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Post by bingo on Jan 16, 2021 2:48:24 GMT
So the inevitable happens, despite the hard work from Simon Walmsley and the rest of the F.O.B.V.S, the curtain closes on the final chapter, of not only Bellevue greyhound Stadium, (the first in the country), but the final end of the historic site of Bellevue herself. Bellevue will always sit heavy in my heart, as a local lad from Longsight/Gorton I started working there as a 17yr old in the 90s....I have fond memories of my first job ๐คฎ๐คฎ... collecting the 'urine samples' given to me (in that wooden shed in the paddock) from trainers in green numbered bowls, to pour into white labeled bottles which I'd then have to give to a 'lab tester'. Weeks later I'd then get an upgrade to 'paddock steward' thanks to Ian Travis, where before races i'd check the ear marks (no chips them days) jackets & muzzles as well as the joys of cleaning the kennels afterwords ha (lovely stuff !). Switching to the track staff department in the 00s & working with some great groundsmen (M. Andrews & J. Stanton and learning my 'trade') i loved my 11yrs being Clark of the course at Bellevue from 2009-2020, always took the 'bad with the smooth' and ignorant criticism with a pinch of salt, especially with trainers ha. I would go back tomorrow with a heartbeat if i could, but unfortunately the last track in the North West has gone. I met some brilliant characters over my 20+yrs at Bellevue and wish everyone the best at the remaining tracks.
Ashley Northrop
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Post by johnlamb41 on Jan 16, 2021 11:09:31 GMT
Thanks for the good times and the great memories but most of all to thanx to the good friends and people I've met at the zoo.life stinks sometimes.
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Post by partytime on Jan 16, 2021 17:47:25 GMT
I was very sad to hear the zoo was closing ,I had some great memories and not so great memories there over the years I was involved in greyhounds,Iโm sure my bank account would have been so much better off but at the time it was money well spent,or I thought so ๐ ,my first dogs were trained by Eric Howarth,I had a pal who got me into it called Phil Holmes.he passed away a good few years ago,we bought our first dog Ardrine Saundra,then another called Staraway,,then another and another we were hooked for sure,I bought a bitch on my own from Eric called You Know What,she turned out to be very good,I went over to Ireland on many occasions and made some very good friends,I bought a good few pups,but the best two were Staley Vegas who I never brought back to England and he won me plenty of top races,and holds the sprint record at Haroldโs Cross to this day,it wonโt ever be beaten now the tracks closed down,quite proud of that being English ๐,My other top dog was Windy Millar who I was told about from an Irish contact of mine after he had his first run out of the traps,I had a few more very good ones but not to the success those two brought me,I will not name all the other poor dogs I bought but even those gave you that feeling of expectation until they ran that is,I still go over to Ireland or I did before Covid,I still have some good contacts over there and stay in touch,all this was started with having dogs run at Belle Vue,such a shame itโs closed and certainly an end of an era for me,thank you Belle Vue you cost me a few bob but the memories now are worth every penny
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Post by mancuniannick on Jan 17, 2021 4:07:21 GMT
And all for the sake of 250 homes which will probably all go to investors and probably won't even be built for the foreseeable and stay empty longer than that. Government, MPs, local councellors etc seem to have all their priorities wrong if you ask me. British Heritage should/could have stepped in to help so it's a very sad time. To those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes (my tiny part was insignificant in comparison!) you deserve a BIG thank you. As the saying goes, once it's gone, it's gone but memories will never die.
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Post by steveh on Jan 17, 2021 10:53:55 GMT
What was the figure put to crown oils that they rejected. Was it anywhere near what they wanted
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Post by topcat on Jan 17, 2021 11:31:05 GMT
Many thanks to Simon Walmsley and his team you gave it your best shot.
To think there will be no greyhound racing here in the North West again well words fail me.
Elaine.
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Post by ebonypeaches on Jan 18, 2021 22:47:23 GMT
I started as a kennel boy in 1956 met Brenda as a kennel girl 1958 made headlad at white city 1959 we married in 1964 and still have some of the presents we were given we left in 1970 to start our own flapping kennel and the rest is history. keith
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Post by topcat on Jan 18, 2021 22:49:59 GMT
So the inevitable happens, despite the hard work from Simon Walmsley and the rest of the F.O.B.V.S, the curtain closes on the final chapter, of not only Bellevue greyhound Stadium, (the first in the country), but the final end of the historic site of Bellevue herself. Bellevue will always sit heavy in my heart, as a local lad from Longsight/Gorton I started working there as a 17yr old in the 90s....I have fond memories of my first job ๐คฎ๐คฎ... collecting the 'urine samples' given to me (in that wooden shed in the paddock) from trainers in green numbered bowls, to pour into white labeled bottles which I'd then have to give to a 'lab tester'. Weeks later I'd then get an upgrade to 'paddock steward' thanks to Ian Travis, where before races i'd check the ear marks (no chips them days) jackets & muzzles as well as the joys of cleaning the kennels afterwords ha (lovely stuff !). Switching to the track staff department in the 00s & working with some great groundsmen (M. Andrews & J. Stanton and learning my 'trade') i loved my 11yrs being Clark of the course at Bellevue from 2009-2020, always took the 'bad with the smooth' and ignorant criticism with a pinch of salt, especially with trainers ha. I would go back tomorrow with a heartbeat if i could, but unfortunately the last track in the North West has gone. I met some brilliant characters over my 20+yrs at Bellevue and wish everyone the best at the remaining tracks. Ashley Northrop What a fantastic heart felt posting
All the best for the future Ash.
Elaine x
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Post by bingo on Jan 19, 2021 8:22:00 GMT
Thank you Elaine, all the best to you also.
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Post by roisin on Jan 19, 2021 18:27:34 GMT
Ash, you are one of the best. Loved my Tuesdays trialling and schooling our home bred pups. You were always willing to help out when we were stuck๐ Kept doing the Euro in the hope that I could buy and paint the stadium purple! Ann xx
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