3rd WCRA Championships and 2nd Veteran Crowns 2024 – Full write up and results

HEART OF ENGLAND PWRC, SHUTTINGTON on 11 AUGUST 2024
150 yards straights; veterans 145 yards at ½yd/lb plus yd/yr

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A good turnout of 134 dogs, we somehow avoided quarter-finals but 15/16 dog groups mean a tough first round and an early exit was no disgrace. It’ll be interesting to see how that impacts the Consolation Leagues. Predictably, we had a fair number of close finishes to keep the judges on their toes, the races coming at them hard and fast.
We had two new Racing Champions, Gee Gee and Making Plans For Pendle who were both “made up” at the first attempt, and one new Veteran Crown, Northern Wisdom, well done.

Immediately before racing we held a minute’s silence in remembrance of Trish Gilfeather, so many of her friends gathered here today. It was lovely to see Graham, our thoughts are with him and his family.

The 16lb final was a triumph for the Welsh, a wonderful result for Nicola Groundwell. Her home-bred *Penderyn’s Poppylicious held off John & Jill Gardner’s Red Light and Sarah Layfield’s *Winterfell Tangfastic in a close race, at first Nicola wasn’t sure she’d won but when she saw the red disc put up oh did she celebrate, we love those pom-poms.

The 18lb group looked a toughie but eased a little with some untimely seasons. Serious business really started with the semis, the Villis’ Ameesha Little Devil and Avril Caunce’s nicely-named Kissy Suzuki advancing from the first while the Groundwells’ Penderyn’s Queen Bee won the other very neatly from John Wareing’s Forever Keen. Race times 9.96 and 9.99; no surprise we had a blanket finish for the final. *Forever Keen prevailed in a three-way photo-finish from Penderyn’s Queen Bee and Ameesha Little Devil, Kissy Suzuki barely a yard back, amazingly for an ultra-tight race the time was faster, 9.87.

The 20’s are never easy. The first heat set the tone, Rebecca Hough’s Starlight Express just edging out Mike Head and Ilid Davies’ *Along Came Betty. Third and fourth in a race fit for a final, were Avril’s WCRCh Black Fairlane and Louise Fisher’s Maximum Dazzle. Future finalists, Nicola’s Penderyn’s Arctic Blast and Rebecca Villis’ Villiers Rocketman won their respective heats.

In the first semi, Penderyn’s Arctic Blast prevailed over Starlight Express while in the second, Villiers Rocketman led *Along Came Betty across the line. But in the final, it was all change, *Starlight Express won well by 1½ lengths from *Along Came Betty who shaded Penderyn’s Arctic Blast and Villiers Rocketman in another close finish.

The 22lb group, despite several significant non-runners, had two close semi-finals. Grant Burton’s and Ellie Stacey’s *Gee Gee won the first one nicely, although anyone with the misfortune to own a half-coat knows serene progress doesn’t necessarily settle the nerves! Second was tight; Nicola & John Walton’s WCRCh Pure Delight just prevailed over Daniel Bremner’s On The Bounce. The other semi, two lengths covered the lot, Natasha Henderson’s The Pink L’dy winning from Sarah Layfield’s Winterfell What The Heck with Peter Leadbeater and Christine Kerrigan’s Ace Of Spades 3rd and Daniel’s *On The Run 4th.

Come the final, WCRCh Gee Gee won smoothly, WCRCh Pure Delight leading home Winterfell What The Heck and The Pink L’dy, again close for second, third and fourth.

Both 24lb semis were tight. David Hughes’ and Anna Bradshaw’s well-fancied Smithyfold Rocket had a length and a half in hand taking the first from Vince and Sarah’s Charlie Brown who ran his socks off to push Julie Quinton and William Nicholl’s Rverside Kufu and Louise’s Dazzle Dee into 3rd and 4th. The Waltons’ newly-minted Racing Champion, WCRCh Gimme Delight led home Natasha Henderson’s Mentalasanything with Denise Pitcher’s *Foxie Flyer a close 3rd and 4th Christine & Mark’s WCRCh Ryamber That’ll Do, only two lengths covering the lot.

In the final, *Smithyfold Rocket prevailed by a length and a quarter from WCRCh Gimme Delight, Mentalasanything close up in 3rd and Charlie Brown 4th, he’d put everything into that semi.

Experience conquered all in the 26lb group. The first semi-final was close, the second less so. In race 55, Lynn & Dave Hunter’s WCRCh Brontë won by half a length from Christine and Mark’s Ryamber Room At The Top with John Wareing’s *Forever Jack The Lad (this his first try for the “other half”) another half length down, a length further in 4th, Terry Wheeler’s Here Hugo. Race 56, David & Anna’s Beau Delphine (mum to the 24lb winner) won by two lengths from Sarah & Vince’s admirable WCRCh Scrappy Doo who was two lengths ahead of 3rd and 4th, the Brearleys’ *Murphy’s Gold and the Strains’ *Return Of The Mac. That made it three half-coats bowing out at the semi-final stage.

It’s not often you see whippets aged 4-5 take the first three places in a tough group final, but tell that to group winner and runner-up. Again, two lengths covered the field. *Beau Delphine (five months off veteran) beat WCRCh Scrappy Doo (a relative stripling at 4 years 8 months, his heat win was impressive) by a nose. A length back, WCRCh Brontë (4 years), in fourth the junior of the party at two and a half, Ryamber Room At The Top.

The 28lb weight class had sixteen dogs on the card, no Racing Champions but six half-coats. Five non-runners (including two of the 1st Championship finalists) meant “only” four half-champions remaining and of these, three made the semi-finals. The first semi, Gwen Heppenstall’s Frame Thi Sen announced herself at her first Championships by beating Kev and Sue Shakespeare’s *Cairdean Chucklehead by a length, with Grant Burton and Ellie Stacey’s Lemon Sherbet a neck behind in third, 4th Nick Clawson’s Pendle Takeaway, if I remember correctly, weighing in at just over 24lb and her first race for a long time, only another length back. The second semi, rather more clear-cut, Dave and Anna’s Smithyfold Ace led Crystal & Philip Fusi’s *Danger Dash home by two lengths with *Mista T third, one of five running in Trish’s memory, and the Harts’ Sandy Shore 4th.

The final was another close one, *Frame Thi Sen prevailing by a head from Smithyfold Ace, who almost made it a kennel three-timer, with *Danger Dash a creditable 3rd and *Cairdean Chucklehead 4th. A tough group, even without the absentees.

The 30lb group had two half-coats on their first try at upgrading, *Making Plans For Pendle (Nick Clawson) and Trish’s *Gimme It All, plus Racing Champions Moonlight Millie (Kevin Coe & Keeley Bradshaw) and Daddy’s Boy (Pearl & Dennis Bache). In the first semi-final, *Making Plans For Pendle beat George Whalley’s Joe Cocker, WCRCh Moonlight Millie and Fiona Campbell’s Tiger Feet; in the second, WCRCh Daddy’s Boy led home Dave Williams’ Odds On Tess, *Gimme It All and Gwen’s Come Fly With Me. The final was an emphatic win for the new WCRCh Making Plans For Pendle, 2nd Joe Cocker, 3rd Odds On Tess, reward for Dave’s hard work, and an honourable 4th WCRCh Daddy’s Boy.

Otherwise quiet semi-finals for the 32lb class were lit up by Louise Fisher’s Dazzle Hurricane taking Fastest Time with a great run. In the final, Barbara & Sean Lee’s WCRCh Selby Lad (full brother to WCRCh Gee Gee) was the only Racing Champion to “defend”. He won well, a good 2nd was Colin & Tina’s fine bend dog *Chiefton Challenger, 3rd Dazzle Hurricane and 4th Trish’s *Gimme Some Action.

The Veteran Crowns may have had smaller classes but all five groups were hotly contested. No freebies here, all seventeen finalists whippets of distinction.

First the 6/7 years finals. In the lightweights, Jacquie Mullin & Dean Leonard’s VC *London Girl lost narrowly to the Hunters’ *Zikomo Go-Quick in their heat (great race) but clearly reserved her best for the final, edging out WCRCh Ameesha Summer Rocket, Zikomo and 4th Zikomo’s kennelmate WCRCh My Girl Enfys, a fast time too.

VC She Was A Showgirl was unbeaten in the middleweights, in the final beating Jacquie and Dean’s WCRCh Glad All Over about half a length, 3rd Dave & Carole Cuttlers’ WCRCh VC Call Me Enchanting and 4th Christine & Mark’s Stan The Man. WCRCh Glad All Over came off with a foot injury, get well soon Elsy.

In the heavyweights, the Brearleys’ WCRCh VC Feilly’s Gold and Glen & Jackie Hughes’ WCRCh Stormin’ Norman, two dogs I have a soft spot for, faced off in the heats, Feilly beating Norman by half a length. That’s exactly how they finished in the final, again half a length, with Nick Clawson’s VC Pendle Sally (winner last time) 3rd and Dave Favell’s fine veteran WCRCh VC Lovely Jubbly 4th.

In the 8/9 years middleweight final, Sarah Layfield’s VC Winterfell Let Me Loose beat Kevin & Keeley’s WCRCh Twilight Twiggy by just under a length with Dave & Lynn’s WCRCh VC Zola Go-Quick third. The heavyweights, only the two but a stirring duel – Nick’s smart, now VC Northern Wisdom beating my WCRCh The Cooler King by half a length in a see-saw race.

That win gave us a most unusual treble – Mum, Dad (Veteran Crowns) and Son (30lb) and set the seal on a great day for the Northern. I make it they won six weight classes while the Yorkshire folk came away with four.
This was a very happy meeting, a lovely day. Everyone who helped, the HOE crew, both racing and kitchen, thank you, you are the ones who make it all possible.

Report by Mark Etheridge.

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Full Results

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Main Championships

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NE 16lb

1. *PENDERYN’S POPPYLICIOUS (Penderyn’s Poppylicious – Devil Hall Of Fame x Tonjonic Sweet Lady). Owner : Nicola Groundwell (time 10.10)
2. Red Light
3. *Winterfell Tangfastic

Heat Wins: Penderyn’s Poppylicious, Red Light

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NE 18lb

1. *FOREVER KEEN (Speckleholly Crème Caramel – Hush Puppie x Medlarway Crème de la Crème). Owner: John Wareing (time 9.87)
2. Penderyn’s Queen Bee
3. Ameesha Little Devil
4. Kissy Suzuki

Heat Wins: Cairdean Rascal, Satin Sapphire, Ameesha Little Devil, Penderyn’s Queen Bee
Semi Finals: Ameesha Little Devil, Penderyn’s Queen Bee

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NE 20lb

1. *STARLIGHT EXPRESS (Lowlake Starlight Shimmer – Medlarway Moondance x Lowlake Light Of Day). Owner: Rebecca Hough (time 9.71)
2. *Along Came Betty
3. Penderyn’s Arctic Blast
4. Villiers Rocketman.

Heat Wins: Starlight Express, Villiers Rocketman, Penderyn’s Arctic Blast, Bruce Almighty
Semi Finals: Penderyn’s Arctic Blast, Villiers Rocketman

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NE 22lb

1. WCRCh GEE GEE (Goodad River Of Stars – Goodad Across The Bay x Goodad High Revving Bird). Owners: Grant Burton & Ellie Stacey (time 9.50)
2. WCRCh Pure Delight
3. Winterfell What The Heck
4. The Pink L’dy

Heat Wins: *Gee Gee, Winterfell What The Heck, WCRCh Pure Delight, Ace Of Spades
Semi Finals: *Gee Gee, The Pink L’dy

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NE 24lb

1. *SMITHYFOLD ROCKET (Smithyfold Rocket – Duncton Rude Boy x Arnieve Delphine). Owners: David Hughes & Anna Bradshaw (time 9.46)
2. WCRCh Gimme Delight
3. Mentalasanything
4. Charlie Brown

Heat Wins: Smithyfold Rocket, WCRCh Ryamber That’ll Do, Charlie Brown, WCRCh Gimme Delight
Semi Finals: Smithyfold Rocket, WCRCh Gimme Delight

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NE 26lb

1. *BEAU DELPHINE (Arnieve Delphine – Goodad African Gold x Velveteen Dream). Owners: David Hughes & Anna Bradshaw (time 9.58)
2. WCRCh Scrappy Doo
3. WCRCh Brontë
4. Ryamber Room At The Top

Heat Wins: Ryamber Room At The Top, *Return Of The Mac, *Forever Jack The Lad, WCRCh Scrappy Doo
Semi Finals: WCRCh Brontë, Beau Delphine

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NE 28lb

1. *FRAME THI SEN (Peniwen Icing On The Cake – Moon Gazer Gold x Kenynten White Gems). Owner: Gwen Heppenstall (time 9.55)
2. Smithyfold Ace
3. *Danger Dash
4. *Cairdean Chucklehead

Heat Wins: Frame Thi Sen, *Danger Dash, *Cairdean Chucklehead, Smithyfold Ace
Semi Finals: Frame Thi Sen, Smithyfold Ace

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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 (time 9.42)
2. Joe Cocker
3. Odds On Tess
4. WCRCh Daddy’s Boy

Heat Wins: *Making Plans For Pendle, WCRCh Daddy’s Boy, Joe Cocker, *Gimme It All
Semi Finals: *Making Plans For Pendle, WCRCh Daddy’s Boy

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NE 32lb

1. *WCRCh SELBY LAD (Goodad Media Storm – Goodad Across The Bay x Goodad High Revving Bird). Owners: Sean & Barbara Lee (time 9.51)
2. *Chiefton Challenger
3. Dazzle Hurricane
4. *Gimme Some Action

Heat Wins: *Chiefton Challenger, WCRCh Selby Lad, Dazzle Hurricane
Semi Finals: Dazzle Hurricane, WCRCh Selby Lad

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Fastest Time Rosette

Dazzle Hurricane, 9.05 when winning his semi.

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Veteran Crowns

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6/7 years

14-20lb

1. VC *LONDON GIRL (Ryamber Chiquitita – Goodad Special Duty x Ryamber Keep On Running. Owners: Jacquie Mullin & Dean Leonard (time 9.67)
2. WCRCh Ameesha Summer Rocket
3. *Zikomo Go-Quick,
4. WCRCh My Girl Enfys

Heat Wins: WCRCh Ameesha Summer Rocket, *Zikomo Go-Quick

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21-25lb

1. VC SHE WAS A SHOWGIRL (Lowlake Sky Full Of Stars – Goodad Boldcross x Viva la Vida). Owners: John & Jill Gardner (time 9.72).
2. WCRCh Glad All Over
3. WCRCh VC Call Me Enchanting
4. Ryamber Stan The Man

Heat Wins: Ryamber Stan The Man, WCRCh Glad All Over, VC She Was A Showgirl, Now U Sia
Semi Finals: VC She Was A Showgirl, WCRCh Glad All Over

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26-32lb

1. WCRCh VC FEILLY’S GOLD (Wagtail Johnny’s Boy – Sunlay Chermayeff x Rock On Ruby). Owners: John & Maggie Brearley (time 9.62)
2. WCRCh Stormin’ Norman
3. VC Pendle Sally
4. VC Lovely Jubbly

Heat wins: WCRCh VC Lovely Jubbly, VC Pendle Sally, WCRCh VC Feilly’s Gold
Semi Finals: WCRCh VC Feilly’s Gold, WCRCh Stormin’ Norman

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8/9 years

21-25lb

1. VC WINTERFELL LET ME LOOSE (Winterfellin Let Me Loose – Winterfellin Tinkers Lad x Winterfellin Frosted Dawn). Owner: Sarah Layfield (time 9.96)
2. WCRCh Twilight Twiggy
3. WCRCh VC Zola Go-Quick

Heat wins: WCRCh Twilight Twiggy, VC Winterfell Let Me Loose

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26-32lb

1. VC NORTHERN WISDOM (Red Ferrari – Goodad Special Duty x Dust Town Fairy Tale). Owner: Nick Clawson (time 9.92).
2. WCRCh The Cooler King

Heat wins: Northern Wisdom, WCRCh The Cooler King

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Mark Etheridge reporting

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