The Test was a feature greyhound competition inaugurated at Walthamstow in 1941.[1]
| Location | Walthamstow Stadium |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1941 |
| Last run | 2008 |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 640 metres |
| Surface | Sand |
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
edit| 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
edit- 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
edit- 1984-1984 E Coomes Bookmakers
- 1994-1995 Carling Black Label
- 2001-2005 Stuart Lambert Bookmakers
- 2006-2006 William Hill Casino
- 2007-2008 The Duffy Group Ltd
References
edit- ^ Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. p. 35. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
- ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 409. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- ^ "The last days of Walthamstow Stadium". The Guardian. 26 July 2008.
- ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2008). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-534.
- ^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. pp. 24–25. ISBN 186054-010-4.
- ^ "2005 Stuart Lambert Test". Greyhound Data.
- ^ "2006 William Hill Casino Test". Greyhound Data.
- ^ "The Duffy Group Test final". Greyhound Data.
- ^ "The Duffy Group Test final". Greyhound Data.