A Telford family with over 50 years’ experience training greyhounds celebrated their first major victory on Saturday night by winning one of the sport’s most prestigious competitions.
The Russells were trackside at Central Park Stadium in Sittingbourne to watch kennel star Magical Bluebear win the Arena Racing Company Kent Silver Salver, a race worth £12,500 to the winner which marked its 70th staging this year.
Grandfather William watched the action at home while his son Mark and daughter Emily plus her cousin Lee – who paraded the greyhound in front of a busy grandstand – made the 400-mile round trip from their base outside of town.
It broke new ground for the Russell family who train 20 dogs and are attached to Perry Barr Stadium in Birmingham.
Prior to the weekend, they had never reached a Category One final – the highest level of UK greyhound racing. But they returned home late on Sunday morning as champions, and Mark couldn’t be prouder of his family’s efforts.
“It’s crazy – and it hasn’t sunk in,” he said. “We’re thrilled for Karen and Gary (Phillips, owners) – they couldn’t be there in person but were watching from afar.
“He ran a great race, he’s not usually the quickest greyhound out from the boxes. But he’s quick into stride and can take a few lengths out of dogs into the first bend which is what he did on Saturday.
“It’s a dream – I watched the race from the far side of the track and he got the better of My Lennie (trap six) by holding the inside. It was a good night all round as Westwell Dora won earlier on the card so we went home very happy.”
Sent off 2/1 second favourite, Magical Bluebear stopped the clock at the end of the 277m trip at 16.24 seconds – only 0.13 seconds outside the Central Park track record held by Rossa Rise.
Adam Sear’s My Lennie finished second while David Mullins’ Droopys Standard was third. Guzzler for Belinda Green, Romeo Crusade also from the Mullins kennel and local runner Killuran Bella for Daniel Brabon finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
The race concluded a bumper night of open racing with highlights including a win for David Lee’s All Along in the Category Three Arena Racing Company Ladies. Meanwhile Paul Donovan’s Tintreach Guns took the Arena Racing Company Maiden Trophy final, worth £1,000 to the winner.
Donovan doubled trebled up later on the card when kennel star Asbo Lenny landed the Arena Racing Company Standard Trophy to complete a three-timer following Fastlane Bex’s earlier win in the Maiden Sprint.
Greyhound racing continues at Central Park Stadium on Saturday nights through 2024, with 12 races scheduled from 6.37pm each weekend.
