The Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club (MGGRC) has announced Carlin & Gazzard MG, part of the long-established Carlin & Gazzard group, as its major sponsor for 2022.
In making the announcement at the MGGRC’s well-attended Christmas meeting last Sunday at Tara Raceway, president Noel Perry said the club was delighted to have Carlin & Gazzard MG on board as its major sponsor.
“The club would certainly like to thank Carlin & Gazzard MG and sales manager Adrian Jones for his efforts in securing the sponsorship.
“Carlin & Gazzard MG will have naming rights for the 2022 Mount Gambier Cup, which like its sponsor, also has a long history in the region after first being conducted at Glenburnie in 1981 when won by Tara Topar.
“Our cup has certainly come a long way since then.
“In 2018 it attained Group Listed status with the club now working towards the 512 metre event being elevated to Group 3.”
The MGGRC has been one of the sporting success stories in the region.
Formed in 1972, it conducted its first race meeting at the Glenburnie racecourse in 1979 – the same year as Carlin & Gazzard became solely the Gazzards.
The club moved to its purpose-built venue on Lake Terrace East in 1997.
Since 2012 all races have been televised around Australia through Sky Racing and covered by the TAB.
Currently, the MGGRC conducts approximately 100 race meetings a year.
Mr Jones said Carlin & Gazzard MG was very happy to be associated with the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club.
“I have to say, it’s a real pleasure to come out to Tara Raceway.
“We’re certainly looking forward to our involvement with the club.”
The sponsorship announcement wrapped up a good year for the MGGRC.
In July the club’s Sunday meeting status was raised by Greyhound Racing SA from Category 3 to Category 2 status which resulted in a significant prizemoney increase.
As a result, from 2022 onwards, the Greyhound of the Year award will
be scored on Category 2 meetings only.
Next year it will be known as the MG Greyhound of the Year.
Carlin & Gazzard MG Mount Gambier – A New Era is how the range of MG vehicles is being promoted in Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast.
Tara Raceway has recently undergone significant upgrades.
As well, a significant amount will soon be spent on clubroom refurbishment.
And with the appointment of Mark Dwyer as the new club manager, along with Carlin & Gazzard MG as the new major sponsor, it could be said the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club is also moving into a new era.
First feature win for trainer … but not without a few anxious hours It’s probably fair to say that Kongorong trainer John Little would have gone into last Sunday’s Williams Crane Hire Christmas Cup final (512 metres) feeling reasonably confident with Bungaloo Anne.
After all, the white and black daughter of Pure Titanium and Bungaloo Sunset had run a personal best time of 29.70 seconds the previous week in a her heat.
And then she had drawn ideally in box one in the final.
However, several hours before the finalists were placed in the boxes for the 11th running of the Christmas Cup drama was unfolding in the kennel house.
Race favourite Bungaloo Anne, after being checked over by the veterinary surgeon before kennelling, was required to undergo a further examination before the running of the final.
But after several anxious hours for Little, all appeared to be well with her as she pranced around in the preview area before the running of the race.
In what was a pretty handy Christmas Cup field, Bungaloo Anne jumped straight to the front and down the back had opened up a handy break over Beatific.
The race looked to be well within her keeping.
Into the home straight, though, just momentarily it appeared as though Beatific, third in last month’s Newman McDonnell Memorial final, might have had the leader’s measure.
But in a driving finish Bungaloo Anne dug deep to defeat Beatific and Shamrock Boy.
John Little, Liz Newberry and Kevin Mullan had just won their first feature race.
