Experts touted the 2013 NSW Greyhound of the Year award as one of the closet contests in years and they were certainly not proven wrong with Double Twist and Jagger Swagger named joint winners of the acclaimed prize at a gala event at Luna Park on Friday night.
Both Double Twist and Jagger Swagger were chosen by a panel of judges, with representatives from the Greyhound Recorder, National Greyhound Form, Sky Racing, Fairfax and thedogs.com.au unable to split the duo. They tipped out the third nominee Punch One Out for the NSW Greyhound of the Year award.
Jagger Swagger, owned by Tyrone Whittington and Greg Sprod, had a brilliant 2013 in which he took part in five group finals. He achieved the rare feat of winning two derbies in one year, taking out the Group 1 National Derby and Group 2 Richmond Derby before being victorious in the Group 3 Bulli Gold Cup.
Double Twist, trained by Garry Edwards at Nowra Hill and owned by Jason Lymbery, had a breakout year in 2013 winning 19 races including the Group 3 Christmas Gift and the Group 3 Nowra Puppy Classic. She also competed in the Group 1 Sportingbet Megastar and broke the 520m track record at Dapto in December.
It was a night to remember for Double Twist’s connections, with the popular greyhound also taking home the NSW Sprinter of the Year and NSW Run of the Year for her victory in the Christmas Gift final at Wentworth Park. Double Twist’s mother – Tifi – was also recognised, winning the 2013 NSW Brood Bitch of the Year award.
In other major awards to be announced on the night, the Mark Swift-trained Smart Valentino took home the NSW Stayer of the Year award. Smart Valentino, who sadly passed away from a suspected spider bite earlier this year, stamped himself as one of the best stayers in Australia winning the Group 1 National Distance Championships at The Meadows and recording 11 victories in total over the staying trip in 2013.
Former GRNSW Board member and long serving Greyhound Social Club President Tom Green was awarded the Allen Wheeler Medal for lifetime achievement and service to the greyhound racing industry. Green has been involved in greyhound racing since he was 18 and was the driving force behind the creation of the Greyhound Social Club and Potts Park. For the past six years, Green has been Country Club Association President.
Richmond Vale’s Jason Mackay won the NSW Virbac Animal Health Trainer of the Year title after training more than 100 winners across NSW. Mackay’s boom kennel of winners included NSW Greyhound of the Year nominee Punch One Out, Zipping Tess and Tricky Jade.
The full list of award winners were:
• 2013 NSW Greyhound of the Year – Double Twist and Jagger Swagger
• Allen Wheeler Medal – Tom Green (Potts Park)
• 2013 NSW Virbac Animal Health Trainer of the Year – Jason Mackay (Richmond Vale)
• 2013 NSW Greyhound Recorder Club of the Year – Richmond Race Club
• 2013 NSW Volunteer of the Year – Temora Greyhound Club Volunteers
• 2013 NSW Young Person of the Year – Beau Hedley (Cooranbong)
• 2013 NSW Media Coverage of the Year – The Maitland Mercury
• 2013 NSW Run of the Year – Double Twist (Christmas Gift Final, Wentworth Park)
• 2013 NSW Sprinter of the Year – Double Twist
• 2013 NSW Stayer of the Year – Smart Valentino
• 2013 NSW Sire of the Year – Bit Chili
• 2013 NSW Brood Bitch of the Year – Tifi
