News

Even though the weather was a bit cold, people turned out in their hundreds to Central Park to support us. The evening consisted of the whippets, Afghan hounds and Greyhounds. Homer also made an appearance and was our guest at starting the fun race.

The Honeyhills Pedigree Whippet Racing Club put on a great exhibition race for us, this was a first time at Central Park for them and they did not dissapoint. A big Thank you to Roger Nind and the club.

The South East Afghan Racing Club put on an entertaining race too, the Afghan hounds certainly looked as if they enjoyed it. A big Thank you to Maria and the Club for supporting us again on our Charity night.

For the fun race, this year it was bright and colourfull with six volunteers all going back to the 70s with big hair and flares. The fancy dress costumes were kindley donated by Aladdins Fancy Dress Hire in Ashford, so a Big Thank you to them.  We decided to let the volunteers ride “Segways” around the track and for those of you who do not know what they are it is the two wheeled electric transporters. With a big THANK YOU to Nick Thurston of Southern Segway for letting us use them and there was even the opportunity to ride one for a donation to the RGT.

Although the event did run slightly late everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves and in doing so raised £3,828.79 So well done to all of you.

If you would like to know more about SOUTHERN SEGWAY Click Here

If you like to know about Honeyhill PWRC Click Here

If you would like to hire Fancy Dress Costumes Click Here

Thank you to all that have supported us both in the past and present. We would also like to say a big THANK YOU to Lesley Evans who helped out in the shop and on Saturday evenings as well. Also A big Thank You to all the sponsors this year because without them we could not have raised what we did.

GREYHOUND RUNWAY SHOW 18TH APRIL 2010

Midday on the 18th April at Sittingbourne Central Park Stadium, people were starting to fill up the room where the runway was to take place. Greyhound lovers brought along their pets to take in what the day had to offer, some had the chance to be a model, and others came just to see what was on offer.
In a room just down the corridor, the small independent greyhound/pet businesses were setting up their stalls ready for people to come and have a look around to see what they had to offer. There were 6 stalls in total, offering coats, collars, leads, bandanas, food, treats and lots of other dog friendly items.  The greyhounds were welcome to have a sniff around the items, some were getting measured and others were strolling around.
The runway started about 1pm leading off with Kitsch Collars, showing off the collars and coats they had on offer. Then Forrest fleece were to follow showing off their large range of house coats and pyjamas. They were then followed by Cherry Hogg collars displaying their uniquely designed collars and leads. AK Creations were after them, showing off their outdoor coats and wacky designed pyjamas. Then Grovehurst pet shop finished the runway off with their more traditional waterproof walking coats.
The audience loved watching the runway commence as much as the dogs loved being models!
The day was then carried on by a raffle with prizes donated from; Tesco, Asda, Pets at Home, The Body Shop, The Pet Shop (Sittingbourne High street), Sittingbourne RGT, The Paul O’Grady Show and Stadium Sports. The raffle alone raised £80 to go towards the final amount for the Retired Greyhound Trust in Sittingbourne.
People then sat down to watch some superheroes, a few emus, a hockey player and a 60’s Bride run around the race track to raise more money for the Greyhounds. The winning team which consisted of Mr incredible, Superman, Spiderwoman and Banana man, won a bottle of wine, a trophy and medals donated from the Sittingbourne RGT.
The day itself raised over £200 for the Sittingbourne Retired Greyhound Trust.

Report by Rebecca Mayne
Organiser

CLICK HERE TO SEE NEWSPAPER REPORT

11TH JOHN SMITHS MASCOT RACE

OCTOBER 2009

Report By Rockin Robin Carter

The Mascot Grand National at Huntingdon racecourse, near Peterborough was first ran in October 1998 where is was won by Beau Brummie Bulldog for Birmingham Football Club, it only had 17 entries, but now eleven years on its around on average 70 Mascots every year from far and wide, mascots from Football clubs, Local charities and various sport teams from around the country,even Pudseys Bear from Children in Need has a go, they all come to have a bit of fun and a great day out to raise money for there various charities.

The race is run up the home straight of the track in front of the main grandstand, it consist of jumping over six purpose built hurdles and just over one furlong.

It was a beautiful warm summers day, we all congregated at the clubhouse for 11.30am so we could get changed into our various outfits in plenty of time for the start of the race which was at 1pm, first we had a walk around the parade ring, so people could take photographs of all the contenders, this year there were 68 hopeful mascots.

The race was won by The Stag running for Huntingdon Rugby Club with a close second Wolfie from Worcester Basket Ball Club and third place was Howie The Hornet from Horsham Football Club, the big favourite and twice a winner Wacky Macky Bear from Saffron Waldon finshed well down the field, Homer started of well and ran out of steam near the end and finished about 50th, a few places better than last year.

A great day was had by all and I’m sure we will all be back again next year

£100 sponsor money for the RGT – A big THANK YOU Robin from all of us for your continued support.

Here are some photos of the day……………… Enjoy

GREAT GREYHOUND GATHERING 2009

A FANTASTIC DAY

With the van packed and April too we set off for Nottingham at 2:30pm on the Friday. We planned to stay a couple of days. Five and a half hours later we arrived, the traffic was a nightmare so we were glad to see the hotel.

We had booked at the NOTTINGHAM GATEWAY HOTEL who are dog friendly and would highly recommend it. The room was superb only £49.00 per night and that included a breakfast and no extra charge for April who was happy just to have her bed and a tin of sardines for tea. As she doesn’t do stairs she went in the glass elevator……….you could see her claws grip the carpet as it moved up but after a couple of goes she got used to it.

It was an early start on the Saturday, the race course was about 15 minutes from the hotel and we had to be set up by 9:00 am. For once we were one of the first to arrive. We picked our pitch and set up. Gradually the other RGTs started to arrive. It was a bit like camping and having your tent all set up and then watching the others do theirs. The weather was superb for our second year there………… it was going to be a great day with a feeling of taking part in something great. We met some fantastic people and of course loads and loads of greyhounds.

There were all sorts of stalls including one that made outfits for greyhounds to having your pooch pampered, we booked in April for her pamper and it looked like she enjoyed it. By the end of it she looked like a big fluff ball but smelt lovely which was a bonus because if it was going to take five hours going back she would be our mobile air freshner!  You could have your dog photographed, get a new fancy collar, buy almost anything with a greyhound on it including christmas cards and OUR 2010 CALENDAR, which can be ordered via our website. People picniced  and watched the dog show. It was a long day but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, with some familar faces there too. We would like to thank Anne Watson, Belinda and Phil Gibbs together with Honey and Greg who all came along to help. It was Greg’s biggest event I think and he did very well, meeting and greeting other greyhounds, he certailnly has progressed from the shy dog that we knew in the kennel. Honey and April have of course seen it all before and settled in to a day of lounging on the bed.

THIS IS A MUST FOR ANY GREYHOUND OWNER AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Below are some photos of our great day at THE GREAT GREYHOUND GATHERING 2009……..Enjoy

Click on the photo to view a larger image in another window

Challock Goose Fair 13th September

For the second year running we attended the Challock Goose Fair and it was another successfull day. Along to help us were Ben, April and newcomer Hazel who took it all in her stride. Honey and Greg who again was a newcomer to the events but Honey showed him what to do and he enjoyed all the attention. Once a very shy lad in the kennel he has certainly come out of his shell now meeting and greeting the public. Joining us again for the day were old hands Bugsy and our would be greyhound Wellington with Angel, Mickey and April’s boyfriend Swifty.

Laura, one of our ex residents came to visit and it was nice to see how she had settled in and looked in tip top condition.

The day started off a bit cloudy but that did not deter anyone from coming along to this very popular event and it is growing every year. There were craft stalls, fair rides, classic car and steam exhibitions, flyball, face painting, refreshments and arena events all day. Something for all the family

Our small gathering of greyhounds certainly generated a lot of interest and we gave out a lot of information and I am pleased to report that we have homed a couple of our residents since the Goose Fair. Events such as these are important as they give people the opportunity to see a greyhound maybe for the first time up close and many are surprised that they are so placid.

A big thank you to all the volunteers that came along to help. We all had a great day and it was well worth all the effort. This event is a great day out for all the family and highly recommended.

Below are some pictures of our great day, click on the picture to view in another page:-

Bugsy, Mickey and Swifty                               Laura getting some fuss

New Comers Greg and Hazel looking a bit bewildered but taking it all in.

Click on the photo to view in another page:-

Dogs Trust Fun Day 9th August

The sun shone for our day at the Dogs Trust Fun day in Chestfield. It was a brilliant day, the activities included Arts and Crafts, Animal Charity stands, Bouncy Castle, Face Painting, dog obsticle courses, Agility, the ever popular flyball and Drug Detection Dogs, pet portraits and loads more , you could even get you dog microchipped. Something for everyone. We met some familiar faces like Jay Jay, Roccoe and Luke who all stopped by to say hello. Julie and Mark together with Bugsy and Wellington who won “Cutest Couple” ah bless and won a nice doggy hamper. Honey with Belinda, Melissa and Phil, who was sporting his new “cricket hat” and I must say was getting into his stride by lunchtime and giving out loads of information. Angel with Keith, Jeanette and Alanah came along to help as well so a big thank you to all and to the Dogs Trust for inviting us along it was a great day and one that we would recommend attending next year.

Below are some pictures of our day at The Dogs Trust.

Click on the pictures to view larger image on another page.

Preston Rally 27th and 28th June

This was our first year at the Preston Rally and it was a great success. It was to be an early start on the Saturday morning, pitching the tent and getting ready.  The rally offered a blend of steam, classic vehicles and good old fashioned fun. Parades of commercial and military vehicles, tractors and agricultural vehicles with beagle and gun dog displays. You could try your hand at clay pigeon shooting, take a helecopter ride or look around the trade stands. The Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway provided a special feature this year with a demonstration track, specially laid by volunteers.

Other displays and activities included having a go at steering a traction engine or steam roller in the arena, taking a trailer ride with heavy horses pulling you along or miniture railway rides. Saturday evening was rounded off by live music in the beer tent.

We had a lot of interest in the greyhounds and would like to thank Anne with Minnie, Mickey and Swifty, Mark and Julie with Bugsy and Wellington and all of those who came along to support us. This is a definate yes for 2010 so put it in your diary. Brilliant weekend and below are some more photos of the weekend.

Anne talking to some visitors       April relaxing in the van

about the greyhounds

Bugsy and Wellington taking it all in their stride.

Cody and our other helpers Mickey, Minnie and Swifty

Lots of interest and one of our many visitors stopping to say hello

Our little helpers

Still busy and Tiger has come to visit too

Here are some more pictures of the event. Click on the picture to view larger image on another page.

Below are some photos taken of the greyhounds by Sarah Harley aged 13

A GREAT WEEKEND………………………

It’s that time of year again and some of the Kent Suzuki Owners Club biked their way to the kennels on 7th June. Bringing loads of bags of food for the retired greyhounds and donations also collected was £41.34

Lindsay had to do a special food run herself for biscuits and cake especially as Graham was going to be there as well. A bit partial to these is our Graham, too many and he’ll never be able to fit into his biking leathers!

A few hours were spent taking the retired greyhounds for a strole, drinking tea and coffee, chatting about life in general and looking at the photos from the Charity Night, a good afternoon was had by all.

A BIG THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US AT THE RGT FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

The Duck Race at Loose 25th May

The day started cloudy and raining, which was really the right sort of weather for a Bank Holiday! Underterred we picked our spot in the field and put both of our tents up. April seemed resigned to the fact that she might possibly get wet. By about 11:00 am the sun came out and so did the people, we had a brilliant time and we would like to thank Mrs Molly Proctor for inviting us along, below are some of the pictures of our day.

Where the Duck Race takes place.

All set up with two tents this time. Quite impressive

Ann with Minnie and Swifty meeting some old friends Wellington and Bugsy

Now the sun had come out we were starting to get busy

Getting lots of interest and Bugsy decides to take it easy

Wellington dozing off, it’s all too much for him. April on the other hand sampling the ice cream brrrrrrrr

Getting busier, April made some new friends ahhhhhhhh

You could not have wished for a better day.

I think that’s my one, or maybe not

Now that’s a real one!

Headcorn Hog Roast Fair

4th May

The day started a bit dull weather wise but undeterred we set up our tent and April took up her position on her bed. We were soon joined by the Gibbs family which included Honey and this time April was not going to move and let Honey steal her bed. As the day went on Evie joined us with David and Doreen. We had lots of interest and gave out a lot of information and by the afternoon we had quite a crowd around our tent.

There was a dog show in the afternoon and Honey, Evie and April were entered. April was not happy because she had to move from her bed but she came away with a rosette for 2nd place for the prettiest bitch. She shared her winning prize of chews and bones with Honey and Evie.

There were lots of stalls at the fair, craft stalls, rides for the children, face painting, beer tent and not to mention the hog roast, everyone had a great time. This is a definate for next year.

Below are some pictures of the day.