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Main Championships

NE 16lb

1. *CHEADLE HEART (Pipped Yer At The Post – Blue Indian Warrior x Truly Attraction). Owner : Mark Jervis
2. Ryamber Trish’s Star
3. *Wee Dazzle Of Scotch

Heat Wins: Ryamber Trish’s Star, Cheadle Heart.

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NE 18lb

1. WCRCh AMEESHA BORN TO RUN (Ameesha Ocean Breeze – Devil Hall Of Fame x Ameesha Blue Spirit). Owner: Liz Villis
2. *Ameesha Little Devil
3. Ameesha Atomic Blonde
4. Ameesha Wild Orchid

Heat Wins: WCRCh Ameesha Born To Run, *Ameesha Little Devil, Ameesha Atomic Blonde, Ameesha Wild Orchid.
Semi Finals: Ameesha Atomic Blonde, *Ameesha Little Devil.

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NE 20lb

1. *UP YA KILT (Bluegang Dance Monkey – Speckleholly Winter Bear x Bluegang Hot Burning Ember). Owners: Pat Gant & Maisie Ray
2. *Starlight Express
3. *Along Came Betty
4. Maximum Dazzle

Heat Wins: Up Ya Kilt, *Villiers Rocketman, Bertie’s Gold, Maximum Dazzle.
Semi Finals: Up Ya Kilt, Maximum Dazzle.

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NE 22lb

1. WCRCh GEE GEE (Goodad River Of Stars – Goodad Across The Bay x Goodad High Revving Bird). Owner: Grant Burton
2. *Winterfell What The Heck
3. WCRCh Tiana
4. On The Bounce

Heat Wins: WCRCh Gee Gee, WCRCh Tiana, *Thieves Accomplice, *Winterfell What The Heck.
Semi Finals: WCRCh Gee Gee, WCRCh Tiana.

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NE 24lb

1. WCRCh GIMME DELIGHT (Kentwone Lalande – Freasley’s Archer x Sheer Bliss). Owners: Nicola & John Walton.
2. *Smithyfold Rocket
3. Thieves Auld Fella
4. *Foxie Flyer

Heat Wins: Thieves Auld Fella, WCRCh Bronte, *Foxie Flyer, *Smithyfold Rocket.
Semi Finals: Thieves Auld Fella, *Smithyfold Rocket.

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NE 26lb

1. WCRCh FOREVER JACK THE LAD (new Champion) (Lowlake Jack The Lad – Medlarway Moondance x Lowlake Light Of Day). Owner: John Wareing
2. Dune Runner
3. *Return Of The Mac
4. WCRCh Tik Tok Tia (dnf)

Heat Wins: Ladyless Ways, Ryamber Room At The Top, *Murphy’s Gold, Dune Runner, Sea The Sunrise, Ryamber Too A T, *Forever Jack The Lad.
Quarter Finals: WCRCh Tik Tok Tia, Dune Runner, *Forever Jack The Lad, Ryamber Too A T.
Semi Finals: *Forever Jack The Lad, Dune Runner.

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NE 28lb

1. *SMITHYFOLD ACE (Smithyfold Ace – Duncton Rude Boy x Arnieve Delphine). Owners: David Hughes & Anna Bradshaw
2. Duncton Ghost Town
3. Let’s Go Nuts
4. *Cairdean Chucklehead

Heat Wins: Smithyfold Ace, Let’s Go Nuts, *Frame Thi Sen, *Cairdean Chucklehead.
Semi Finals: Duncton Ghost Town, Let’s Go Nuts.

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NE 30lb

1. WCRCh MAKING PLANS FOR PENDLE (Winterfellin Making Plans – Red Ferrari x Winterfellin Let Me Loose). Owner: Nick Clawson.
2. *Joe Cocker
3. Rush About
4. *Sea The Skies

Heat Wins: *Joe Cocker, WCRCh Making Plans For Pendle, *Sea The Skies.
Semi Finals: *Joe Cocker, WCRCh Making Plans For Pendle.

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NE 32lb

1. *SMITHYFOLD ARROW (Smithyfold Arrow – Duncton Rude Boy x Arnieve Delphine). Owner: Paul Seanor.
2. *Machs White Toed Brodes
3. WCRCh Chiefton Challenger
4. Dazzle Hurricane

Heat Wins: Smithyfold Arrow, Dazzle Hurricane.

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Veteran Crowns

6-7 years

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14-20lb

1. WCRCh VC AMEESHA SUMMER ROCKET (new Veteran Crown) (Ameesha Indian Summer – Billy On Show x Ameesha Pure Spirit). Owner: Liz Villis.
2. WCRCh My Girl Enfys
3. *Zikomo Go-Quick

Heat Wins: WCRCh Ameesha Summer Rocket, WCRCh My Girl Enfys.

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21-25lb

1. VC DUNCTON RUDE BOY (new Veteran Crown) (Duncton Rude Boy – Duncton Spirit Of The North x Savernake Hurricane Skye). Owners: Darcia Gingell & Rob Hughes.
2. The Mighty Finn
3. VC Ms Moneypenny
4. WCRCh VC Call Me Enchanting

Heat Wins: The Mighty Finn, VC Ms Moneypenny.

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26-32lb

1. VC PENDLE SALLY (Red Sally – Wagtail Flash In The Pan x Sunlay Desert Rose). Owner: Nick Clawson.
2. *Sea The Moon
3. To Dare Is To Do
4. Victor Quartermaine

Heat Wins: Lost Mi Marbles, VC Pendle Sally, To Dare Is To Do.
Semi Finals: To Dare Is To Do, VC Pendle Sally.

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8-9 years

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21-25lb

1. VC LIGHT OF DAY (new Veteran Crown) (Lowlake Light Of Day – Goodad Bold Cross x Viva La Vida). Owner: Rebecca Hough.
2. Victory V

Heat Wins: Light Of Day, Victory V.

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26-32lb

1. VC JAYJAY (new Veteran Crown) (Lolani Tennessee Fire at Amphoras – Ch Citycroft High Society JW x Danluke Dance Diva at Lolani). Owner: Denise Pitcher.

Heat Win: JayJay.