In an ideal world we would all run regularly at our club, but times have changed and this is the sport's major downfall that we are not moving with the times, club racing is never going to be what it once was as there just aren't the dogs to make it varied. We run at A & T and Westhoughton and both are a godsend for getting your dogs fit and training pups and for those of us who have the odd dog that isn't quite open class they get competative racing without having their hearts broke at opens and being buried by top class dogs, both clubs are biggest part made up by the same people who have a handful of dogs each but there have been times when we've run at the club and there's only been 5 or 6 there, the club hasn't folded, we've just bided our time and eventually newcomers have been drawn in, if people got a pet whippet and heard about a little club they have the opportunity to give it a whirl, if the club isn't in existence any more then how are people going to start up? Now because of our persistence i am proud to be part of a healthy region as far as open class dogs goes, more so because between the members we have built it back up again.
I love club racing, i love the relaxed atmosphere and knowing the in's and out's of all our dogs little characters but i also love with a passion open racing, we love travelling all over the country and the last couple of years have got to meet some fab people who i would now consider great friends, people who i actually like being in their company and the buzz of competing against different dogs, not knowing whether you stand a chance or not is great, seeing your dogs putting in 100% (ok not in Ziggy's case :- " ) at tracks that are 100's of miles away from home is wonderful to see and we have to make the most of it because in a couple of years we appreciate we could find ourselves right back where we started, with dogs only good enough for the club handicap.
I love club racing, i love the relaxed atmosphere and knowing the in's and out's of all our dogs little characters but i also love with a passion open racing, we love travelling all over the country and the last couple of years have got to meet some fab people who i would now consider great friends, people who i actually like being in their company and the buzz of competing against different dogs, not knowing whether you stand a chance or not is great, seeing your dogs putting in 100% (ok not in Ziggy's case :- " ) at tracks that are 100's of miles away from home is wonderful to see and we have to make the most of it because in a couple of years we appreciate we could find ourselves right back where we started, with dogs only good enough for the club handicap.
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