A Bit About Yourself And Dogs

[kipper fluke]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

as i was just having a look back over this year i found this thread once more and thought there must be a few newcomers who have not added a little about themselves so maybe take the opportunity now let others know a little about you

 

[mkp]

My name is Mark Pettitt. In 1990 I returned to England after 13 years in Canada. I had never owned a dog, and never even heard of a whippet. I met Gill Hardy and Xspell in 1992. Xspell was coming up to his 3rd birthday that Christmas. I fell in love with him from the start. Gill took me to a couple of local races and I got hooked. My first big event was Devon 1992. Xspell had always run at 24lb, and he was beaten in his heat the first weekend. On the drive back to Nottingham I asked Gill if I could take Xspell down to 23lb for the following weekend at Devon as I had noticed that he looked a bit fatter than all the other whippets. He duly won and seemed happier at 23lb. Ross (Xspell) probably trained harder than any other whippet in history, unless there are others out there that take their dogs up to 4 times a day and include 10 mile jogs. In August 1992 he was the fittest I ever had him, but he woke up on BWRA championship morning looking ill. We raced him anyway and he came second in the weight group final. The next day he was throwing up. The following weekend we drove all the way to Newcastle to take on the 24lb champion in his back yard, and Ross won. In fact, he was not beaten by a dog whippet for the rest of the year, including beating the 1992 supreme champion, Lauras Dream. At the end of the year Gill & I decided that at 4 years of age Ross should start bend training. The 1993 BWRA bend championships was only his 5th bend meeting and he took the supreme title. We went to the 1993 NWRF straight championships in May and he became the first whippet in history to gain supreme on bend then straight. But the biggest event was still to come in August at the BWRA straights. Ross would then be just 5 months from veteran status, but he took supreme in great style to set the standard that may never be matched. He was still top open class in 1994 aged 5 so we didn't run him as a veteran until the following year aged 6. By the time I retired Ross at age 8 and 1/2 I believe he had only been beaten as a veteran 2 or 3 times in his life and each time had come second.

I raced one other dog, Xocet. His claim to fame is being the first dog whippet to win the Jack Cadman after over 20 years of bitch domination.

I tried to put something back into the sport that I enjoyed. I was a regional rep for one year. And when innocent members were banned and wrongly accused of being dope cheats, I fought in their defence. I was backed by the British Veterinary Association and the BBC. The BWRA committee, rather than admit they'd made a mistake, decided to ban me for life. I will fight the BWRA until my dying day.

I don't particulary want to get back into whippet racing. I just want justice. Justice for myself and the 4 dogs I represented that won their titles fair and square.

Just one thing, though. Although I haven't seen Xspell for a couple of years, he still remains my best mate and a sporting hero. So the next person who suggests that I doped him, such as was made on an earlier topic, will kindly tell me to my face.

 

[kipper fluke]

Well it was certainly worthwhile bringing this thread back up, quite topical really as others have just recently been banned, not for drug use i may add.

Your a bit of a celeb. Mark we hear. We don't know you personally but have been interested in your points of view and opinions.

We do know Colin(senior) with Avalanche and have heard his account too.(A lovely couple, him and his wife Pat) Always had lots of time for our son Harry and always good for a laugh.Shame there are not many more like him left in the sport.

Wanting justice...........don't we all- in many areas of our lives. Don't get me talking about planning permission-and all its faults/pitfalls/injustice-tomorrow's untouched!

 

[Vicky]

This post was sent to me but i think it's a reply to this topic!!

HI MR BLUE HERE I HAVE BEEN READING WHATS ON FOR A WHILE I HAVE THREE WHIPPETS, MR BLUE WHO IS FOUR, BUST IT WHO IS TWO AND MY NEW DOG MADDAS WHO IS 16 MONTHS OLD AND MY SON WHO IS CALLED LEE IS SIX YEARS OLD HAS A LITTLE DOG CALLED SOLANO WHO IS 11 MONTHS OLD AND RUNNING WELL HOPE TO THE FROM YOU SOON

MR BLUE

 

[mutley]

hi my names gary and iam banned from the fed :angry: :w

 

[mutley]

Not for using drugs ....i got banned for speaking my mind even though it was the wrong time and place :8

 

[MADDAS]

YES STEVE MR BLUE FROM COXLODGE BUT I HAVE CHANGE MY NAME FROM MR BLUE TO MADDAS

STEVE MY HUSBAND IS GOING INTO PIGEONS NOT ME :angry:

 

[MADDAS]

VICKY MY BREEDING OF MY DOGS ARE MR BLUE BANSHEE AND A DOG CALLED NICK A UNRACED DOG

MADDAS IS CASINO AND TONY GIFT

BUST IT TOUCH OF VELVET AND COOL AND EASY

AND OUR LEE DOG IS OUT OF MYSTERION MISS AND MAGIC MISSILE

SORRY IT HAS TOOK ME LONG TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS WOULDN T LET ME REPLY SORRY :angry: :angry:

 

[debbie]

hi my name is debbie i have just signed up. i bit slow just learning (nothing new there)

 

[MADDAS]

HI EVERYONE MADDAS HERE.

DEBBIE HAVE YOU JUST GOT P C. I HAVE SIGNED UP 2 DAYS BEFORE YOU I AM VERY VERY SLOW. :w :w :w :w :w.

HOW ARE YOU DOING, ALL THE DOGS OK HOW MANY HAVE YOU GOT NOW.

WE GOT YOUR EMAIL FROM YOU DID YOU GET OURS.

HOPE TO HERE FROM YOU SOON.

 

[debbie]

hi there never got your e.mail but never mind last pup has to go as he has done his metta-carpol good home as works at marske vets so only got buster. oscar and zak(master tornado)

 

[rocky]

Hi Sadie

My family used to race at Manton 30 years ago, yes 30 years. Is your nan Pat Blower? Pat and husband George ran the club then and if they still do, they are doing a grand job keeping the club going all those years when most clubs are shutting down.

 

[sadieandco]

Hi Rocky - Can i ask who you are - not that i wil know you but my mum Karen and Nan should do. My nan still runs club with my mum and Gill Williams - grandad is not well now so he no longer goes out but we keep him updated with everything that happens.

What dogs did you run??? and are you back racing now then.

I know i'm nosey but like to find out about people!!!!

Sadie

 

[rocky]

Hi Sadie

Pleased to get your reply. Actually I am a young black whippet dog but my mum used to race at Manton with her dogs, Lucky Snip, Lucky Choice, Lucky Blue Star and Lucky Chance. Old mates of hers were the Phillips family from Gainsboro and Jack Johnson, Mrs Thomson and her son and yes of course I remember Gill.

I live with my mum on the south coast of England now but hope to get up and see you all next summer when I'm running. Due to the lack of club meetings this year I am a bit slow off the mark when it comes to racing. I'm nearly a year old and so far have only managed a solo up the track but when club starts in March I hope to get going. By the way my mums name is Audrey. Love to hear from or about my old Manton friends. Sorry to hear George to not too good.

LOL Rocky

 

[sadieandco]

Hi again,

My mum remembers you and your dogs - nice to hear from you, Mrs Thompson still in touch with Nan - and her grandson now comes and does traps at Manton even tho he doesnt race a dog.

I'll tell Nan I've spoken to you and it would be nice to meet in the summer if you get down our way.

Its good to talk to people wh used to race at our club like to keep in touch and its good that people remember it from all those years ago. Sorry that wasn't supposed to sound like that!!

Sadie

 

[kipper fluke]

Is that really you Rocky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it, this is Violet Rose (Waterford) here... How you doin?

I've just been writing to you in a report to Mr Meades.

:0

x x x x

 

[kipper fluke]

ROCKYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

Are you there?????????????????

Violet Rose (Waterford)xxxxxxxx

 

[rocky]

hi Violet Rose

I'm here, its Rocky.........

Thanks for your message. I am doing fine. Looking forward to my birthday, it's 3 weeks today. My first birthday, it is going to be a grand bash. Wish you didn't live so far away and you could come to it.

Are you going to ther Worcester Fed Open next Sunday? If so, good luck. I know its a long way for you to travel but your dad doesn't mind does he?

Let me know if anyone else gives Mr. Weatherson any trouble. Perhaps Gary will go, I don't believe he is banned yet.

LOL Rocky xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[kipper fluke]

Hi Rocky, no I'm not going to Worcester were having a rest at the moment.

Hope you have a very nice birthday, Laura who lives at our house my (human sister) has just turned 18, we had a nice piece of chocolate cake.

Are you running at Worcester then? if so good luck.

Violet Rose (Waterford)xxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[sherry]

hi im carole i live with peter and have done 4 13 years. We have been racing whippets approx 8 and a half years. I have four whippets Marleys Magic (ziggy) aged 8 nearly 9 (pigeon x teal) Hot Spice (brandy) aged 7 nearly 8 (baileys comet x pigeon) Mickey Whizz (zak) just turned 3 (whizziwig x mickey mouse) and last but definitly not least pup Whisper Whizz (sam) 14 months (tiger lil x sole promise) just training not racing yet. I too love scotland and i am the north east reporter 4 the whippet news :cheers: