Following the aftermath of 2011 English Derby, I felt I had to resign as Derby organizer.
I have staged 14 highly successful Derbies since the first one, way back in 1997.
I would think that most of the whippet racers around have at some time attended, and some may have even won an event or two over the years up and around the country!
It has taken a lot of hard work, but given an enormous amount of joy back.
In the past I have always tried to include non-racers to have a good time too.
For alongside the racing we also enjoyed many, many, great social evenings connected to the Derby, ie; Fancy-Dress, Karaoke/dog shows and kids/adults competitions (which came to a halt after the dangerous wellie-throwing incident)!!
This year a very unfortunate mistake was made on the distance run, so as Derby organizer I take full responsibility! I am deeply sorry and apologize unreservedly for the error made.
Sadly I’m sure I’m not the first, nor last who will make this mistake.
Anyone who knows me personally knows how gutted I am for you, and how bitterly disappointed I feel.
On the Wednesday morning after the Derby, the rumours emerged as the racers gathered to race at the Festival Open. It became apparent that the knives were truly out!
To say the ‘track was deliberately marked out for a much heavier dog to win’ and ‘the organisers had a vendetta against a certain person who got into the final’ plus ‘bets had been laid on who was going to win the Derby, before it began’ and several others!
The bitter mindless morons who spread this stupid slander are worthless!
The joy of winning has been tarnished by your stupid innuendo and lies.
To say I am a cheat is deplorable, I know I have been nothing but fair over the years, and no one is paid for what they do, whether an organisation or club, not even Whippet News.
The hours I spend compiling the magazine and organizing things, is for everyone’s benefit, not mine!
Through Whippet News since I started, I have given back to the sport over £13000 in prizes for the magazine’s Top Ten competition.
My day is spent from when I get up, opening the post and typing out the contents, taking emails and telephone calls from peds & non-peds at all hours of the day (my choice)….So whippet racing is my life and I haven’t raced a dog for nearly three years, its all done for just the love of it!
Paul & I built up Asfordby Wrc to championship standard, once held in high esteem!
I have edited Whippet News since December 1996, and organized the Derby covering 14 events, but after hearing the lies and seeing that some people believed them, made me take a hard look at myself and wonder what the hell I was doing wasting my time!!!
But, I am made of sturdier stuff than that….
Again I wholeheartedly apologise for the mistake made! I’d like to thank those who took the time to email, pm and telephone offering support, it was most appreciated, but it was only yesterday that I came to my senses!
I’m made of sturdier stuff than that, you learn quickly to have broad shoulders with the things I have been ‘tried with’ with over the years as Editor. The Derby will go on, and I can reveal that I have received an email from Alpha who were very pleased with the photographs & write up, they are to put to the ‘Board’ requesting to have their logo imprinted on the 2012 Derby Jackets, so fingers crossed for that! We will come back ‘bigger’ and ‘better’ in 2012. Instead of taking too much on ourselves the work will be spread out, the track marking will include a couple of racers, as will the weigh in and draw….we won’t leave ourselves open for mistakes again!
I have staged 14 highly successful Derbies since the first one, way back in 1997.
I would think that most of the whippet racers around have at some time attended, and some may have even won an event or two over the years up and around the country!
It has taken a lot of hard work, but given an enormous amount of joy back.
In the past I have always tried to include non-racers to have a good time too.
For alongside the racing we also enjoyed many, many, great social evenings connected to the Derby, ie; Fancy-Dress, Karaoke/dog shows and kids/adults competitions (which came to a halt after the dangerous wellie-throwing incident)!!
This year a very unfortunate mistake was made on the distance run, so as Derby organizer I take full responsibility! I am deeply sorry and apologize unreservedly for the error made.
Sadly I’m sure I’m not the first, nor last who will make this mistake.
Anyone who knows me personally knows how gutted I am for you, and how bitterly disappointed I feel.
On the Wednesday morning after the Derby, the rumours emerged as the racers gathered to race at the Festival Open. It became apparent that the knives were truly out!
To say the ‘track was deliberately marked out for a much heavier dog to win’ and ‘the organisers had a vendetta against a certain person who got into the final’ plus ‘bets had been laid on who was going to win the Derby, before it began’ and several others!
The bitter mindless morons who spread this stupid slander are worthless!
The joy of winning has been tarnished by your stupid innuendo and lies.
To say I am a cheat is deplorable, I know I have been nothing but fair over the years, and no one is paid for what they do, whether an organisation or club, not even Whippet News.
The hours I spend compiling the magazine and organizing things, is for everyone’s benefit, not mine!
Through Whippet News since I started, I have given back to the sport over £13000 in prizes for the magazine’s Top Ten competition.
My day is spent from when I get up, opening the post and typing out the contents, taking emails and telephone calls from peds & non-peds at all hours of the day (my choice)….So whippet racing is my life and I haven’t raced a dog for nearly three years, its all done for just the love of it!
Paul & I built up Asfordby Wrc to championship standard, once held in high esteem!
I have edited Whippet News since December 1996, and organized the Derby covering 14 events, but after hearing the lies and seeing that some people believed them, made me take a hard look at myself and wonder what the hell I was doing wasting my time!!!
But, I am made of sturdier stuff than that….
Again I wholeheartedly apologise for the mistake made! I’d like to thank those who took the time to email, pm and telephone offering support, it was most appreciated, but it was only yesterday that I came to my senses!
I’m made of sturdier stuff than that, you learn quickly to have broad shoulders with the things I have been ‘tried with’ with over the years as Editor. The Derby will go on, and I can reveal that I have received an email from Alpha who were very pleased with the photographs & write up, they are to put to the ‘Board’ requesting to have their logo imprinted on the 2012 Derby Jackets, so fingers crossed for that! We will come back ‘bigger’ and ‘better’ in 2012. Instead of taking too much on ourselves the work will be spread out, the track marking will include a couple of racers, as will the weigh in and draw….we won’t leave ourselves open for mistakes again!
