Getting People Involved In Whippet Racing

[sherry]

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ok weve had the disscusion on how to make opens better attended etc diff formats etc etc . some say theres less racing than years ago i think its about the same but people may either have less dogs or they may just club race. either way whether its less people or the same amount i think we r all agreed we need to entice some new people into our fantastic beloved sport. so does anyone have any suggestions as to how to entice people to want to start whippet racing? i have a few.

1. advertise local free paper, pet shop or similar

2. get the kids involved or the grand kids, friends etc etc

3. have a regular club day/evening and give people an incentive to race @ said club. ie trophies, 6 heat pools, dog of the month, guaranteed 2 runs wotever it takes

4. have an up 2 date website 4 the club or region ( a few of us already do) wallsend/westerhope(north east) stockton, thurrock

5. i personally do newsletters to let members or spectators who come each week wots going on, was also thinking of doing some kind of club booklet

anyone else got any?

 

[mutley]

best way to get more folks is tell em all not to go on internet lol :wacko:

joke lol

 

[sherry]

best way to get more folks is tell em all not to go on internet lol :wacko:
joke lol

PMSL IT BETTER BE A JOKE GAZ (w00t)

 

[mutley]

sent u a pm :thumbsup:

 

[sherry]

sent u a pm :thumbsup:

JUST ANSWERED U GAZ :thumbsup:

 

[mutley]

i know lol bet u goin to watch bb now

 

[sherry]

i know lol bet u goin to watch bb now

nah i watch the dinner time repeats of that gaz 12.15pm ch5 daily :thumbsup:

 

[stallion]

best way to get more folks is tell em all not to go on internet lol :wacko:
joke lol

be better off with a goldfish gaz then if they get fed up they can put a few chips round it lol

 

[sherry]

There are lots of ways to promote racing and increase attendances.....

Club's, I think should attempt to host weekend events. First day of racing could be a desirable open, 2nd day could be done as a time trial event from times accrued the day previously.

Owners to have more dogs - we don't pass on our ''B grade'' dogs. We're fortunate enough to be part of a club where time handicapping rules, why this format isn't nationwide is beyond my comprehension and can't help but feel it builds ''bad blood'' with heavyweight dogs. I see a number of slower dogs attend weekend events but not given the opportunity of a run. These dogs can be gold dust to a club in training youngsters, they should be given the opportunity to show off their abilities beyond their clubs be it time handicaps, longer distance races, Maiden classes, whatever. You'll know if it's working if Tony invests in a bloody big van!!!

Attract newcomers to the sport - Seriously, what is the point of someone bringing their dog week in week, week out if their owners aren't given that little taste of glory to tempt them? I would suggest clubs do lots of promotion not just in papers. Do a feature of your club dogs in whippet news, get the camera out, get photos and get them on facebook, K9, The whippet forum. Clubs - get yourselves a group on facebook, make it public and invite members to events. Run your racing like I've suggested above and award little trophies, rosettes, certificates. This stuff costs pennies but it can be priceless to a dog owner.

At the end of Wessy's club racing season, all the owners get a little envelope of photos of their dogs but I'm also thinking of awarding owners with Certificates like best newcomer, Most improved dog etc etc. When we hold our Bend Bonanza, my hope is that every one of those devoted owners who've come to all our club meets will leave that day with a little something along with a big round of applause and leave feeling very proud of their dog, regardless of how it faired against the high ranking Open class dogs.

Widen your horizons, Club opens to have pedigree racing and lurcher racing. I think the NNWRF and The BWRA should seriously think of broadening their horizons especially when you look at lurcher racing where ''champs titles'' are given out like candy. There is the potential for revenue to be gained if someone decided to take them on and organise some racing that is on good ground, fair and promotes clean racing. There are many bank hol weekend events where Monday has a relatively low attendance, maybe Mondays could host a non-ped time handicap (based on times accrued at the weekend for loosing dogs) or maiden class racing along with some lurcher racing?

THIS WAS COPIED AND PASTED ORIGINALLY WILD WHIPPIES POST

 

[sherry]

With out wanting to sound pessimistic about the whole topic, many of these things have been tried in the past to no avail.

I do understand this is only one club but Manton ran advance and retard, but not like many clubs in the fact that once a new season began dogs started again, we felt this unfair as the 'b' grades as they seem to be known, had just got to a point of winning and then back to the beginning, our handicap system ran on continuous each year hence oldies,' b'grades all got a chance of a few wins throughout the season. Alongside our handicaps we ran trophies of varying distances and formats, from 1/2yd/lb over 100yds to 220 yds 1 1/2 yds/lb in weight classes and the infamous pre war handicap plus many yd/lb and 1/2 yd/lb trophies from 140 dog and bitch separate to 175yds all in. 5 heat pool to encourage racers, FREE presentation at the end of the year, the choice of prize money weekly when won or it was banked for a more substantial amount at the end of the year at the annual presentation. All our trophies were engraved at the clubs expense at the end of the season and presented. We held evening racing and trialling for puppy training, but what was once a good well attended club dwindled, people wanted different racing, they didnt like the thought of the 'a' grades giving too much away so after many years abc was introduced, but still it didnt increase numbers. Our results were printed in our local paper weekly, we had articles about achievements of our high flyers at the club, but i can honestly say I dont ever remember anyone coming to race because they had seen it in the paper!!! We also had a pedigree section and ran for trophies for them too. We did a Manton WRC website yes it got some interest but not enough to increase racing, odd people rang enquired came along for a day out but not many 'bought' a whippet.

Eventually after much deliberation the club folded after 40 years plus due to changes on the field, but I'm not sure even if the football hadn't taken over if we would have survived as our numbers were getting less and less each week which for us was very upsetting it had been our weekend lives and this sadly has happened to so many clubs along the way.

Think what i'm trying to say is times have changed, personally I don't think we do have the numbers we once had but we can all only try our best to build on what we have, not sure that trying to change everything will be a great deal of help, we just have to promote the best we can and hope people return (once its in the blood its hard to shake off) and if we're lucky to pick up a few newbies along the way, thats a bonus for us.

Just like to say too that if your lucky like we are at the moment(at Shirebrook Staff WRC) and the venue you are situated at wants and encourages whippet racing it makes for a much more relaxed and friendly atmosphere so here we are again trying to promote our hobby/sport a bit further down the road, like I said if its in your blood you don't give in easily

Conclusion not sure what changes could be made for the better !!

THIS POST WAS COPIED AND PASTED POST ORIGINALLY BY TROJAN

 

[sherry]

i wud liike to start a facebook page for the rising sun & westerhope but i have no idea how u start one can anyone help please? :wacko:

 

[weathergirls]

i wud liike to start a facebook page for the rising sun & westerhope but i have no idea how u start one can anyone help please? :wacko:

good on yer know how much you love getting involved Carole :thumbsup: so do you fancy starting a facebook page for WHIPPET RACING in general include details etc of all non-ped clubs across the country, and the BWRA and NNWRF

clubs and organisers could send you upto date info say monthly including pics and contacts details

 

[hellbound]

i wud liike to start a facebook page for the rising sun & westerhope but i have no idea how u start one can anyone help please? :wacko:

good on yer know how much you love getting involved Carole :thumbsup: so do you fancy starting a facebook page for WHIPPET RACING in general include details etc of all non-ped clubs across the country, and the BWRA and NNWRF

clubs and organisers could send you upto date info say monthly including pics and contacts details

Marie as already done it :thumbsup:

 

[weathergirls]

just found it :thumbsup: my PC is in my workshop so don't go on facebook very much don't allways have the time

it would be good to have an updated list of clubs etc including when they race and contact details as could the list in the club section on here do with updating

 

[sherry]

i dont actually know how to start a facebook page up linda lol so can someone help me please?

 

[marielou]

just found it :thumbsup: my PC is in my workshop so don't go on facebook very much don't allways have the timeit would be good to have an updated list of clubs etc including when they race and contact details as could the list in the club section on here do with updating

I'll put that up on the non ped racing group on FB if you like Linda. :thumbsup:

 

[huggybear]

new people need pups i personally have sold pups to newstarters ie claptrap to sally and here dad brian and now the whole family attend our club plus sallys children attend so who knows they may take up this family sport ive done this a few times over the years its rewarding to me to see there enthusiasm :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[sherry]

new people need pups i personally have sold pups to newstarters ie claptrap to sally and here dad brian and now the whole family attend our club plus sallys children attend so who knows they may take up this family sport ive done this a few times over the years its rewarding to me to see there enthusiasm :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

3 of my pups went to people that had packed in and have now came back into it. 1 went to paul and 2 went to phil. i wud have happily let them go to

newcomers though :thumbsup:

 

[weathergirls]

Ive just sent an e-mail to the YORKSHIRE POST inviting them to send someone from the local paper to the Bend Champs to do a feature on WHIPPET RACING, don't know if they will but hope there are plenty of willing to be interviewed with good tales to tell if they do :thumbsup:

 

[sherry]

Ive just sent an e-mail to the YORKSHIRE POST inviting them to send someone from the local paper to the Bend Champs to do a feature on WHIPPET RACING, don't know if they will but hope there are plenty of willing to be interviewed with good tales to tell if they do :thumbsup:

good luck linda, im sure there will be some people who wud like to be interviewed u watch everyone will have their make up on and their hair done incase of any photos lol (w00t)