Paddy Declared NZ GOTY

IT was the Bigtime Paddy show at Greyhound Racing NZ's gala annual awards dinner in Hamilton on Saturday evening. Bigtime Paddy was the recipient of three awards, including the codes ultimate award when he was announced as the 2017-18 New Zealand Greyhound of the Year.

It was a glittering occasion with a large crowd in attendance to celebrate the successes achieved by both canine and human participants from the previous season. Earlier on Saturday the annual conference was held which was very well supported.

Bigtime Paddy also won the NZ Middle Distance Greyhound of the Year (450m – 599m), plus the New Zealand Bred Greyhound of the Year awards. He was loaded away into the starting traps 54 times during the season. He returned to stand on top of the podium on 33 occasions, while he attended the minor sides of the podium 16 times. His consistent season netted his connections a remarkable $182,582 in stake earnings.

John McInerney proudly accepted the NZ Sprinter of the Year (up to 449m) trophy which the short course sprinting phenomenon Wheelchair Norm won for the second consecutive year.

Ring The Bell was crowned as the NZ Distance Greyhound of the Year (600m plus) and fittingly his award was received by his Kiwi trainer Ray Adcock.

It was a big evening for the Lisa and Brendon Cole kennels as they were also the winners of the NZ Dam of the Year title with Allegro Star. Lisa Cole completely dominated the NZ Trainers' Premiership with the astounding record equalling 803 winners she prepared throughout the season. The bulk of those winners were bred and reared at the ‘Bigtime' kennels and their success greatly contributed to Brendon and Lisa Cole being hailed as the NZ Breeder of the Year winner.

Karen Walsh was a convincing winner of the NZ Trainers' Strike Rate award with her outstanding 0.5094 UDR figure. Stud master Blair Shaw was on hand to be presented with the NZ Sire of the Year trophy which was won by Yella Mustard. Christchurch industry participant Mark Lin was announced as the Youth of the Year award winner.

One of the more popular award winners was TAB Trackside TV presenter and race commentator Mark Rosanowski who was the inaugural NZ Advocate of the Year winner. Roso deservedly received a standing ovation. Karen Walsh was back on centre stage when she was presented with the Love Our Dogs (welfare) award. Another new award was presented and it was the Christchurch Greyhound Club who was the first winner of the NZ Greyhound Club of the Year title with manager Tony Music accepting.

Thayne Green has enjoyed a long and very successful involvement in greyhound racing spanning in excess of four decades. During that time he has owned and trained numerous classy greyhounds, however it was his period as an administrator at the very highest national level where he really made his mark. In recognition of his service to the industry Thayne Green was inducted into the NZ Greyhound Hall of Fame.

I t was a moving and emotional moment when Thrilling Brat was announced as the other NZ Greyhound Hall of Fame induction as the star stayer had only recently passed away. The Karen Walsh prepared Gary Harding bred and owned stayer enjoyed a stellular racing career. Thrilling Brat raced on 54 occasions winning Group 1 staying races on both sides of the Tasman. 27 wins and 16 minor placings saw him hanging up muzzle with his stake earnings sitting at $228,243.

Delivering a superb keynote address during the conference was leading Victorian greyhound trainer Robbie Britton. It sure was an interesting snapshot of greyhound racing that Britton spoke about with him touching on his vast international greyhound racing experiences. He also spoke passionately about welfare areas associated with greyhound racing.