After another blistering start from the traps in his latest race Big Chief did'nt seem to show the pace he has down the back striaght at Monmore and all did not look well. It was confirmed after the race that he has picked up an injury that will keep him off the track for around a month, obviously this is the reason for his below par performance but fortunately he will be back on the track in the near future.

Storming Hawk has settled in well for Paul Sallis and will be brought along as Paul see's fit given his age and size.

Advantage Martti is due a return to the card for Kirsty and Dave in the near future. Martti has been very consistent for us and deserves a mention for his efforts week in and week out. He is a great little dog who is a joy to own and is still improving as each month passes by, rarely does he fail to make the first three in his races and is as honest and hard running as any dog you could wish to own, keep up the good work Martti !

Both Big Chief and Advantage Martti turned in very good performances on Thursday night finishing second (beaten a neck) and third (beaten a length) respectively.

Advantage Martti was first up and looking to have no chance down the back he came from 6 lengths off the pace to not quite get there in time and lose with only a length, again running his race in an honest and genuine fashion.

Big Chief on the other hand absolutely flew out of the traps and comfortably clocked the fastest sectional of the night, it looked as though Charlie was going to notch up his first win but it was not to be with him leading everywhere except on the line and only being denied in a photo finish.



(Advantage Martti in trap 5)

(Big Chief in trap 6)

After a debut second in graded company Big Chief aims to go one better tonight at 9.45pm in the A3 'Bank's Bitter Stakes' at Monmore, drawn in Trap 6 Charlie will need to be at his best to win but his first sorte in graded company was encouraging and hopefully tonight he can put his best paw forward out of the traps and put in a good performance.

Advantage Martti also runs on tonights card and he has been running consistently well over the last few months for Kirstie and Dave who have done a fantastic job with him. Genuine and honest as the day is long Martti will no doubt run his race again tonight and if he can come away well and hold his place around the first two bends he will have every opportunity of gaining another win.

Storming Hawk has finished his schooling over in Ireland and Marie is very pleased with how he has progressed throughout the time she has had him, we are now making arrangements for him to come over to England and start his racing career and will keep you all posted on his progress

Advantage Johnny is now the proud father of eight pups after his first litter were born here in the UK earlier this week to Icemaid Lilley.

Lance says that Lilley and her litter of 5 Dogs and 3 Bitches are doing well and all of them are a really good size, we would like to wish Lance and Pam all the best for the future with this litter and if any of them turn out to be as good as their mother or father then I am sure Lance and Pam will be delighted

Advantage Johnny has unfortunately raced for the last time.............................but it isn't as sad as it may seem!

A visually stunning 75lb specimen but also very fast greyhound on his day and finalist in numerous Group 1 competitions in Ireland, Johnny had everything in particular fierce early pace and huge back straight pace that was simply breathtaking.

As a result of Johnny on track capability, his physical make up and fantastic pedigree, both myself and Lance have decided that it is time for Johnny to hang up his trapping boots and take up a new path and hopefully start another long and successful career, this time though it will be at stud.

Johnny will soon be covering his first bitch and the lucky young lady in question is Icemaid Lilley, a multiple open race winning bitch who Lance both owns and also bred. The lines to this mating are well suited and will hopefully produce some exciting pups.

Should Johnny go on to produce some top class pups early in his career then as the son of Larkhill Jo and Grandson of the late, but great Staplers Jo he could be very much in demand, to see Johnny's full and impressive pedigree please visit the following link ADVANTAGE JOHNNY’S PEDIGREE

If anyone should be interested in using Advantage Johnny as a Stud dog to their bitch then please, for further details either e-mail admin@category1greyhounds.com or alternatively contact Lance Burford direct at the kennels.

Our pup in Ireland Storming Hawk (Westmead Hawk x Jazz Hurricane - March 2009) has had his first handslip and bombed round a couple of bends at Clonmel according to our schooler Marie Baker. He is still a big 76lb baby at the moment but is also a powerful and stunning looking pup according to Marie and we are hopeful he will turn out to be a very useful prospect for later on this year.

Big Chief qualified for the Peterborough puppy Derby but all did'nt go according to plan, which to be fair was'nt unexpected given the level of competition he was up against but he showed some nice signs of real pace and we decided that after his exit from the competition to give him a run at Monmore on Saturday.
Again, luck was'nt on his side, cracking out from Trap 6 he clocked a superb 4.17 sectional with everything looking as though it was going according to plan coming out of the second bend, but somebody forgot to read the script and decided to carry Charlie (Big Chief) across to the hare rail down the back letting the other dogs up the inside and forcing Charlie to check up and lose his momentum.
There was further crowding at the third bend and that resulted in any chance Charlie may of had being lost altogether, fortunately he came of sound and none the worse for the race and he should be racing again very soon.

Advantage Marrti has been running very creditably at Monmore for Kirstie and Dave. He recently notched up his second victory at Monmore and has only finished outside of the first three on two of his last nine races, even then he was only fourth! He seems to have really come to himself over the last couple of months and it is a great credit to all the hard work both Kirstie and Dave do.