Birmingham Cup
| Category 1 race | |
 1968 winner Discretions | |
| Location | Perry Barr Stadium |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1939 |
| Sponsor | M Lambe Construction |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 480 metres |
| Surface | Sand |
| Purse | £12,500 (winner) |
The Birmingham Cup is a greyhound racing competition inaugurated in 1939 and currently held at Perry Barr Stadium.[1][2]
History
[edit]The event began life as a handicap kennel sweepstake in 1938 but the following year was inaugrated as an open race competition being held annually at the Old Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium, until the closure of the track in 1984.[3] The competition was one of the leading events in the Midlands and was brought back in 1992 at the new Perry Barr Stadium, until the decision was made to discontinue the event in 2009.[4]
The event was held over the standard distance (the most common distance held at a track)[5] and winners included the 1946 English Greyhound Derby champion Mondays News.[6] [7]
In 2020, the competition was brought back in memory of Michael Lambe Senior and in 2023 was upgraded to category one with a winner's prize of £12,500.
Venues and distances
[edit]- 1939–1979 (Perry Barr, Walsall Road, 525y)
- 1992–1997 (Perry Barr, Aldridge Road, 500m)
- 1998–2024 (Perry Barr, Aldridge Road, 480m)
Sponsors
[edit]- 1992–1998 (Ansells Brewery)
- 2003–2007 (Tony Campbell On Course)
- 2008–2008 (Stan James Bookmakers)
- 2009–2009 (William Hill)
- 2020–2024 (M Lambe Construction)
Past winners
[edit]| Year | Winner | Breeding | Trainer | Time | SP | Notes/ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Black Johnny | Johnny Peters - Toftwood Magnet | Stan Raymond (Gloucester) | 29.76 | 4/1 | track record[8] | |
| 1940 | S.M. Hector | Bella's Brother - Acid Fast | Ernest Fryer (Coventry) | 30.05 | 8/1 | ||
| 1941 to 1942 not held | |||||||
| 1943 | Farloe Best | Mrs Renie McKay (Coventry) | 29.68 | 7/2 | [9] | ||
| 1944 | Model Dasher | Model Whiskey - Dashing Comet | Tom Baldwin (Perry Barr) | 29.80 | n/a | Re-run (no betting) | |
| 1945 | Duffys Arrival | Shamrock Prince - Moon Bridge | George McKay (Coventry) | 30.14 | 6/4f | ||
| 1946 | Mondays News | Orluck's Best - Monday Next | Fred Farey (Private) | 30.35 | 4/6f | ||
| 1947 | Funny Mick | Ruby Border - Olive's Idol | Bob Burls (Wembley) | 30.09 | 100/30 | ||
| 1948 | Baytown Stork | Baytown Tulip - Ulster Row | Jack Toseland (Perry Barr) | 30.34 | 6/1 | ||
| 1949 | Kilcaskin Mail | Train - Tinker's Hill | Les Brown (Wolverhampton) | 30.52 | 10/1 | ||
| 1952 | Rushton Smutty | Mad Tanist - Summer Frock | Frank Johnson (Private) | 29.80 | 1/2f | ||
| 1953 | Fly Prince | Bellas Prince – Lough Baby | W E Hughes (Private) | 29.85 | 3/1 | ||
| 1954 | Galtee Cleo | Sandown Champion – Cleopatra | Jack Harvey (Wembley) | 29.74 | 1/1f | ||
| 1955 | Rushton Spot | Rushton News – Rushton Panda | Frank Johnson (Private) | 29.85 | 1/2f | ||
| 1956 | Hopalong Pal | Ollys Pal – Hopalong Dante | Joe Booth (Private) | 30.26 | 11/8jf | ||
| 1957 | Silent Worship | The Grand Champion-Miss Chancer | John Bassett (Wolverhampton) | 29.72 | 7/4f | ||
| 1958 | Dancing Sheik | Imperial Dancer – Delias Green | Ted Brennan (Owlerton) | 29.49 | 4/7f | ||
| 1959 | Fearless Mac | Ballymac Ball – Dare Me Now | Joe De Mulder (Private) | 29.72 | 4/6f | ||
| 1960 | Jungle Man | Man of Pleasure – Seafield Biddy | Harry Tasker (Private) | 29.95 | 5/2 | ||
| 1961 | Desert Rambler | Champion Prince – Imperial Peg | Joe Booth (Private) | 29.76 | 4/7f | [10] | |
| 1962 | Dromin Glory | Hi There - Dromin Jet | John Bassett (Clapton) | 29.19 | 1/2f | [11] | |
| 1963 | Cahara Rove | Paddle First – Cahara Lass | Joe De Mulder (Private) | 29.78 | 7/2 | r[12] | |
| 1964 | Scamp Boy | Keep Moving – Flying Fantasy | Bessie Lewis (Private) | 30.55 | 4/1 | ||
| 1965 | Arthur's Jet | Odd Venture – Arthurs Shoe | John Bassett (Clapton) | 29.61 | 6/1 | [13] | |
| 1966 | Corville Gallant | Odd Venture - Irish Isle | Jimmy Quinn (Perry Barr) | 29.65 | 4/1 | [14] | |
| 1967 | Limits Crackers | Odd Venture - Pats Regret | Colin McNally (Perry Barr) | 29.48 | 3/1 | ||
| 1968 | Discretions | Prairie Flash - Sheila at Last | David Geggus (Walthamstow) | 29.67 | 3/1 | ||
| 1971 | Jellico Mist | Clomoney Jet - Ivy Millie | Norman Oliver (Brough Park) | 29.79 | 7/4jf | [15] | |
| 1972 | Cowboy Jo | Dusty Trail - Roamin Beauty | Mick Hawkins (Private) | 29.57 | 4/6f | ||
| 1973 | Mel's Pupil | Monalee King - Ella's Rocket | John Bassett (Perry Barr) | 29.23 | 7/1 | ||
| 1977 | Blackwater Glade | Quiet Spring - Husky Silver | Brian Jay (Perry Barr) | 29.79 | 5/1 | ||
| 1978 | Tails | Jimsun - Wall Tie | Frank Baldwin (Perry Barr) | 29.48 | 5/4f | ||
| 1979 | Mohane | Pacific Treasure - Tricias Arrow | Frank Baldwin (Perry Barr) | 31.13 | 2/1f | ||
| 1992 | Ballyard Curtis | I'm Slippy – Ballyard Murlen | Geoff De Mulder (Private) | 30.37 | 14/1 | [16] | |
| 1993 | Winsor Vic | Dukes Lodge - Winsor Aird | John McGee Sr. (Reading) | 30.94 | 2/1f | ||
| 1994 | Heres Seanie | Ardfert Sean - Mindys Miracle | Pat Ryan (Perry Barr) | 30.13 | 6/4f | [17] | |
| 1995 | Courier Kid | Manx Treasure – Strange Manner | John Coleman (Walthamstow) | 30.37 | 5/1 | ||
| 1996 | Longvalley Rebel | Right Move – Long Valley Lady | John Coleman (Walthamstow) | 30.33 | 7/4 | ||
| 1997 | Saradeb | Slaneyside Hare – Genotin Laura | Jimmy Gibson (Belle Vue) | 30.30 | 9/2 | ||
| 1998 | Honour And Glory | Murlens Slippy – Satharn Lady | John Coleman (Walthamstow) | 29.17 | 3/1 | ||
| 1999 | Derbay Flyer | Ayr Flyer – Brown Missile | Charlie Lister OBE (Private) | 29.06 | 4/6f | [18] | |
| 2003 | Farloe Hack | Staplers Jo – Farloe Dingle | Barrie Draper (Sheffield) | 28.50 | 9/4 | ||
| 2005 | Canimar | Top Honcho – All Grit | Charlie Lister OBE (Private) | 28.67 | 3/1 | [19] | |
| 2006 | Kingsmill Again | Roanokee – Mitzys Dream | Andy Johnson (Private) | 28.68 | 7/1 | [20] | |
| 2007 | Zigzag Dutchman | Dutchys Angel – ZigZag Bullett | Charlie Lister OBE (Private) | 28.13 | 4/1 | [21] | |
| 2008 | Ballymac Under | Ballymac Maeve – Ballymac Lark | Matt Dartnall (Private) | 28.25 | 4/5f | [22] | |
| 2009 | Fear Zafonic | Premier Fantasy – Farloe Oyster | Charlie Lister OBE (Private) | 28.44 | 4/5f | [23] | |
| 2010 to 2019 not held | |||||||
| 2020 | Droopys Carat | Azza Azza Azza – Droopys Dorothy | Angela Harrison (Newcastle) | 28.74 | 8/1 | [24] | |
| 2021 | Candy Man | Holdem Spy – Wont Fall Behind | Carol Weatherall (Sheffield) | 28.10 | 5/1 | [25] | |
| 2022 | Ivanexile | Laughil Blake – Trusted Exile | Matt Dartnall (Oxford) | 28.16 | 7/4 | [26] | |
| 2023 | Brookside Richie | Droopys Sydney – Droopys Greatest | James Fenwick (Newcastle) | 28.27 | 7/2 | [27] | |
| 2024 | Rioja Bungle | Ballymac Bolger – Bull Run Byte | Kevin Hutton (Oxford) | 28.22 | 9/2 | [28] | |
References
[edit]- ^ "City of Birmingham Cup to be decided at Perry Barr". Birmingham Mail. 4 May 1939. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 64. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- ^ Barnes, Julia (1991). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File, page 79. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-61-9.
- ^ Hobbs, Jonathan (2007). Greyhound Annual 2008, page 197. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-53-4.
- ^ Genders, Roy (1990). NGRC book of Greyhound Racing. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 0-7207-1804-X.
- ^ Dack, Barrie (1990). Greyhound Derby, the first 60 years. Ringpress Books. pp. 81–83. ISBN 0-948955-36-8.
- ^ "OUR RACING CORRESPONDENT. "Racing." Times [London, England] 1 July 1946". The Times Digital Archive.
- ^ "Black Johnny's Perry Barr Record". Birmingham Weekly Mercury. 4 July 1938. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Perry Barr". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 18 October 1943. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Six in a row for Desert Rambler". Birmingham Weekly Mercury. 6 August 1961. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Round the Midland tracks". Birmingham Weekly Mercury. 5 August 1962. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Birmingham Cup win for Cahara Rover". Birmingham Weekly Mercury. 4 August 1963. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Round the Greyhound tracks". Birmingham Weekly Mercury. 1 August 1965. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Midland Greyhound Racing". Birmingham Daily Post. 1 August 1966. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Saturday's results". Birmingham Mail. 27 September 1971. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Greyhound Results". Birmingham Mail. 2 October 1992. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Fry, Paul (1995). The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook. Ringpress Books. pp. 109–110. ISBN 186054-010-4.
- ^ "Wizard ready to cast a marathon spell". Birmingham Weekly Mercury. 3 October 1999. Retrieved 9 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "2005 Birmingham Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ "2006 Birmingham Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ "2007 Birmingham Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ "2008 Birmingham Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ "2009 William Hill Birmingham Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
- ^ "2020 Birmingham Cup final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
- ^ "M LAMBE CONSTRUCTION BIRMINGHAM CUP FINAL IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL LAMBE SENIOR". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ^ "2002 Birmingham Cup Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "Perry Barr meeting 23 Sep". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ "Birmingham Cup Cup Final". Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Retrieved 13 October 2024.