Tuesday 17th January 2012

So, first blog post of 2012 then, and its a biggie!


You may have noticed a few changes round here. Basically, I got a bit fed up of the old layout, and as I added more stuff to the website, there wasn't enough space in the layout that I had created. Thus, I have created this new layout, which I hope you like/get used, and are able to find things alot better. 


I've made a couple of minor changes to the actual content. One of the main things is this here, the blog. Rather than posting onto the webpage itself (which in the past meant that I had to sit on my laptop and upload to a web server), I can now update the blog on the move. No excuses for me now not to keep this up together. A couple of other changes that will be or are on-line include a betting guide, restaurant menus, and the continuation of the Swindon Special (which, by the way, the next one is going to be about how the Hare system works!)


The major deal with the site, however, is the introduction of Trainer Web space. Before shooting this idea down entirely, hear me out! What I thought would be good to do, as alot of non-doggy people visit the website, would be for each trainer (if they want it or not is another matter however) to have their own webpage, in the same way that greyhoundtrainers.com works. However, the webpage that is created is hosted completely free. Its up to the trainer what goes on there, and they have the freedom to advertise greyhounds for sale, advertise their training set up for would be owners, and just generally get their name out there. As I've said, we get a lot of visitors to this website from all over, so it could maybe entice new owners.


Anyway, back to Swindon matters, and of course the big news is that Ladbrokes Mobile are the sponsors of the Swindon Arc. The Cat 1, which has become the big Sky race for Swindon in recent years, is back on the box early March. The competition always attracts a very good entry, and I'm hoping for more of the same this time around. Fingers crossed the weather stays sound enough for us, and lets hope we have another cracking Sky night.


Graded sprints are starting to formulate very nicely on Friday and Saturday nights. At the moment they are particularly hard to call as there is a lack of form in the sprint department, however I'm sure that the grade will take a firm hold on the evening fixtures we have at the track. I've been told that we will be running D1-D4, with the prize money being staggered so that A1=D1, A3=D2, A5=D3, A7=D4. I've also been told that the point I made on grading over the sprints is wrong, so let me just clarify that. To grade on as a new greyhound over the sprint trip, you need one solo trial and 2 mixed trials. These trials can all be over the sprint distance if you just want to grade on over sprints. To grade a 480 greyhound over the sprint trip, you need to have a mixed trial over the trip (obviously that meets a satisfying grading time).


Anyway, Ill be keeping this updated almost daily from now on, hopefully covering upcoming races etc etc. Keep tuned in folks!!


Chris Watts