| Location | Walthamstow Stadium |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1941 |
| Last run | 2008 |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 640 metres |
| Surface | Sand |
The Test was a feature greyhound competition inaugurated at Walthamstow in 1941.
The race was originally raced over a stayers distance before increasing to a marathon distance.
It reverted to its original distance in 1979. The race came to an end following the closure of Walthamstow in 2008. Winners included the legendary Ballyregan Bob.
Past winners
| Year | Winner | Breeding | Trainer | Time | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Brilliant Swallow | Brilliant Bob – New Beginner | Mrs B Lark (Walthamstow) | 41.41 | 8-1 |
| 1942 | Dew Sign | Mrs F Deathbridge (Walthamstow) | 41.29 | 13-8jf | |
| 1943 | Blackwater Cutlet | Woodrow – Editors Belle | Paddy Fortune (Wimbledon) | 42.04 | 3-1 |
| 1944 | Model Dasher | Model Whiskey – Dashing Comet | Tom Baldwin (Perry Barr) | 40.96 | 1-8f |
| 1941 | Kampion Sailor | Lights O’London – Grosvenor Faith | Sidney Orton (Wimbledon) | 41.45 | 3-1 |
| 1946 | Mondays News | Orlucks Best – Monday Next | Fred Farey (Private) | 42.27 | 3-1 |
| 1947 | Aura Monarch | Mad Tanist – Fair Madge | Bob Burls (Wembley) | 41.06 | 7-2 |
| 1948 | Lovely Rio | Fish Hill – Rio Czarina | Stanley Biss (Clapton) | 41.43 | 9-4f |
| 1949 | Quare Caltha | Frank Davis (Private) | 41.76 | 11-10f | |
| 1950 | Solidago | Gala Flash – Spring Flower | Bert Heyes (White City) | 41.43 | 13-8 |
| 1951 | Briefed | Bob Burls (Wembley) | 40.91 | 7-1 | |
| 1952 | Malanna Mace | Henry Parsons (Crayford) | 41.49 | 4-7f | |
| 1953 | Glittering Too | Jimmy Jowett (Clapton) | 41.54 | 100-30 | |
| 1954 | The Sherpa | Noreen Collin (Private) | 41.00 | 7-1 | |
| 1955 | Snow Trails | The Grand Champion - Jazzello | Reg 'String' Marsh (Walthamstow) | 40.88 | 8-13f |
| 1956 | Whats Yat | Magourna Reject - Coolflash | Leslie Reynolds (Wembley) | 41.00 | 4-1 |
| 1961 | The Fixer | Flash Jack – Dream of Pleasure | Dave Geggus (Walthamstow) | 40.97 | |
| 1962 | Westpark | Hi There – Faoide | Tom Paddy Reilly (Walthamstow) | 40.30 | |
| 1963 | Westpark Violet | The Glen Abbey – Westpark Goldilocks | Barney O'Connor (Walthamstow) | 40.43 | |
| 1964 | Hash | Dromin Flash – Cheeky Ciss | Noreen Collin (Private) | 40.63 | 6-4f |
| 1965 | Blazing Rocket | Wild Rocket – Lady Philambus | Bill Kelly (Clapton) | 40.24 | |
| 1966 | Peculiar Way | Mad Era – Lottera Queen | George Curtis (Portsmouth) | 41.64 | |
| 1967 | Estelles Folly | Ashtown Tanist – Her Glory | Tom Paddy Reilly (Walthamstow) | 41.54 | |
| 1968 | Fully Booked | Booked Out – Parkhouse Sally | Eric Adkins (Private) | 40.01 | 7-2 |
| 1969 | Precious Dan | Prairie Flash – Precious Margo | Les Crawley (Private) | 52.87 | 13-2 |
| 1970 | Curraheen Lady | Beau Jolais II – Curraheen Bride | Peter Collett (Private) | 52.25 | 8-15f |
| 1971 | Bill The Pig | Tontine – Flame Lady | Tom Reilly (Walthamstow) | 52.60 | 5-1 |
| 1972 | Westmead Lane | Clonalvy Pride – Cricket Dance | Natalie Savva (Private) | 52.95 | 7-2 |
| 1974 | Chain Gang | Monalee Champion - No Mabel | Frank Melville (Harringay) | 52.63 | 3-1 |
| 1975 | Silver Sceptre | Maryville Hi - Trojan Major | Reg Young (Bletchley) | 52.09 | 8-1 |
| 1977 | Blue Angel | Monalee Champion – Dolores Rocket | Paddy Coughlan (Crayford) | 52.87 | 11-2 |
| 1979 | Jingling Star | Glin Bridge - Some Laugh | Gunner Smith (Hove) | 40.43 | 9-4f |
| 1980 | Mr Squeeze | Itsachampion – Over In Doon | Johnny Faint (Private) | 40.20 | 9-2 |
| 1981 | Valient May | Glen Rock – Valient Daisy | Gary Baggs (Walthamstow) | 40.22 | 7-1 |
| 1982 | Westmead Gem | Westmead County – Ka Boom | Natalie Savva (Milton Keynes) | 40.33 | 12-1 |
| 1983 | Go Winston | Let Him Go – Dark Bird | Ralph Smith (Perry Barr) | 40.07 | 5-2 |
| 1984 | Poor Ray | Knockrour Street – Currabell | Stan Kennett (Private) | 40.12 | 11-2 |
| 1985 | Ballyregan Bob | Ballyheigue Moon – Evening Daisy | George Curtis (Brighton) | 39.59 | 1-4f |
| 1986 | Lone Wolf | Yankee Express – Breeze Valley | George Curtis (Brighton) | 40.43 | 6-1 |
| 1987 | Raywee Delight | Sand Black – Raywee Again | Don Thornton (Private) | 39.82 | 11-2 |
| 1988 | Fryers Well | Overdraught Pet – Mi Na Re | Bill Masters (Hove) | 39.32 | 5-4f |
| 1989 | Sard | Manorville Sand – Knockroe Elm | John McGee Sr. (Canterbury) | 39.34 | 9-4 |
| 1990 | Sail On Valerie | Sail On II – Princeton Darkie | Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Private) | 39.66 | 4-9f |
| 1991 | Rahan Arc | Whisper Wishes – Lemon Gem | Dick Hawkes (Walthamstow) | 39.34 | 4-7f |
| 1992 | Rahan Arc | Whisper Wishes – Lemon Gem | Dick Hawkes (Walthamstow) | 39.68 | 6-1 |
| 1993 | Westmead Mount | Airmount Grand – Westmead Move | Nick Savva (Milton Keynes) | ||
| 1994 | Redwood Girl | Ardfert Sean – Redwood Sue | Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) | 39.66 | 5-2 |
| 1995 | Call It Aday | Skelligs Tiger – Aisling Mint | Chris Duggan (Walthamstow) | 39.68 | 6-1 |
| 1996 | Castlerea Delia | Fionntra Highway – Another Banner | Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) | 39.67 | |
| 1997 | Roses Opinion | Leaders Best - Yagoodthing | Mick Puzey (Walthamstow) | 39.68 | 2-7f |
| 1998 | El Franco | Magical Piper – Clear Issue | Linda Mullins (Walthamstow) | 39.87 | 6-1 |
| 1999 | Fernhill Flash | Alpine Minister – Rathneg Crystal | John Coleman (Walthamstow) | 39.93 | 5-4f |
| 2000 | Fast and Easy | Slaneyside Hare - Anticipation | Lee Gifkins (Private) | 39.59 | 2-5f |
| 2001 | No Can Waltz | Arrigle Buddy – Clonleigh Lass | Linda Jones (Walthamstow) | 39.91 | 2-5f |
| 2002 | Rapid Best | Iceni Regent – Best of Noir | Linda Jones (Walthamstow) | 39.97 | 4-11f |
| 2003 | Soviet Gypsy | Mountleader Peer- Soviet Atlantic | Ernie Gaskin Sr. (Walthamstow) | 40.11 | 1-3f |
| 2004 | Dunmurry Bill | Split the Bill – Dunmurry Marion | Ken Thomson (Private) | 40.79 | 7-2 |
| 2005 | Paradiso | Carlton Bale – Armani Devil | Jim Reynolds (Romford) | 40.23 | 12-1 |
| 2006 | Lady Aishling | Top Honcho – Malta Magic | Kim Marlow (Romford) | 39.39 | 8-1 |
| 2007 | January Tiger | Droopys Vieri – January Vixen | Mark Wallis (Walthamstow) | 39.66 | 5-4 |
| 2008 | Aero Blackjack | Blackjack Tom – Great Madam | Mark Wallis (Walthamstow) | 39.54 | 1-1f |
Venue and distances
- 1945–1968 (Walthamstow 700 yards)
- 1969–1974 (Walthamstow 880 yards)
- 1975–1977 (Walthamstow 820 metres)
- 1976 & 1978 (Not run)
- 1979–2008 (Walthamstow 640 metres)
Discontinued
Sponsors
- 1984: E Coomes Bookmakers
- 1994–1995: Carling Black Label
- 2001–2005: Stuart Lambert Bookmakers
- 2006: William Hill Casino
- 2007–2008: The Duffy Group Ltd
References
- Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
- Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. p. 35. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
- Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 409. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- "The last days of Walthamstow Stadium". The Guardian. 26 July 2008.
- Hobbs, Jonathan (2008). Greyhound Annual 2008. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-534.
- Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. pp. 24–25. ISBN 186054-010-4.
- "2005 Stuart Lambert Test". Greyhound Data.
- "2006 William Hill Casino Test". Greyhound Data.
- "The Duffy Group Test final". Greyhound Data.
- "The Duffy Group Test final". Greyhound Data.