Test (greyhound competition)

The Test was a feature greyhound competition inaugurated at Walthamstow in 1941.[1]

The Test
LocationWalthamstow Stadium
Inaugurated1941
Last run2008
Race information
Distance640 metres
SurfaceSand

The race was originally raced over a stayers distance before increasing to a marathon distance.[2]

It then reverted to its original distance in 1979.[3] The race came to an end following the closure of Walthamstow in 2008.[4] Winners included the legendary Ballyregan Bob.[5]

Past winners

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Year Winner Breeding Trainer Time SP
1941 Brilliant Swallow Brilliant Bob – New Beginner Mrs B Lark (Walthamstow) 41.41 8-1
1942 Dew Sign Mrs F Deathbridge (Walthamstow) 41.29 13-8jf
1943 Blackwater Cutlet Woodrow – Editors Belle Paddy Fortune (Wimbledon) 42.04 3-1
1944 Model Dasher Model Whiskey – Dashing Comet Tom Baldwin (Perry Barr) 40.96 1-8f
1941 Kampion Sailor Lights O’London – Grosvenor Faith Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) 41.45 3-1
1946 Mondays News Orlucks Best – Monday Next Fred Farey (Private) 42.27 3-1
1947 Aura Monarch Mad Tanist – Fair Madge Bob Burls (Wembley) 41.06 7-2
1948 Lovely Rio Fish Hill – Rio Czarina Stanley Biss (Clapton) 41.43 9-4f
1949 Quare Caltha Frank Davis (Private) 41.76 11-10f
1950 Solidago Gala Flash – Spring Flower Bert Heyes (White City) 41.43 13-8
1951 Briefed Bob Burls (Wembley) 40.91 7-1
1952 Malanna Mace Henry Parsons (Crayford) 41.49 4-7f
1953 Glittering Too Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) 41.54 100-30
1954 The Sherpa Noreen Collin (Private) 41.00 7-1
1955 Snow Trails The Grand Champion - Jazzello Reg 'String' Marsh (Walthamstow) 40.88 8-13f
1956 Whats Yat Magourna Reject - Coolflash Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) 41.00 4-1
1961 The Fixer Flash Jack – Dream of Pleasure Dave Geggus (Walthamstow) 40.97
1962 Westpark Hi There – Faoide Tom Paddy Reilly (Walthamstow) 40.30
1963 Westpark Violet The Glen Abbey – Westpark Goldilocks Barney O'Connor (Walthamstow) 40.43
1964 Hash Dromin Flash – Cheeky Ciss Noreen Collin (Private) 40.63 6-4f
1965 Blazing Rocket Wild Rocket – Lady Philambus Bill Kelly (Clapton) 40.24
1966 Peculiar Way Mad Era – Lottera Queen George Curtis (Portsmouth) 41.64
1967 Estelles Folly Ashtown Tanist – Her Glory Tom Paddy Reilly (Walthamstow) 41.54
1968 Fully Booked Booked Out – Parkhouse Sally Eric Adkins (Private) 40.01 7-2
1969 Precious Dan Prairie Flash – Precious Margo Les Crawley (Private) 52.87 13-2
1970 Curraheen Lady Beau Jolais II – Curraheen Bride Peter Collett (Private) 52.25 8-15f
1971 Bill The Pig Tontine – Flame Lady Tom Reilly (Walthamstow) 52.60 5-1
1972 Westmead Lane Clonalvy Pride – Cricket Dance Natalie Savva (Private) 52.95 7-2
1974 Chain Gang Monalee Champion - No Mabel Frank Melville (Harringay) 52.63 3-1
1975 Silver Sceptre Maryville Hi - Trojan Major Reg Young (Bletchley) 52.09 8-1
1977 Blue Angel Monalee Champion – Dolores Rocket Paddy Coughlan (Crayford) 52.87 11-2
1979 Jingling Star Glin Bridge - Some Laugh Gunner Smith (Hove) 40.43 9-4f
1980 Mr Squeeze Itsachampion – Over In Doon Johnny Faint (Private) 40.20 9-2
1981 Valient May Glen Rock – Valient Daisy Gary Baggs (Walthamstow) 40.22 7-1
1982 Westmead Gem Westmead County – Ka Boom Natalie Savva (Milton Keynes) 40.33 12-1
1983 Go Winston Let Him Go – Dark Bird Ralph Smith (Perry Barr) 40.07 5-2
1984 Poor Ray Knockrour Street – Currabell Stan Kennett (Private) 40.12 11-2
1985 Ballyregan Bob Ballyheigue Moon – Evening Daisy George Curtis (Brighton) 39.59 1-4f
1986 Lone Wolf Yankee Express – Breeze Valley George Curtis (Brighton) 40.43 6-1
1987 Raywee Delight Sand Black – Raywee Again Don Thornton (Private) 39.82 11-2
1988 Fryers Well Overdraught Pet – Mi Na Re Bill Masters (Hove) 39.32 5-4f
1989 Sard Manorville Sand – Knockroe Elm John McGee Sr. (Canterbury) 39.34 9-4
1990 Sail On Valerie Sail On II – Princeton Darkie Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Private) 39.66 4-9f
1991 Rahan Arc Whisper Wishes – Lemon Gem Dick Hawkes (Walthamstow) 39.34 4-7f
1992 Rahan Arc Whisper Wishes – Lemon Gem Dick Hawkes (Walthamstow) 39.68 6-1
1993 Westmead Mount Airmount Grand – Westmead Move Nick Savva (Milton Keynes)
1994 Redwood Girl[6] Ardfert Sean – Redwood Sue Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) 39.66 5-2
1995 Call It Aday Skelligs Tiger – Aisling Mint Chris Duggan (Walthamstow) 39.68 6-1
1996 Castlerea Delia Fionntra Highway – Another Banner Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) 39.67
1997 Roses Opinion Leaders Best - Yagoodthing Mick Puzey (Walthamstow) 39.68 2-7f
1998 El Franco Magical Piper – Clear Issue Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) 39.87 6-1
1999 Fernhill Flash Alpine Minister – Rathneg Crystal John Coleman (Walthamstow) 39.93 5-4f
2000 Fast and Easy Slaneyside Hare - Anticipation Lee Gifkins (Private) 39.59 2-5f
2001 No Can Waltz Arrigle Buddy – Clonleigh Lass Linda Jones (Walthamstow) 39.91 2-5f
2002 Rapid Best Iceni Regent – Best of Noir Linda Jones (Walthamstow) 39.97 4-11f
2003 Soviet Gypsy Mountleader Peer- Soviet Atlantic Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) 40.11 1-3f
2004 Dunmurry Bill Split the Bill – Dunmurry Marion Ken Thomson (Private) 40.79 7-2
2005 Paradiso [7] Carlton Bale – Armani Devil Jim Reynolds (Romford) 40.23 12-1
2006 Lady Aishling [8] Top Honcho – Malta Magic Kim Marlow (Romford) 39.39 8-1
2007 January Tiger [9] Droopys Vieri – January Vixen Mark Wallis (Walthamstow) 39.66 5-4
2008 Aero Blackjack [10] Blackjack Tom – Great Madam Mark Wallis (Walthamstow) 39.54 1-1f

Venue and distances

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  • 1945–1968 (Walthamstow 700 yards)
  • 1969–1974 (Walthamstow 880 yards)
  • 1975–1977 (Walthamstow 820 metres)
  • 1976 & 1978 (Not run)
  • 1979–2008 (Walthamstow 640 metres)

Discontinued

Sponsors

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References

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  1. ^ Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
  2. ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. p. 35. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  3. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 409. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  4. ^ "The last days of Walthamstow Stadium". The Guardian. 26 July 2008.
  5. ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2008). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-534.
  6. ^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. pp. 24–25. ISBN 186054-010-4.
  7. ^ "2005 Stuart Lambert Test". Greyhound Data.
  8. ^ "2006 William Hill Casino Test". Greyhound Data.
  9. ^ "The Duffy Group Test final". Greyhound Data.
  10. ^ "The Duffy Group Test final". Greyhound Data.