At the Longwood Coursing Club on Sunday 15th June, we saw the first two of the puppy classic events being decided. The 2025 Victorian Derby and the 2025 Victorian Oaks.
It is 150 years since the running of the first of these two events, the Oaks, it was conduct in 1975 by the Victoria Coursing Club and that is still in existence, albeit with no actual home. Coursing continues to jump hurdles and this year we saw the numbers of these two events reduce to 16 rather than a 3-day event with 128 nominations of yesteryear. However, with reduced nomination numbers we still saw some great young greyhounds coming through the ranks.
THE CLASSICS
The VICTORIAN DERBY Event 1 – was won by Brian Fothergill’s ALSTON (Shima Shine x My Desiree), the runner up was James Shaw’s ACCOUNTS MANAGER (Plaintiff x Mepunga Spectre).
The VICTORIAN OAKS Event 2 – was won by Emma Scott’s SCOTT GNARLY (Bernardo x Amlin Fidget) and the runner Up was her litter sister SCOTT CHARISMA also trained by Emma Scott.
THE CONSOLATIONS
For those greyhounds puppies run out in the 1st round last week and who made their way to the final of the consolations this week. Where we saw Event 3 – Matthew Clark’s JOLLY OLD MAC (Bernardo x Ohana Sparkles) win over Brendon Jones’ KRAKEN SCOOBY (Koblenz x Kraken Skye) in the Derby Consolation.
The Oaks consolation Event 4 – was won by Matthew Clark’s SPLASHED (Beast Unleashed x Cosmic Kate) and MISSY WHO (Whiskey Riot x Americano Miss) for Neil Lavelle was runner up.
THE SUPPORT EVENTS
There were another 6 events to support the coursing program.
One limit stake Event 5 – was taken out by MYALL RAY for Matthew Clark and SARAH LOUISE for Aaron Blake was runner up.
The All-Aged Stake Event 6 – was another win for Lachlan Scott’s MIDNIGHT THUNDER and last year’s coursing bitch of the year in RAGING ELSA for Nicole Lummas runner up.
We closed off the program with another 4 maiden events, that makes it 29 coursing maiden events we have conducted so far this season.
Event 7 – LEAP OF FAITH for Emma Scott defeated BLUE CHINCHILLA for Adele Powell.
Event 8 – WALK WITH PRIDE for Andrew Paraskevas defeated MY GIRL KELLIE for Aaron Blake.
Event 9 – LEVI DESIGN for Lachlan Scott defeated IRISH BREW for Jennifer Thorpe
Event 10 – PACKHAM PRINCE for Emma Scott defeated HE MAN for Donald Jarvis.
It will be interesting to see how some of these puppies shape up in the next puppy classic, the Sylvester Doyle Puppy Championship to be conducted at Lang Lang on the 12th and 20th July.
After reaching the half way point in our season the cream is rising to the top and the NCAV executive are hopeful we will see them at the next coursing meeting which is once again at Longwood for the Longwood Cup and the Bert Clark Memorial.
It looks like MIDNIGHT THUNDER and MYALL RAY are going to go head-to-head in their quest for coursing greyhound of the year.
Thank you to all those trainers who nominated and whilst not all greyhounds got a run with 100 nominations, we hope that you keep nominating and keep our coursing strong.
