If College Causeway could speak, like Ali, he too would be shouting from the roof tops. "I am the greatest!"

The star tracker has put up some breathtaking displays over the past couple of years. But his performance in the Paddypower.com Irish Greyhound Derby final at Shelbourne Park last Saturday was his best - bar none.

Many great canines have ended their career having failed to win the Irish Greyhound Derby. Tyrur Ted is one who springs to mind. A sensational tracker who won nearly everything there was to win except the Irish Derby. Late Late Show was another hugely popular star who looked destined for Derby success during his career. He came within a short head of completing the dream for his connections. Greyhounds such as Spiral Nikita, Droopys Maldini and Premier Fantasy were other superb trackers who many believed deserved to win an Irish Derby but never did.

Going into last Saturday's Irish Derby final, even the most optimistic of College Causeway fans felt that their star was going to join that elite list of the 'nearly men'. On the night when it mattered most, it appeared as though the draw had done the 'People's Champion'. And that was after an undefeated path to the final.

But then again, College Causeway tends to enjoy doing things the hard way. And when he doesn't, he then goes and breaks track records. His first round demolition is a prime example of that when he smashed the seven years standing track record at headquarters.
As good as that first round exhibition was though, Derby final night will go down as one of the most memorable in the history of Shelbourne Park. And that's coming from people who have been going to the Derby twice as long as I have.

In a race which so many different outcomes looked possible, nearly everything went wrong for College Causeway. He broke nearly too well. That meant squeezing between Cashen Legend and Shaneboy Lee followed. He then was sandwiched going into the dreaded opening bend. Now he was last heading down the back straight. Even the great College Causeway couldn't pull this one off.

But as soon as some started to right him off, up went the customary College roar. He'd found a gap. He'd got himself back into this Derby. Within a matter of strides, he had moved himself into third. Oran Classic was the clear leader but everybody knew he wasn't the greatest of stayers. Sure hadn't 'College' overhauled him a week earlier in the semis.
Cashen Legend was the next to be passed by 'College'. It was now a two dog race. And with 'The Causeway', as he was described in commentary, going faster than ever before, it was only a matter of time. In Grand National terminology, Crisp was tiring and Red Rum had him covered.

Around the final bend and 'College' drew upsides. A quick glance across to say, 'it's me again' and off he went. The place went wild. The roof had finally come off Shelbourne Park. The 'People's Champion' had got his just reward.

It's not often that greyhound racing gets to witness such a star. But he's more than that. As Sea The Stars is to the horse racing public, College Causeway is Ireland's champion. In fact, he belongs to us.

And the best part about it all is that he's not finished yet either!

Please note, the following open races due to take place at Nottingham on the 4th, 11th and 18th January 2010 and advertised in GBGB Calendar no 25 have been cancelled.

4th January

The January Restaurant Offers on 0115 910 33 33 0115 910 33 33 Standard

The January Restaurant Offers on 0115 910 33 33 0115 910 33 33 Sprint

The Stadium Bookmakers Maiden 480m

The Stadium Bookmakers Super Stayers

11th January

The January Restaurant Offers on 0115 910 33 33 0115 910 33 33 Sprint

The Caffreys Futurity Puppy Cup Trial stakes

Category Three
The January Restaurant Offers on 0115 910 33 33 0115 910 33 33 Standard

Heats 11th Jan
Final 18th Jan

Swansea dog track in South Wales closed on November 7th, less than
two weeks after the owner, Eric Short, was fined £250 for keeping
greyhounds in poor conditions.
Council inspectors found dogs kept on soiled bedding and kennels
smelling of urine at the greyhound stadium.
There were wheelbarrows full of excrement outside the kennels and
food waste lying around.
One greyhound had an open cut on the tail, which a vet thought was
over a week old, and there was blood smeared across the kennel wall,
magistrates in the city heard.
Other dogs were roaming loose
and there was an open bin bag
and a block of frozen meat
dumped on the floor.
Kelly Byrne, prosecuting on
behalf of Swansea Council, told
the court that environmental
health officers visited the stadium on March 5th and found the
greyhound kennels were of a "very poor standard” and badly lit,
with “some in complete darkness".
Above and left – Greyhound Action’s first ever demo was held outside
Swansea Greyhound Stadium in July 1999
The stadium closed after the owners failed to obtain a new long lease
with the Council.
John Rabbaiotti, race manager at the stadium, said: “The track needs
£30,000 of investment and we can’t risk spending that kind of money with
the risk of losing it in a year.”
The track's closure leaves just one greyhound stadium in Wales, where
at one time there were at least half a dozen.
Although Swansea was
one of Britain's smaller,
independent tracks, we
estimate that its existence
was nevertheless responsible for the putting to death
of dozens of greyhounds every year, so its closure is
a cause for celebration and yet another victory in the
struggle for greyhound protection.
The slaughter of greyhounds in South Wales was
brought to public attention five years ago when local
"greyhound executioner" Andrew Gough was
sentenced to six months imprisonment for the
mutilation of an ex-racing dog called Rusty.

Latest News - Coventry Open Race notices - Sunday 1st November cancellation and Friday 13th November closing date change
23/10/2009

All Open Races scheduled at Coventry on Sunday, 1st November (as advertised in Issues 20 and 21 of the GBGB Calendar) have been cancelled.
This is due to a number of firework displays taking place in close proximity to the stadium.

The Autumn 480 at Coventry, starting on Friday 13th November closes to entries on Monday 9th November and not Saturday 7th November as advertised in Issue 21 of the GBGB Calendar.