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[ian]

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Hi, i am actually a greyhound man but i bought a great little whippet for a pet 2 years ago, her racing name is islay . I went to a local club just after i got her and found aut she was really good, she won the heats and the final.Since then i have only run her at my local greyhound track "Ayr" .I was hoping to run her at ayr last year in the whippet opens but she broke so she is still running at the trials on a sunday . What i am looking for is for all you whippet people to explain the rules and tell me what happens at these opens from entering, weighing in to the racing.  

 

[Vicky]

Just out of interest Ian do you know how your whippet is bred!!!!!

 

[ian]

Sorry no i dont . I know her full name is isle of Isslay and her litter brother was isle of jurra. I bought her from a bloke down dumfries way.

 

[Vicky]

Going off those names it sounds like she is a pedigree, maybe a pedigree racer could give you some idea of what goes on at their opens.  With the non-peds there are two main racing bodies British Whippet Racing Association & National Whippet Racing Federation, with the BWRA you have to be registered 28 days before you run at one of their events and with the NWRF you can pay your registeration on the day unless it's championships.  Most people find out about forthcoming events through Whippet News (whippet racing magazine) then it's just a case of turning up at gthe right time, get your dog weighed in, then once the programme is printed up you would get your dog jacketed up etc and make your way to the traps..

Most of the organisers are more than welcome to give newcomers a hand with their dog.

I'm sure you will get more replies!!!!!

 

[Vicky]

Any idea of what the fellas name was who you got her off?  Susan is a regular contributer to k9 from scotland maybe she might know more!!!

 

[ian]

Tryin to remember ... I think his first name was mat.

Maybe

 

[Susan]

Sorry dont know of the man or the whippet. It sounds like a pedi to me. You could race the dog at the track at Lugar in Ayr their starting up again the first Sunday in March, their is also a pedi club in Falkirk but that might be a bit far for you to travel to.

 

[ian]

It was actually one of the lads from the lugar club that got me in touch with the fella .I just wanted her as a pet and still do but would also like her to race as that is what these dogs love as with the greyhounds. Last year i got her registered with the bwra but didnt enter her for any opens or go to the club at lugar.I think it is me just being a greyhound man and not wanting to feel a bit out in the cold or maybe it's that there is no betting involved

If the K9 community  could give me some of their time to explain the handicapping with the weights and so on i would be very grateful.

 

[michelle]

If you run at a BWRA event, the weight limit is 32lb, then they also scratch racing(all off levels) upto 36lb,upto40lb and No limit which is what it says. most straight races are ran over 150 yards at 1 yard per pound handicapp(what weight is youre dog?).they also hold veteran racing in the same weight groups for dogs 5 yrs and older.

Maybe once youre club starts up-get Involved and get youre dog racing, you will find it's good fun without the need for betting:cheesy:, also you will make plenty of friends.

 

[kipper fluke]

hi ian i am steve boyd and i live in lancaster the little bitch you have is the litter sister to my own no limit dog kipper and was bred out of chyanne and shylo dawn by henry dobie at a little village near you cumertrees the blood lines are excelent i nearly had that one myself but henry kept the two smallest bitches himself there is another bitch down south somewhere she was about 36lb last i heard my dog kipper has always been there or there abouts but never reached his full potential due to the fact i think me having three bitches also Danny Keer is the man to get in touch with at the lugar club he is a great guy and i would think he will help you all he can if you want any other information henry lives at the Kirk in Cumeretrees he will tell you all about her parents i am sure i hope that this is of some help steve p.s .dont worry about being out in the cold there is no nicer man than danny in whippet racing if there is i have not met him.

 

[Susan]

Hi Ian just had a thought the only person I know who lives in that area of Scotland is a man called Henry he did or maybe still does race two dogs one was called Jura and the other Isla I could be barking up the wrong tree but it might help. Do come to Lugar as they are a great bunch of folk mad as hatters and they will make you feel very welcome and also this year us Kirkcaldy folk will be racing in Luger more often and so will Lugar they are coming over at least once a month so you will be made to feel welcome at my club aswell. Remember to pay the BWRA membership soon as poss if you want to race at the Ayr open it is on the 10th or 24th of March dont know the exact date as still waiting for dates from the stadiam hope to see you there Susan.

 

[Vicky]

Hi Ian, you really should try to get to some open racing, i didn't realise how your dog was bred but with what steve says your bitch has definately got the right bloodlines to be open class, i'm sure you will be made welcome!!!!!!  What weight is she??

 

[michelle]

GET RACING IAN!!!!!, it sound's like you've got a decent dog on your'e hands!!!:cheesy:

 

[kipper fluke]

Hi Ian Steve here again with a bit more information for you, if you are thinking of racing her get cracking right away as she will be 4 year old in july of this year. If i am not mistaken, Henry raced her at about 24-26lbs ,she was the larger of the two he kept,Jurra  and isla are named after the two islands off Scotland i am told. also some very pleasant whiskey named after them i have tried, if i think of anymore i will post it

 

[ian]

Thanks steve , yeh that's the man henry dobbie. It was danny that sent my membership away for me last year and he weighed her at the time i think your right she was about 26 lbs.We bumped into Danny today at the trials and he reminded the chap that gave islay a run for me (i'm crippled at the moment 'broken ankle' all im sayin is that it was a winter sport accident) that we have to get our 6 quid away to renew the membership, so thats done.

 

[NEILPEM]

hi ian as they all say get some open racing done,i can only think of steves dog(kipper) from that litter but hes a very tallented and good looking dog.

 

[ian]

Steve or Neil

Isla is 29 lbs .Is this too heavy?

She just seems to be pure muscle and it doesn't seem as if losing a couple of pounds would do her any good. ???

 

[NEILPEM]

it doesn't matter how big or small they are as long as they can run,if she looks well i think you should leave her,if you

take weight off her she may lose some of her energy.

 

[kipper fluke]

Hi Ian have you run her round the ayr stadium if so did you get a time for her if you have then give Arthur Cooke a ring and ask him what times the 29lb bitches did at the open there last year i am sure he or Danny will have them if you have no luck with that and you have a time try taking 1lb ofd her and put her round again you have a month to sort her out and 3lb on a little dog is a lot especialy over 300yrds not a lot on a greyhound maybe but a lot on a whippet if you ask Danny he will tell you about the weight on Demolition Blue and what a difference a pound will make best of luck whatever you decide to do Steve.

 

[ian]

She's doing on average an 18 .40 . Danny say's this is not bad but the weight she is she will be giving dog's that can do the same a start. But i think i'll just keep her the way she is . She's looking really good at the moment and after all it's just for fun.