Championship Venues/order Of Champs

[June Jonigk]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

I was wondering how many injuries were sustained on Sunday at Moreton In Marsh? The ground was like rock, and the fact that the grass had been cut a few days before, made the problem worse. All attempts were made to water the ground before the dogs ran, but it was far from perfect. In the past we have had a bend Championship there when the ground elsewhere was rock hard, but because the ground was watered during the week, the day before racing, and on race day, and the grass was left longer - the ground was in perfect condition to run on. I believe this wasn't possible this time because of a cricket match on the Saturday. Either we need sole use of the ground, or we need to run the bends outside the cricket season. It has been suggested in the past that the two bend Champs are held at each end of the season, when he ground would be softer, and there would be no cricket. It was discussed at a WCRA Committee meeting - I'm not sure of the reason, but the idea wasn't passed.

I am now wondering just how many injuries were sustained on Sunday, as even just amongst the few people I was sitting with, there were many injuries.

Everyone knows that due to global warming etc, we are getting hotter and drier summers, and the ground everywhere is suffering. In my opinion something needs to be done now, and I would like to know everyone elses views, and maybe we could approach the committee with them.

Many of us campaigned for Moreton to be used for the Champs, as it is a central and neutral venue, with excellent facilities - but a bend run anywhere but there would have been safer on Sunday. Even torrential rain wouldn't have changed the fact that there was not a good covering of grass, and therefore no cushion or grip for the dogs.

I'm not criticising the WCRA committee, as they all worked hard on the day, and did the best they could with the ground they had, but just saying we need to think about having bend racing in the months when we are more likely to have had rain, and there's no cricket.

I wonder just how many injuries there were, and what are your views?

 

[Mark Roberts]

Hi June,

I agree the WCRA members did a fantastic job trying to make the ground as safe as possible for the dogs.

unfortunatly like you say there was a cricket match on Saturday which meant Adrian couldnt get the ground watered as he normaly would of done and the grass had been took right down for the cricket.

I think Morton is the perfect venue but maybe Cricket could be a bit more liniant in their fixtures as it's only 1 weekend that there may be a clash between the cricket & whippets, i'm sure if the powers that be on both sides sat down together something could be sorted out.

as for injuries out little un came off laim in the final susqently her back leg from the knee joint down was black.

 

[Judy]

I do agree that the WCRA did the best job they could and I do like Morton as a venue but I also agree it might be a good idea to change the order of the champs so that the bends didn't come during the cricket season. I did hear of at least one dog that skinned pads again this year.

 

[Scott Frodsham]

I wasn't there on Sunday, but hey when's that stopped me sticking my oar in? :- "

I agree with June's comments, it would seem like common sense to have the bends at the start and end of the season when the ground is softer! :thumbsup:

 

[Mark Roberts]

The main argument for not changing it was from bitch owners who if it was changed could possibly have their bitch's in season for the 2 bend champs.

personaly I like it as it is, just needs a bit more descussion to make sure A, the grass isnt cut the day before, B, it gets well watered for a few days before to make sure it's soft.

something else I spottred was on the non ped forum from Deven Open, why don't peds put a think covering of sand down on the stopping area to make that safer when the dogs are pulling up?

 

[June Jonigk]

Personally I wouldn't fancy my dogs stopping on sand, it's quite abrasive! Also gets in their eyes, up their nailbeds etc.

I heard the thing about bitches being in season for both bend Champs - but surely if they were in season in April/early May, they wouldn't be in again until late October/early November????? I don't see how they would miss both Champs if they were in April and September.

 

[slimfast]

lets have the bends first and last champs please .and no thanks to the sand.

they put a good bend on in east anglia if any body needs any help.

 

[Mark Roberts]

June I can't think of any bend that would of been any safer in that heat.

Sand these days have moved on if Silica sand was used that wouldnt compact on their feet ect or maybe even peat could be used to soften the stopping area (a deep layer not a sprinkling as is often used., i'd rather have dirty dogs through sand than ripped stoppers ect from hard ground.

 

[Judy]

When I've seen the non peds stopping in sand it has been a fairly deep sand pit, not just sand put down on top of grass.

I think the reason the grass has to be kept short at Morton is because its part of the cricket pitch so they won't let it grow longer in the cricket season. But maybe they would outside the cricket season.

 

[Mark Roberts]

i'm sure 1 of the non pedracers will see this and let us know 1, if it reduces injuries on dry/hard ground 2, if it impacks in nail beds or affects eyes ect.

 

[Strike Whippets]

I think the reason the grass has to be kept short at Morton is because its part of the cricket pitch so they won't let it grow longer in the cricket season. But maybe they would outside the cricket season.

It must be worth the WCRA and cricketers sitting down and working something out, as this has been 2 years on the trot that an "above average" number of dogs have skinned their pads etc .......I was suprised that it wasn't changed to a straight though :- "

 

[slimfast]

most dogs skinned there pads on the first bend not at the end? the end was well waterd.

 

[Mark Roberts]

Take a look at the Devon thread in non ped racing at the soft sand stopping area, surely this would lesson the chance of injuries at the end of a race.

as for the actual bend then yes the only option is watering,

I looked at the track Sunday and took the decission it was safe enough for my dogs to run, unfortunaly 1 got injured! I don't hold the WCRA responsible as it was my choice to run her on the ground "NO ONE FORCED ME TO"?

East Anglia is a fantastic track but I remember a few years back when the champs was held there that everyone moaned that the track hadnt been watered! nowares perfect.

A LINK TO THE DEVON NON PED DERBY ~ Devon non ped Derby

 

[Darcia]

Unfortunatly our one runner has come off with two sprained toes on his back feet and a skinned pad - it was a bad decision by myself to let him run as he skinned both of his front pads there last summer. We have definantly learnt a lesson that we will not be running any of our boys on that bend during the height of the summer - its just not worth the risk. (and to clear up - I am definantly not blaming anyone for this - I know that the committee did all that they could in difficult circumstances - I know that it was my decision to decide to run and therefore my fault and yes as you can probably tell - I am feeling guilty and that I should have known better after what happened last year)

 

[Paul Melia]

Surely some whippets like to hear their feet rattle, so why disadvantage them in favour of ones that don't.

A good champion should be one that can win on all surfaces and in any conditions. It's only 150 or 240 yards and if a whipp can't do that a few times one day a week then the breed is in a sorry state.

 

[Strike Whippets]

Surely some whippets like to hear their feet rattle, so why disadvantage them in favour of ones that don't.
A good champion should be one that can win on all surfaces and in any conditions. It's only 150 or 240 yards and if a whipp can't do that a few times one day a week then the breed is in a sorry state.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

And your experience of racing Whippets is what ?? ..........And your Whippets breeding is what ?? ..........The faster the dog the more chance of injury ...........Working dogs don't normally have to run flat out on very short grass and smooth hard ground .......It make a difference .......!!!.....(plus working types are SLOWER)

but I guess you know that !!!....

Hope Gypsy and Ross feel better soon :huggles:

 

[john doe]

Surely some whippets like to hear their feet rattle, so why disadvantage them in favour of ones that don't.
A good champion should be one that can win on all surfaces and in any conditions. It's only 150 or 240 yards and if a whipp can't do that a few times one day a week then the breed is in a sorry state.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Im glad someone has spoken some common sence for a change. How many owners withdrew their dogs before racing started because the surface was so bad ?

Maybe squizzle could tell me. he seems to be very clued up on where the dogs were injured.

 

[Paul Melia]

Yawn.......Strike. So an opinion is only relevant when the correct number of whipps have been owned, bred, raced, coursed or hunted? If so how many does one have to have had?

Working dogs are slower? A fantastic statement, perhaps you would care to elaborate on how you have come to this conclusion.

 

[Strike Whippets]

Yawn.......Strike. So an opinion is only relevant when the correct number of whipps have been owned, bred, raced, coursed or hunted? If so how many does one have to have had?
Working dogs are slower? A fantastic statement, perhaps you would care to elaborate on how you have come to this conclusion.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

This is common knowledge (i'd back my racers against a coursing/working/show type any day ).......Coursing breds are much slower than racers :thumbsup: .......I know of some people who think they have bred duel purpose dogs, but they haven't ...........Whippets are either fast (racers), slower (coursing types) or the slowest type being the show breds .......but hey you know all of this so why am I telling you ............So when you have had any success with a decent racing dog (by this I mean one in a proper weight group, not these easy one's)......then please feel free to yawn at me

 

[Strike Whippets]

And your experience of racing Whippets is what ?? ..........And your Whippets breeding is what ?? .

BTW you forgot to answer my question ........and really you'd think that i'd know the breeding of your boy .....old age and all that (w00t)