Scurlogue Champ

Scurlogue Champ is a famous racing greyhound from the 1980s. Along with Mick the Miller and Ballyregan Bob he is arguably one of the greatest three hounds that ever raced in Britain.[1][2][3]

Scurlogue Champ
SireSand Man
DamOld Rip
SexDog
WhelpedJuly 1982
Died1996/1997 (aged 14)
ColorBlack
BreederFrancis Kent
OwnerKen Peckham/D Folan
TrainerKen Peckham / George Drake
Record
Cesarewitch winner
Twice TV Trophy champion
20 track records

Early life

Scurlogue Champ was a black dog whelped in July 1982 by Sand Man, out of Old Rip. He was bred by Francis Kent from Levittstown, County Wexford and was one of a litter of six dogs and two bitches.[4][5] He moved to John Byrne, Scurlogue, Duncormick, County Wexford on a farm where he received his name before being sold to Jim Sutton, New Ross, County Wexford, who reared him on his farm.[4]

After winning his only two races in Ireland, the first over 525yds in Waterford and the second shortly after over 600yds in Enniscorthy when trained by Patrick Sutton, he was put up for sale at the May 1984 Shelbourne Park sales where he won his 600yds trial. Owner/trainer Ken Peckham took him to England, after agreeing a price for £1,700, with Irish trainer Brendan Matthews who had bought him before entering the sales ring for 1500 guineas.[1][4]

Racing career

Scurlogue Champ in action

He was handled by trainer Ken Peckham for the majority of his career but also spent some time with George Drake (as a result of an NGRC order that he ran in Drakes name for the Cesarewitch. The NGRC had visited Drake's kennels and found the dog in residence there, instead of being with owner Ken Peckham at his kennels).[4][6]

Scurlogue Champ would be renowned for the strongest finishes ever seen over long distance racing. The crowds would adore him and could not believe how he could win his races from being so far behind.[7][8]

He won the Cesarewitch in 1985 and the BBC Television Trophy in 1985 and 1986.[8] The superstar finished with a record of 51 wins from 63 races and set twenty track records.[1][2]

Scurlogue Champ's 20 track records

[9][10]

Date
1984
Distance
(metres)
Venue Starting Price Trap Win distance (lengths) Time
Sep 19 810Ipswich4-6f66 ½51.44
Oct 20 718Catford1-1f18 ½45.58
Nov 23 688Harringay4-7f46 ¼42.50
Dec 1 815Hall Green1-2f515 ¼52.51
Date
1985
Distance
(metres)
Venue Starting Price Trap Win distance (lengths) Time
Feb 27 663Hall Green11-10f4Nk41.56
Mar 2 750Romford4-11f68 ¾46.80
Apr 16 715Romford1-2f5444.18
May 15 815Monmore1-3f513 ¼51.80
May 22 815Monmore1-5f59 ¾51.64
June 5 888Catford2-13f615 ½58.00
June 11 825Brough Park1-8f41152.62
July 1 855Ramsgate1-5f6654.26
Sep 21 853Belle Vue4-7f61054.78
Sep 28 853Belle Vue1-3f6654.62
Oct 17 754Nottingham2-5f5447.30
Nov 16 764Derby1-3f319 ¾49.04
Nov 22 830Whitwood (Castleford)1-4f61854.45
Date
1986
Distance
(metres)
Venue Starting Price Trap Win distance (lengths) Time
Apr 23 825Brough Park1-3f4752.26
June 19 888Catford1-3f3857.60
July 12 855Poole4-11f2854.86

Pedigree

My Friend Lou
Friend Westy
Westy Blubber
Sand Man
Tell You Why
Miss Gorgeous
Miss Dilly Mar
Scurlogue Champ
Newdown Heather
MotorLight
Marillis
Old Rip
Sirius
Old Bib
Monalee Peg

See also

References

  1. Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing, pages 195-196. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
  2. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  3. "Wonder Dog at Brough". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 3 June 1985. Retrieved 16 August 2022 via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Hall of Fame". Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
  5. "Scurlogue Champ". Greyhound Data.
  6. "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1985) September edition". Greyhound Star.
  7. Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
  8. "Champ is TV Star". Daily Mirror. 23 May 1985. Retrieved 16 August 2022 via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. Racing Post Greyhound Year, pages 32-33. Racing Post. 1986. ISBN 0-9512081-0-1.
  10. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, pages 393-394. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.