Notices

FBGOA News January 2010

The Chairman and Committee wish members a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

FBGOA Matters

Sadly, we lost our Chairman, Stuart Lock-Hart in December following a two year struggle with cancer. Stuart was a strong advocate of greyhound owners and even though very ill latterly, stoutly defended their corner at board and committee meetings within the GBGB.

As the GBGB representative of Owners, Trainers and Breeders (known as the Joint Practitioner), Stuart worked hard forging links with the other bodies he represented but found it increasingly difficult to attend meetings, which was when the Management Committee of the Federation appointed John Haynes as his deputy and a Chairman’s Sub-committee, was formed.

John has fulfilled his role as deputy with considerable vigour and his vast knowledge of greyhound matters has been invaluable in the implementation of parts of the Donoughue Report and during a difficult period at H.Q. towards the end of 2009. Following Stuart’s death the Management Committee unanimously appointed John Haynes as Chairman.

Since that time there has been renewed activity with our co-partners, and the Chairman’s Committee has had a meeting with the chair of the GTA, Norah McEllistrim to discuss the sharing of responsibilities as joint practitioner on the Board as well as other mutual interests. It is intended to involve the Breeders Association at an early date so as to complete the trio representation which Donoughue has brought about.

GBGB Review

The first year of the new governing body and new premises has been one of interest but not without some drama towards the end of the period which was well documented in the greyhound media.

Some real progress has been made particularly concerning the knotty problem of micro-chipping. There had been something of a stand-off between the practitioners, (owners, trainers, promoters) v the veterinary lobby over likely cost of the micro-chipping service which was resolved with GBGB funding the cost to 31st December 2009, by which time all registered racing greyhounds should have been chipped.

There still remained the 2010 and beyond cost to owners for this service, for which a Vets. figure of £6.00 was put forward.

The Federation’s argument put forward in no uncertain terms by our Chairman John Haynes was that as Vets. are contracted to attend meetings and trials and paid for doing so, often without injuries to attend to, their “down time” could be spent performing the chipping of the few greyhounds not covered under the 2009 arrangement.

Also on the agenda was the new charge for registration fees to owners, which under Donoughue was hinted at £100 or more to contribute to welfare and other costs brought about by the revue. The Federation and others strongly opposed such a huge oncost to ownership and forecasted a further sharp decline in ownership if implemented.

As a result of our constructed arguments we can announce that the increase in registration fee is only £3.00 which includes the cost of the chip Trainers licence fees will rise by 5%. These modest increases are a direct result of the efforts our former and current Chairmen have made on behalf of all owners and trainers and the federation will remain vigilant to protect the suppliers of the raw materials (the dogs) to our Sport. Where Vets. refuse to micro-chip without a fee, plans are afoot to train a member of the Racing Office staff to accomplish this simple task when the need arises.

On the down side, with gloomy forecasts of potential income, there was no Christmas Bonus from BGRF in 2009 and tracks are searching for economies. A number have already cut meetings and prize money, a result of which will make some owners revue the cost of their hobby with the inevitable result being fewer individual greyhound owners. This dilemma is highlighted at a London track where a greyhound must win the equivalent of 3 x A3 races and have one other run in the month to break even with the kennel bill alone. Of course this is well nigh impossible since the greyhound could not stay in the same grade for 3 wins and progressive winning in graded races is a rarity, hence the award by many Associations for “Three in a Row” in a given month.

Membership

The renewals for 2010 are now due and the fee is held at £35.00. Those members who joined late in 2009 are paid up for 2010 but in any event please revue the contact information for changes to personnel and if at all possible supply an e-mail address which keeps the cost of postage down and speeds up communications.

J.L.Waldron
Hon. Secretary.